Artists' Books: A Critical Anthology and Sourcebook

Artists' Books: A Critical Anthology and Sourcebook examines the history and development of artists' books as a medium of artistic expression. The volume compiles essays and perspectives from artists, critics, and scholars who explore this hybrid art form that emerged in the 20th century. Primary source materials and critical analyses trace the evolution of artists' books from early avant-garde experiments through contemporary practice. The text includes documentation of specific works and movements, theoretical frameworks, and technical insights into book production methods. Contributors investigate the intersection of visual art, literature, and book arts through case studies and historical examples. The anthology features both established voices in the field and emerging perspectives on this art form. This collection positions artists' books within broader cultural and artistic contexts, examining their role in challenging traditional boundaries between disciplines. The work considers how the book format creates unique possibilities for artistic communication and viewer engagement.

Readers view this 1985 anthology as one of the few comprehensive sources on artists' books from this period. Many describe it as their introduction to the medium. Likes: - Documents early history and development of artists' books - Includes perspectives from both artists and critics - Contains rare interviews with key figures like Dick Higgins - Strong focus on production methods and distribution networks Dislikes: - Some essays use dense academic language - Limited coverage of works after 1980 - Black and white images only - Hard to find at reasonable prices on used market Ratings: Goodreads: 4.14/5 (7 ratings) Amazon: Not enough reviews for rating One reader on LibraryThing noted: "Finally locating this book after years of searching was worth it for the Lucy Lippard essay alone." Available review data is limited since the book is out of print and primarily used in academic settings.

The Century of Artists' Books by Johanna Drucker This text examines artists' books as an art form through historical developments, conceptual frameworks, and production methods from 1900 to 2000.

No Longer Innocent: Book Art in America 1960-1980 by Betty Bright This study documents the emergence of book art in the United States through interviews, archival materials, and analysis of key works and institutions.

Book Art: Iconic Sculptures and Installations Made from Books by Paul Sloman The volume presents documentation of contemporary artists who transform books into sculptural objects and installations.

Artists Who Make Books by Andrew Roth, Philip Aarons, and Claire Lehmann This compilation surveys 32 artists who have produced books as part of their artistic practice from the 1960s to present.

The Book as Art: Artists' Books from the National Museum of Women in the Arts by Krystyna Wasserman This collection documents women artists' contributions to the book arts through examples from the museum's holdings of more than 1,000 artists' books.

📚 Joan Lyons was both an artist and educator who founded the Visual Studies Workshop Press in Rochester, NY in 1972, making her uniquely qualified to compile this groundbreaking anthology on artists' books. 🎨 Published in 1985, this was one of the first comprehensive books to explore and document the artists' book movement, which gained momentum in the 1960s and 1970s. 📖 The book features essays from 24 different contributors, including prominent figures like Lucy Lippard and Dick Higgins, providing diverse perspectives on the evolution of book arts. 🖌️ Artists' books discussed in the anthology range from early avant-garde works like those of Russian Futurists to contemporary conceptual pieces, showing how the medium evolved from traditional bookmaking to radical artistic expression. 📑 The sourcebook portion includes detailed information about book arts organizations, collections, and distributors that were active in the 1980s, making it an important historical record of the artists' book community during that period.