An
exhibition of books by California fine press printers will open
Feb. 12 in the Peterson Gallery on the second floor of the
Bing Wing of Green Library. The exhibit, which is free and
open to the public, will be on display through June 17, 2007.
California Printers in the Fine Press Tradition, 1975–2006:
Selections from Stanford’s Special Collections
features fine press books ranging from small volumes of poetry
to deluxe limited-edition collaborative works representing
forty presses active in California over the past three decades.
In addition to the books on view, a section of the exhibition
is devoted to the arts of the book: type and printing, bookbinding,
papermaking, and paper decorating techniques.
“Not only does this exhibit demonstrate the incredible
richness of contemporary book arts in California, it contains
and displays the tools and techniques, even the raw materials,
of those arts,” explained University Librarian Michael
A. Keller. “By showing both exquisite finished products
and the methods that produced them, this exhibit will be of
interest to many audiences, from serious collectors and book
artists to those just beginning to realize and explore the
tangible, tactile, and beautiful tradition of the printed
word.”
Among the books exhibited are critically acclaimed works by
internationally-known presses, such as the 1979 hand set edition
of Moby-Dick produced by The Arion Press,
San Francisco; highly collaborative projects, such as a new
translation of Parmenides, printed in two Greek types that
were commissioned for the book by Peter Koch, Printers, Berkeley;
and two titles published almost thirty years apart, bracketing
the time period covered in the show, by typographer and designer
Jack Stauffacher, who founded The Greenwood Press, San Francisco,
in 1934.
Also included are books by a multitude of presses that had
their genesis in the book arts renaissance of the 1970s and
early 1980s, many of whom were founded by women: Moving Parts
Press, Felicia Rice; Ninja Press, Carolee Campbell; Paradise
Press, Susan King; Occasional Works, Ann Rosener; and The
Heyeck Press, Robin Heyeck, among others. Many of the books
on display are the products of close collaborations among
writers, artists, printers, and bookbinders.
Books produced by literary fine presses, such as The Yolla
Bolly Press make up the largest category of those featured
in the exhibition. Innovative works by creative partnerships
such as Bill Kelly and Michele Burgess of Brighton Press,
San Diego; Peggy Gotthold and Larry Van Velzer of Foolscap
Press, Santa Cruz; and Betsy Davids and Jim Petrillo of Rebis
Press, Berkeley, make up another. Also featured are a handful
of what might be classified as artists’ books, but which
employ fine press techniques.
Press descriptions and images of the books shown in the exhibition, arranged alphabetically by name of press:
http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/spc/exhibits/cafinepressonline.html
For
further information, please contact Becky
Fischbach at 650-725-1020 or via e-mail at efischba@stanford.edu
LOCATION: Peterson
Gallery, Green Library Bing Wing, Second Floor, Stanford University,
Stanford, CA
NOTE: first-time
visitors must register at the east entrance portal to gain
access to the library. Green Library's east wing entrance
faces Meyer Library. For a map of campus and transportation
information, go to http://www.stanford.edu/home/visitors/maps.html
HOURS: Exhibit
cases in the Peterson Gallery are illuminated Monday-Friday
from 10 am to 6 pm; Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday
1 to 6 pm. The gallery is accessible whenever Green Library
is open and hours vary with the academic schedule. For library
hours, call 650-723-0931.
