Uncovering Artists' Books

Curator: Geraldine Davis

October 10 - December 1, 2017

Reception
October 25, 4:30 - 7:30 pm
Exhibition tour with curator
October 25, 5:30 pm

Book Binding Workshop with Lisa Schroeder
November 21, 12 - 3 pm
468 ARTlab

Artists’ books read at once as sensual, spatial and tactile; they open our reading experience to the multi-sensory perception of books as art objects. Uncovering Artists' Books explores this rich artistic practice, highlighting its significant contribution to the history of visual art in Canada.

Curator Geraldine Davis investigates these often overlooked creations, bringing us the opportunity to experience the intimate relationships with literature, visual culture and documentation that they deliver. Artists’ books form an integral part of most art movements; many important painters, sculptors and especially printmakers have chosen to make book arts a significant part of their practices. Experimental and collaborative attitudes prevail in these objects; contemporary examples incorporate new technologies and digital formats into the genre of artists’ books.

About the Curator
Geraldine Davis is an independent curator and art dealer based in Toronto. Launching her professional career with the publication of a collaborative artist's book, A Rebel Gravity, 1978, she has curated a number of major exhibitions and exhibitions catalogues, some of which include Art at Work: Corporate Collecting Practices Today (Art Gallery of Mississauga), J.C. Heywood: A Life in Layers (Burnaby Art Gallery), and Printshops of Canada (Macdonald Stewart Art Centre). Uncovering Artists' Books was initiated by the curator in collaboration with the Grimsby Public Art Gallery in 2016.

Images
Top: Claire Van Vliet, Ciruclus sapientiae / Sanctae Hildegardis, 2001, 12.6 × 5.9 in. (32 × 15 cm). Edition of 120. Accordion pop-up with music CD. Janus Press, Newark, VT. BAnQ, LAC/BAC.
Bottom: Doug Biden & Roy Harper, Atlas of the Body Transparent, 1997, 17.9 × 21.3 in. (45.5 × 54 cm) box closed / 17.9 × 41.7 in. (45.5 × 106 cm) open. Accordion opens to 17.9 × 188.6 in. (45.5 × 479 cm) / approx. 16 ft. (18.9 m) total, 8 p. Edition of 14. 32 etchings; letterpress text; 44 colours from 32 plates; aluminum case. Capilano College Printmaking Institute, North Vancouver.

Uncovering Artists' Books is circulated by the Grimsby Public Art Gallery, Grimsby, Ontario. The School of Art Gallery and Grimsby Public Art Gallery are grateful for the support of Canadian Heritage Museums Assistance Program.

The UAB Project is grateful to the following organizations for the loan of materials:
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ), Montréal
Department of Art Library, University of Toronto (DALUT)
Dorothy H. Hoover Library, Ontario College of Art and Design University
(OCADU), Toronto
Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECUAD), Vancouver
Grimsby Public Art Gallery (GPAG)
Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada (LAC/
BAC), Ottawa and/et Gatineau
Oakville Galleries
Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives (Fleck), Banff Centre
Presentation House Gallery (now Polygon Gallery, (PHG) North Vancouver
Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library (TFRBL), Toronto
Toronto Reference Library (TRL)
University of Toronto Libraries (UTL)
Vancouver Art Gallery Library (VAGL)

Youtube show tour videos, April 2017 at Grimsby Public Art Gallery
uncovering artists's books - Show Tour with Geraldine Davis, part 1
uncovering artists's books - Show Tour with Geraldine Davis, part 2
uncovering artists's books - Show Tour with Geraldine Davis, part 3