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Artists' Books Content Design voicE Form
15 April to 25 June, 2010
Fleet Library at RISD
Throughout history artists have long been agents of change, throwing light in new ways on challenging issues of our society, both past and present. With determination and invention, artists call attention to issues of war and conflict, gender, race, politics, and the environment. With transparency and honesty they reveal personal issues of family, love and relationships, illness, tragedy, death and loss. They remind us of the wonder of nature and with playfulness and humor show us how to laugh at ourselves.
Artists find the book form a compelling medium for making works of art in order to give voice to their ideas, narratives or concepts. The physical attributes of books, with their portability, intimacy, interactivity, and time-based sequential elements result in a unique and dynamic involvement between artist and audience. The structural form of an artist book often goes beyond merely providing a platform for text and image. More likely it serves as a metaphor for the content, mirroring the subject and meaning through materials, design and form. The reader’s experience of the artist’s book is both visual and tactile through a hands-on engagement that cannot be experienced with works of art that are displayed on a wall or pedestal.
Organized around selected themes, the books in this exhibit are a glimpse into the many and varied ways that artists speak through paper and print. Those who are signed up for the City Experience: RISD and Providence event, either for the day long Tour or the tour and Artist Book Slam session, will have an opportunity to see these first hand. Openings for this City Experience are still available. For a complete description see the ARLIS/NA Annual Conference program schedule City Experience section.