The Winter Book: Minnesota Center for Book Arts

2007 Winter Book

vispoeologee is an eclectic amalgamation of visual literature — a broad term for the disciplines of visual poetry, concrete poetry and post-language writing. In the spirit of Fluxus publications, vispoelogee is a hands-on, gloves-off experience. Inside a utilitarian shell lies a rich array of colors, printing techniques, papers and visual interpretations. MCBA’s nineteenth annual Winter Book publication is more than a collectible. It’s also an adventure not soon to be forgotten.

About the editors:
The work of more than 20 international poets was selected by editors John Bennett, Thomas Cassidy and Scott Helmes. All three poets, who met via mail art, have corresponded with one another for decades. They are not only scholars of the literary art form, but also practitioners with international reputations.

Edition Descriptions
The 2007 Winter Book is available in Deluxe, Standard and Chapbook editions, each designed by MCBA Artistic Director Jeff Rathermel. Printers Allison Chapman and Monica Edwards Larson used a variety of methods to reproduce the work, including letterpress, digital printing and relief printmaking. Binders and collaters arrived from across the artistic community, fulfilling the tradition of relying on volunteers for the final touches of another magnificent Winter Book.

The Chapbook ($40), numbered 1 through 225, is a 60-page, 7” x 9” hardcover volume with a multi-signature binding. The original pieces from the poets have been reproduced using letterpress or digital printing. Included in the chapbook are a variety of tip-ins, fold-outs, centerfolds and inserts on a variety of paper: Mohawk Superfine, Niddigan, Bienfang parchment, black Bugra, lava red Tiziano. The chapbook contains at least one work from each of the Winter Book artists, as well as essays by the editors.

The Standard Edition ($225), numbered 1 through 100 and signed by the editors, includes the Chapbook with a special relief-printed jacket on Italian
patterned paper plus three supplemental folios, each 7” x 9”. All elements are housed in a custom archival phase box with string enclosure.

Folio 1, She Says, is a limited edition print of Mathew Rucker’s visual poem, a striking, highly embossed letterpress black print on black Arches Cover.

Folio 2 is a selection of John M. Bennett visual poems created using wood type and calligraphic letter forms, reproduced digitally in full color.

Folio 3 contains reproductions of two scores by Scott Helmes: Incantation for 6 Voices and Alphabet Haiku for 3 Voices Simultaneously, accompanied by an audio CD recording of the works being performed.

The Deluxe Edition ($600), lettered A through Z and signed by the editors, includes all elements of the Standard Edition plus many scintillating extras, all housed in a black archival drop front metal edged box (12.5” x 9.5” x 3”):

Folio 4: Serge Segay’s Pig Concert Suite “16” (with quotations)

Folio 5: color digital reproduction of do (not) #5 by Wendy Collin Sorin.

The Deluxe Edition also includes the complete Kolsyrat, Vatten, Citronsyrat by Hartmut Andryczuk, a set of 10 digital prints housed in an archival rigid mylar box, as well as four “micro archives” housed in tan metal-edge archival boxes:

Micro Archive 1: a selection of 25 one-of-a-kind found poems created by artists associated with the project;

Micro Archive 2: John M. Bennett’s 28 text poems that comprise
Historietas Alfabeticas, letterpress printed on individual Rives BFK cards;

Micro Archive 3: The Vispoeologee Visual Poetry Generator, a do-it-yourself kit for creating your own anthology, including custom imprinted pencils, dice and workbook;

Micro Archive 4: a set of Thomas Cassidy trading cards: digitally reproduced altered text pages and book covers, mounted on book board.

Order Information

To place an order, call The Shop at MCBA at 612.215.2520. Winter Book purchases help support the project as well as MCBA's programs and services for artists.

Place your order by December 8, 2007 to take advantage of pre-publication discounts for Deluxe and Standard Editions.

Download a PDF of the order form

Explore vispoeology


	2007 Winter Book vispoeologee is an eclectic amalgamation of visual literature — a broad term for the disciplines of visual poetry, concrete poetry and post-language writing. In the spirit of Fluxus publications, vispoelogee is a hands-on, gloves-off experience. Inside a utilitarian shell lies a rich array of colors, printing techniques, papers and visual interpretations. MCBA’s nineteenth annual Winter Book publication is more than a collectible. It’s also an adventure not soon to be forgotten. About the editors: The work of more than 20 international poets was selected by editors John Bennett, Thomas Cassidy and Scott Helmes. All three poets, who met via mail art, have corresponded with one another for decades. They are not only scholars of the literary art form, but also practitioners with international reputations. Edition Descriptions The 2007 Winter Book is available in Deluxe, Standard and Chapbook editions, each designed by MCBA Artistic Director Jeff Rathermel. Printers Allison Chapman and Monica Edwards Larson used a variety of methods to reproduce the work, including letterpress, digital printing and relief printmaking. Binders and collaters arrived from across the artistic community, fulfilling the tradition of relying on volunteers for the final touches of another magnificent Winter Book. The Chapbook ($40), numbered 1 through 225, is a 60-page, 7” x 9” hardcover volume with a multi-signature binding. The original pieces from the poets have been reproduced using letterpress or digital printing. Included in the chapbook are a variety of tip-ins, fold-outs, centerfolds and inserts on a variety of paper: Mohawk Superfine, Niddigan, Bienfang parchment, black Bugra, lava red Tiziano. The chapbook contains at least one work from each of the Winter Book artists, as well as essays by the editors. The Standard Edition ($225), numbered 1 through 100 and signed by the editors, includes the Chapbook with a special relief-printed jacket on Italian patterned paper plus three supplemental folios, each 7” x 9”. All elements are housed in a custom archival phase box with string enclosure. Folio 1, She Says, is a limited edition print of Mathew Rucker’s visual poem, a striking, highly embossed letterpress black print on black Arches Cover. Folio 2 is a selection of John M. Bennett visual poems created using wood type and calligraphic letter forms, reproduced digitally in full color. Folio 3 contains reproductions of two scores by Scott Helmes: Incantation for 6 Voices and Alphabet Haiku for 3 Voices Simultaneously, accompanied by an audio CD recording of the works being performed. The Deluxe Edition ($600), lettered A through Z and signed by the editors, includes all elements of the Standard Edition plus many scintillating extras, all housed in a black archival drop front metal edged box (12.5” x 9.5” x 3”): Folio 4: Serge Segay’s Pig Concert Suite “16” (with quotations) Folio 5: color digital reproduction of do (not) #5 by Wendy Collin Sorin. The Deluxe Edition also includes the complete Kolsyrat, Vatten, Citronsyrat by Hartmut Andryczuk, a set of 10 digital prints housed in an archival rigid mylar box, as well as four “micro archives” housed in tan metal-edge archival boxes: Micro Archive 1: a selection of 25 one-of-a-kind found poems created by artists associated with the project; Micro Archive 2: John M. Bennett’s 28 text poems that comprise Historietas Alfabeticas, letterpress printed on individual Rives BFK cards; Micro Archive 3: The Vispoeologee Visual Poetry Generator, a do-it-yourself kit for creating your own anthology, including custom imprinted pencils, dice and workbook; Micro Archive 4: a set of Thomas Cassidy trading cards: digitally reproduced altered text pages and book covers, mounted on book board. Order Information To place an order, call The Shop at MCBA at 612.215.2520. Winter Book purchases help support the project as well as MCBA's programs and services for artists. Place your order by December 8, 2007 to take advantage of pre-publication discounts for Deluxe and Standard Editions. Download a PDF of the order form Explore vispoeology