Joe Orton (British dramatist) is an example.
Islington Library in
Books, cuttings, and reproductions of the Islington Library books famously
doctored by Joe Orton and his lover Kenneth Halliwell at their Islington flat.
http://www.islington.gov.uk/Leisure/LocalHistory/localhistorycentre/Whats_available.asp
There are pictures at:
http://www.joeorton.org/Pages/Joe_Orton_Gallery13.html
Jonathan
Jonathan Franklin
Chief, Library, Archives and Research Fellowships Program
National Gallery of
K1N 9N4
telephone (613) 990 0590
fax (613) 990 6190
email [log in to unmask]
From: ART LIBRARIES
SOCIETY DISCUSSION LIST [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Henry Pisciotta
Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2010
9:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [ARLIS-L] artists
interventions/pranks in libraries
In relation to a broader study of artists interventions in libraries, I
would be interested in the experiences of colleagues with pranks in the library
that seemed to have artistic motives. I am primarily seeking examples
where permission was not obtained from the library. Please indicate if
pictures or other documents are available. To clarify my request, here
are a couple of examples from my own experience:
A small number of blackened books were discovered
inter-filed with arts books at several locations in the Carnegie Mellon
University Libraries. Each was a paperback, not from the library
collection, which had apparently been soaked in black ink and dried. These
resembled charred books. Seemed artistic because of the alarming visual impact
and strong associations. No pictures or documentation. This
occurred in the 1990s.
Small cards are occasionally found in books in Pattee
Library at
Respond on or off list as you prefer. (I usually prefer off-list,
but perhaps you have an example that will brighten everyone's day.)
Thank you,
Henry Pisciotta
Arts and Architecture Librarian
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BTW: I have plenty of information on the following well-documented
examples, but would nonetheless be interested in communicating with people who
had direct experience with these events: