Mapping Correspondence

On Friday, April 11, The Center for Book Arts held an opening reception for its new exhibition, Mapping Correspondence: Mail Art in the 21st Century.

This exhibition invited artists, who in turn invited additional participants, to submit work via the postal service, creating a network of communication that reflects the complex and varied meaning of the book, mapping, and social networking in the 21st century.

Mail art is a democratic genre outside of the traditional system of art consumption through commercial galleries.

In addition to the contemporary work, the exhibition features work by some of the most influential artists and collaboratives of the movement, including Ray Johnson, Buster Cleveland, Diter Rot, Albert M. Fine, May Wilson, Dick Higgins, General Idea and vintage Anna Banana. Historical work is on loan from various sources, including Scott McCarney, Barbara Moore, Gordon Simpson, Marilyn R. Rosenberg, Franklin Furnace Archive, the Davi Det Hompson Archive at Virginia Commonwealth University, and the Center for Book Arts' own collection.

Featuring new work by : Abner Trellis • Adam Lowenbein • Aijung Kim • Alison Josephs • Amanda Thackery • Amelia Grohman • amk • András Böröcz • Andrea Poulsen • Andrew Krieger • Anna Banana •Anonymous • anticham • Arthur Cravan • Asha Ganpat • b.saved • Beverly Sokol • Bill Thomson • Bob Holman • Bo DuVall • Bob & Roberta Smith • Brad Birchett • Bruce Licher • buZ blurr • Buzz Spector • Carol Davis • Carol Stetser • Cathy Cullen • Chae Ho Lee • Charlotte Cooney • Cheryl Solomon • Chip Duyck • Chris George • Clarissa Sligh • Craig Saper • Cris Katearee • Dale Roberts • Delphi Basilicato • Diego Sanchez • Dikko Faust • Doug Beube • Doug Michael • Ed Varney • Edward Shalala • Emily Barrows • Eric Knutzon • Esther Smith • Felicia Gilman • Luc Fierens • Francis Duchamp • Franticham • Genie Shenk • Georgia Luna Smith Faust • Heather Green • Heidi Cody • Ina Archer • ivarykeith • Jack Cook • James Prez • Jamie Hart • Jane Gardner-Clayson • Jennifer Magee • Jeremy Schmall • Jessie Voorsanger • Jill Conner • Joanna Gardner • Joe Zane • John M. Bennett • Jon Esser • Josh Werner • Joshua Blank • Joy Cox • Judith Hoffberg • Christopher Gordon •Julia Featheringill • Justin Lincoln • Karen Zimmermann • Kat Bridges • Keiichi Nakamura • Kelly Dobson • Kelly Lonergan • Ken Montgomery • Kevin Guinn • Kevin Madill • Kimberly Purser • Kirsten Nelson • KK Kozik • Kym Olsen • Laura Ferguson • Laura Kikauka • Lauren Marsella • Leonard Seastone • Ligorano/Reese • Lissi Erwin • Mailarta • Mark Bryant • Mark Wagner • Matt Knannlein • Meg Belichick • Michelle Dussault • Miguel Jimenez Zenon • Mika Dashman • Minny Lee • Miriam Schaer • Nancy Loeber • Noelle Tan • Peter Fillingham • Peter Kruty • Phil Zimmermann • Pistol Pete • Polly EllaNora Smith Faust • Rachel Wiecking • Ramak Fazel • Richard Kostelanetz • Richard Tipping • R. J. Eck • Robbin Ami Silverberg • Robert The • Rod Summers VEC • Ronald Baatz • Roni Gross • Ruth Lingen • Sally Gardner • Sarah McCarry • Sarah Owen • Sayre Gaydos • S. C. Durkin • SCOTTATUKS • Sheila Lanham • Shinsuke Aso • Snappy • Stacie Birchett • Steven Dressler • Sue Gardner Smith • Sue O'Donnell • Tae Won Yu • Tom Butter • Tony White • Victoria May • Vittore Baroni • Vittorio Bacelli • Warren Lehrer • Willym Rowe • Zabeth Loisel-Weiner

Support for the Center for Book Arts Visual Arts Programs–Exhibitions, Featured Artist Projects, and the Artist-in-Residence Workspace Program–is provided by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Inc. and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Additional support for the Center’s exhibition program is provided, in part, by the Department of Cultural Affairs of New York City and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Many thanks to those lenders, the participating artists, and for the assistance of Ken Chu.

Mapping Correspondence: Mail Art in the 21st Century
April 11 - June 28, 2008

at

The Center for Book Arts
28 West 27th Street, Third Floor
(Between Broadway and Sixth Avenue)

Telephone: 212-481-0295

Opening hours:
10am-6pm, Monday-Friday
10am-4pm, Saturday


Mapping Correspondence opening reception, April 11, 2008


Mapping Correspondence opening reception, April 11, 2008


CBA Founder Richard Minsky (right) speaks with artist
Richard Kostelanetz, artist Sally Gardner (far left), and friends.


Mapping Correspondence opening reception, April 11, 2008


Artist Marilyn Rosenberg (center)


Artist Richard Kostelanetz


Artist Skuta Helgason


Artist Craven (left) and Tom Richard

Edible Books 2008: Travelogues

Who needs 80 days? Last week, The Center for Book Arts traveled around the world in one evening with our annual Benefit Party, a celebration of books, artwork, and desert! We presented eight edible books - pictured above - and there were also twenty-five original pieces of art available for silent auction, all of which were sold to support the ongoing operations at the Center.

Thanks very much to all those who joined us at the party. We’re especially grateful to the chefs and artists whose culinary creations served as the centerpiece of the night’s festivities, the artists who contributed their work to the auction and those who created original postcards for our raffle. Long-time friend of the Center, Roni Gross, created the wonderful floral centerpieces. It’s the brilliance and originality of all these artists that make it possible for us to have such a successful benefit party each year.

The benefit party also serves as a special opportunity for the book arts community to come together to honor those individuals who have made major contributions to the field. This year, we honored Milan Hughston, Chief of Library and Museum Archives at The Museum of Modern Art; Arthur Jaffe of the Arthur & Mata Jaffe Collection at Florida Atlantic University Libraries; Master Letterpress Printer Peter Kruty; Master Binder Hedi Kyle; and artist Martha Rosler. We’re truly fortunate to have had the chance to celebrate such an accomplished group!

Finally, we must express our deepest gratitude to the many volunteers who made this evening possible. This glorious event was a testament to the talent and dedication of the artists and other individuals who contribute to the Center’s ongoing success.

Please click here to see photos from the event, and click here to view the artwork from the silent auction. A complete list of the artists and chefs who contributed can be viewed here.