Regula Russelle: 2011 Minnesota Book Artist Award On display January 21 - March 6, 2011 Opening reception Friday, February 4; 5:30-7:30pm Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) and The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library are pleased to announce Regula Russelle as the winner of the 2011 Book Artist Award. This annual award -- presented by MCBA and the Minnesota Book Awards, and sponsored by the Lerner Publishing Group -- recognizes excellence throughout an artist's body of work, as well as their significant contributions to Minnesota's book arts community. Previous recipients include Wilber H. "Chip" Schilling (2010), Paulette Myers-Rich (2009), and Jody Williams (2008). "Art-making is cultural work," says Russelle. "It has political and spiritual dimensions. The central themes in my books and prints are the deep questions in my life. Mostly, I am haunted by the great American question, 'What might we become?' How do we shape a day, a week, a communal life, the way of the city, and the larger world beyond? Who is my neighbor, my kin?" Russelle began making one-of-a-kind books during graduate work at Hamline University in the mid-1990s and has been making books on her own and with others ever since. In 1999, she established Cedar Fence Press, a small independent press that publishes limited edition books and prints. She teaches books arts and papermaking for undergraduate and graduate students at Augsburg College and beginning through advanced letterpress printing at MCBA. She was awarded the 2007 Minnesota Book Award for Fine Press, and had been named a finalist for the same award three times prior (2000, 2001 and 2006). In collaboration as Accordion Press, Russelle and fellow artist CB Sherlock were awarded a 2007-08 MCBA/Jerome Foundation Book Arts Fellowship. Other honors include an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board Grant and recognition from the International Society of Bookbinders. Her work is shown and collected internationally. An exhibit celebrating Russelle's work will run January 21 through March 6, 2011 in Open Book's Cowles Literary Commons, with an opening reception and presentation on Friday, February 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The reception is free and open to the public, and will feature wine, hors d'oeuvres and live music. Exhibits of Russelle's work will be featured throughout the year at venues across the state, including Saint Paul's Central Library this March. Russelle will receive special recognition and an award at the 23rd annual Minnesota Book Awards gala on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Saint Paul. Awards will also be presented that evening to the winners of the eight book categories, the Readers' Choice Award (sponsored by the Pioneer Press and TwinCities.com), and the Kay Sexton Award (sponsored by Common Good Books) which recognizes an individual for significant contributions to Minnesota's literary community. Gala tickets will go on sale in late January. The Minnesota Book Awards is a statewide, year-round outreach program of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library in partnership with the Saint Paul Public Library and the City of Saint Paul. Please visit www.thefriends.org or call 651-366-6488 for more information about the Minnesota Book Awards.
	Minnesota Center for Book Arts is open to the public seven days a week: Mon, Wed-Sat: 10am-5pm Tue: 10am-9pm Sun: 12-4pm Minnesota Center for Book Arts is located in the Open Book Building in downtown Minneapolis 1011 Washington Ave S, Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: 612.215.2520 Fax: 612.215.2545 Email: mcba@mnbookarts.org © Minnesota Center for Book Arts