Generally, when we think of books, we see a flat rectangle in our mind, sometimes bound in a pretty cover or a softbound. As children, we interacted with books differently. We might have had sensory books with different textures, or with flaps we opened and closed, or that turned into a toy if we manipulated it right. We learned not to throw them across the room and, hopefully, to enjoy them.
As a child, I remember getting a beautiful pop-up book of the Wizard of Oz story. I was fascinated with the Emerald City popping up, how if you pulled this tab, the Wicked Witch of the West flew up and over it. On another page, you could make the Tin Man run away from the trees, throwing apples at him. I could spend hours reading books like that.
As an adult, I think we forget the joy of a beautiful book we can interact with, made as a piece of art in and of itself. The books we read are more utilitarian in nature, even if we read strictly for pleasure. The Puget Sound Book Artists have brought me new appreciation for the beauty of a book.
The Puget Sound Book Artists 13th Annual Members’ Exhibition, featuring works produced for the theme of Time Travel, is on exhibit at The Evergreen State College Library until Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. On display will be 55 artist books from forty-two artists representing all parts of Puget Sound and the western United States.
The exhibition is replete with lovely and beautiful books on the engaging theme of Time Travel. Ranging from large works made out of wood, to tiny cloth books packaged carefully with small beautiful details, to intricate woven pieces, it’s a visual treat. There are books designed to fold out like an accordion, books woven into a flag structure, a large book made from multiple boxes, and a small delicate book with round pages. Quite frankly, it all looks like so much fun to create.
My current favorite in the Exhibition is a set of glass holders with round photos of the moon entitled Many Moons created by Judy Lynn. It reminds me of saving small treasures in jars as a child, and the connection to the moon’s cyclical patterns makes me wonder what little pieces I still carry with me. Reliquary for a Varied Thrush by Jan Dove evokes all of the little deaths we go through in life and the constraints we were under during lockdown. Having to grieve in private, to create new rituals to honor those we lost. Narrowing our lives down to what really mattered, and now, as we are ‘back out in the world,’ how do we keep those things we discovered?
After going through lockdown during COVID-19, the ideas of how we travel through time and why we want to relive the past or take a glimpse of the future take on new meanings. How do you travel when you can’t? What things would you take with you?
Many pieces focus on the world we live in, thinking about how our landscapes became more intimate while we were staring at the same landscape every day, and yet how disconnected we are from the natural world. Handmade books take time and imagination and seem to me to ask clear, almost personal questions.
Jessica Springs' book, One Liners, is a witty diary accounting her days using 238 different typefaces, setting one line a day. It’s a simple idea, but with those simple phrases and images, an entire world abounds. “Gabby sparkled, such a treasure.” Hey, a Bald Eagle” ‘CDC unmasked”
Ray Zill is the Electronic Resources & Rare Books Librarian at Evergreen. She has two books in the exhibition, a collaborative letterpress project called Stay Gold and a personal narrative on sight loss called Eye Contact.
Ray has this to say about this exhibit: “This is our second time welcoming the annual PSBA event to our library, and it’s been a rewarding partnership. I am grateful to PSBA for providing our community with more exposure to artist books. Regardless of what focus your research takes, an artist book is a unique way to organize and present ideas. Prepare to be inspired!”
On Sunday, Oct 20, from 1-3 p.m., there will be an Open Case Event, where many of the book artists will be on hand, and the cases will be opened for folks to see the books up close. Book artists that will be on hand to talk about their work are Belinda Hill, Debbi Commodore, Lucia Harrison, Deborah Greenwood, Suze Woolf, Ray Zill, and Rachel Watson. It’s a unique event, and I encourage you to stop by.
After checking out the event, pop upstairs to see the James F Holly Rare Books Room, which has an amazing collection of handmade and unique books. Currently, there is a display of the works done by Evergreen students, staff, and faculty. As I work part-time in the Rare Book Room, I’ll be there for this event. Looking forward to meeting you in person!
Amy Lewis focuses on the literary world of Thurston County, spotlighting writers, small presses, book artists, poets, and storytellers of all types. Contact her – amy@thejoltnews.com – if you have a literary event, book, or reading.
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