Artists' Books
This professional artist's books collection is housed in the Fleet Library Special Collections department. Special Collections includes nearly 18,000 important and rare printed books and periodicals that date from as early as the 16th century to present. Historical as well as contemporary materials cover the fine arts, architecture, photography, decorative arts, and design and provide supplemental and inspirational resources for students, faculty, and outside researchers.
The physical Artists’ Books Collection includes nearly 2,000 multiples, hand-made book objects, limited edition books, and zines dating from the mid-1960’s to present. The collection also includes numerous related book arts references and artists’ ephemera files. Featured collections include bookmaking process archives of internationally known book artists Carol Barton, Ruth Laxson and Angela Lorenz. This digital collection presents an abridged preview of each book. Visit 2nd Floor, Rm. 201 of the Fleet Library or contact risdspecial@risd.edu to view the collection in its entirety.
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Time Square
Buzz Spector, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
screw post binding with mylar front cover, and paper wrapper; cover; detail. Results from a Google search of phrases relating to the concept of "time" were quantified and arranged in decreasing order and printed on 60 pages. When bound, the pages were then hand torn in decreasing amounts, revealing an altered version of the original. Curated title for Fleet Library Special Collections exhibition Stacked & Altered, summer 2022.
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Unpacking my Library
Buzz Spector, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
accordion fold, dos à dos; cover; interior pages. All the books in the artist's library were arranged in order of size, from the tallest to the shortest, on a single shelf in a gallery room large enough to hold them.
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Memory Lame
Jessica Spring, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
1 portfolio (5 folded sheets). Title from portfolio. Statement of responsibility taken from publisher's website. Edition of 25 copies, signed by the artist. "The contents of Memory Lame build from a central pentagonal memory palace composed of metal ornaments, cuts and borders. Opposite are excerpts from Rhetorica ad Herennium printed on Magnani paper. Forgetfulness from Questions about angels by Billy Collins, ©1991, is reprinted by permission of the University of Pittsburgh Press. Common mnemonic devices tease our memory, printed on sheets of handmade Saint-Armand. Tucked in each chapter are illustrations of plants that aid cognitive function, printed on transparent abaca. Text set in geometric shapes share the artist's grueling experience of cognitive and memory testing. Memory Lame is composed of metal, wood type and photo-polymer plates letterpress printed by Jessica Spring with binding by Gabby Cooksey. Abaca paper was handmade in residency at the Morgan Conservatory. The project was possible with Tacoma Arts Commission funding and support from the University of Puget Sound."--Colophon. "Memory Lame focuses on retention and loss of memory. The book structure must be built by the reader with content emanating from a central, pentagonal memory palace-the most common mnemonic place system-aided by cues of geometric shapes and large numerals. Surrounding the palace are excerpts from Rhetorica ad Herennium, the oldest known book on rhetoric and memory. Billy Collins' poem 'Forgetfulness' is repeated in each chapter, the text moving from black to gray as the reader circles the book. Common mnemonic devices tease the memory, printed on sheets of handmade Saint-Armand. Tucked in each chapter are illustrations of plants that improve cognitive function, printed on transparent abaca. Text set in geometric shapes share the author's grueling experience of cognitive and memory testing."--Artist's statement, Vamp & Tramp website.
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Boundless
David Stairs, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
1 volume. "A humorously titled small book whose 360 degree spiral binding makes its contents impossible to view." --Printed Matter website (viewed Jan. 22, 2020).
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Auto Record : Green Kill
Tyler Starr, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
20 unnumbered pages : illustrations. Title from cover. Inside covers included in pagination. Offset printed. Commercial accordion fold binding. "Edition of 800"--23 Sandy Gallery website. "'Auto Record' is an attempt to digest thousands of pages of declassed documents crated by the FBI in relation to the controversial incident in North Carolina on November 3rd, 1979, commonly known as the Greensboro Massacre. The accordion book format is used to visualize two processions of vehicles involved in the incident (one side of the booklet is the KKK and associates caravan, while the other depicts vehicles connected to the Communist Workers Party's anti-klan parade). Information provided includes weapons retrieved from the incident, a schematic of the bullet holes in the Channel 12 news car, and FBI summaries of the five individuals killed on that day. Information and imagery is all accurately based on or directly collaged from the primary documents."--23 Sandy Gallery website. Gift of Claudia Covert ; 2nd copy gift in honor of Ariel Bordeaux.
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This is an Emergency! : A Reproductive Rights + Gender Justice Portfolio
Meredith Stern, Judy Kashoff, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
1 portfolio : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 47 cm. Colophon page title. This portfolio contains a hand sewn 'zine' with text by Meredith Stern and Judy Kashoff, a colophon page, and a collection of 17 prints. Horizonal and vertical red bands surround the colophon, text, and 17 prints. "Seventeen artists created a print for this project. Third Termite Press in Pittsburgh printed the colophon and Ladyfingers Letterpress printed the covers. The participants are: several members of the Justseeds Cooperative including: Melanie Cervantes, Thea Gahr, Bec Young, Favianna Rodriguez, Mary Tremonte, Molly Fair, and myself (Meredith Stern). Also participating are: Ian Cozzens of Secret Door Projects, Kristina Brown, Delia Kovac, Emmy Bright, Lois Harada, Erin Rosenthal, Katrina Silander Clark, Arley Rose Torsone, Sam Merritt, and Olivia Horvath."--[see website listed below]. "There is also a written portion of this project which takes the form of a small hand sewn 'zine'. The zine includes interviews with: Judy Kashoff, Gina Glantz, Peg Johnston, Heather Booth, Ken Rinker, Virginia Reath, Elizabeth Esris, and Judith Arcana. Also included is a comic by Susan Simensky Bietila, which was originally printed in World War 3 Illustrated. There are a wide variety of experiences and stories that are untold, and this is an attempt to share some of them. The stories involve people's personal stories as well as their experiences working for equality through political and grassroots movement work. This aspect of the project has an inter-generational component; people in their 20's and 30's interviewed their mentors/elders. Women, feminists, gay, and queer identified people are largely absent from most historical texts and this project will tell some of our stories."--http://www.abortioncarenetwork.org/news/this-is-an-emergency Limited edition of 125 copies. Library has copy no. 13. Gift of Meredith Stern. Includes Press Release.
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Cyborgs
Paul Sunday, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
saddle stitch with soft cover; cover; interior spreads and pages. Black and white photographs of part human, part robot women.
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Grass
Kim Su-Yong, Xianlu Yi, Brother Anthony, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
1 volume, 12 pages. Limited to of 50 copies. Accompanied by folded sheet booklet ([6] pages ; folded to 13.5 x 10.5 cm) "Kim Su-yong, a poet who explored love and freedom as poetic and political ideals"--page [3] of cover. Wooden hardcover. Cover has blind carved designs. Title and author information embossed into covers. Accordion, flag book binding. "Kim su-yong is one of the most exceptional poets of modern Korea. He died at the relatively young age of 48 in 1968, but his poetry has become a symbol of freedom and revolution during the democratization of Korea. His last poem, "Grass," only published after his death, has provoked particular critical attention and debate. Depending on the viewpoint of the literary figures and their political beliefs, the meaning and the value of Kim's poetry showed a great range of differing opinions."--Datz Press webpage.
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Little Red Witch : Little Red Riding Hood by The Brothers Grimm
Normandie Syken, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
1 volume (unpaged) : illustrations ; 58 x 63 cm. Adapted, retold, and illustrated by Normandie Syken. Library #7 of 10. Hardcover book has thirty three woodcuts and the text is screen printed. The cover is bound with red asashi book cloth and the image is a two colored screen print and hand painted on top. The book is bound with a stab binding and has custom endpapers. The story is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set during the Salem witch trials.
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America: Guests Who Came to Dinner (and Stayed)
Evelyn Terry, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
10 unnumbered pages (including cover) : color illustrations. Title from cover. "Series: America same title, same text - altered books #14"--Colophon. Collage materials: mixed media original prints, artist's hair, sewing thread, and handwritten text. Signed, dated, and series numbered on page [3] of cover. Curated title for Fleet Library Special Collections exhibition By Hand: Women & Books Exhibit fall, 2021.
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Artist's Book Ideation Cards
Barbara Tetenbaum, Julie Chen, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
108 cards : color illustrations. "Barb Tetenbaum developed the original set of artist's book ideation cards for use in her teaching practice. This version was further developed and designed in collaboration with Julie Chen"--Colophon card. Two decks of offset printed playing cards enclosed in an acrylic box. "The Artist's Book Ideation Cards deck was designed as an aid to the book artist, to jump start a new project or inform one in progress. There are two decks in the set: Category Cards containing approximately eight cards in each of the seven categories (text, image, structure, paper, layout, technique and color) and 54 Adjective Cards of which three are 'wild cards.' Choosing a card randomly from each of the seven categories and five cards from the adjectives offers an unexpected recipe for a project"--23 Sandy Gallery website. Digitally designed and offset printed. Open edition. Curated title for Fleet Library Special Collections exhibition By Hand: Women & Books Exhibit fall, 2021.
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Black Ice and Rain: Psalms 6.6
Barbara Tetenbaum, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
pamphlet stitch with hard cover and silk covered boards; cover; title page; interior pages; colophon. Michael Donaghy recounts a true story of love and loss, illustrated by Tetenbaum's use of very tactile dyed and collaged handmade paper.
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Gymnopaedia, second movement
Barbara Tetenbaum, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
pamphlet stitch variation with hard cover; cover; title page; interior spread; colophon. Reflecting the music of Erik Satie who composed several "Gymnopaedia", an antique ledger forms the visual foundation for playful layers of "toe-tapping" imagery.
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American Manifesto
Todd M. Thyberg, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
12 unnumbered pages : color illustrations, map . "With a tip of the hat to printers and activists of the past, American Manifesto calls the United States citizens to action on a number of national concerns--our country's health, leadership, and environment, to name a few"--Artist's statement at the Vamp & Tramp Booksellers' website, viewed on September 1, 2015. "If America really is the best country on earth... why do so many of our people go hungry? Why do our leaders consistently work for corporate interests rather than individuals' rights? How can our leaders, the media, and we the public still be ignorant to the factual reality of climate change? Why can someone go to prison for a minor drug offense while the people who brought our economy to its knees still receive bonuses? Why are we still taking off our shoes to fly? How can 2/3 of American's population be overweight when people here and around the world go hungry? How is it acceptable to make fuel from food? Why don't we Americans question policies?"--Cover page 4. "Letterpress printed in three colors on a Heidelberg 10x15 Windmill. Printed on 100% cotton Crane Lettra Pearl White in Solano, Gotham, and Kaine typefaces. [Single signature stapled] in Condenons So. Wool Red Tartan paper wraps"--Vamp & Tramp Booksellers' website, viewed on September 1, 2015. Includes references sheet laid in. Cover letterpress printed in black on red. Staple binding
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Calico Ghosts: a photographic portrait of a silver mining town
Jill Timm, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
perfect bound variation (?) with fold-out pages. Paper-covered boards, foil stamped title; cover; title page; interior pages and spreads; . Color photographs of an abandoned California mining town are populated with black and white photographs of 19th century people, placed as translucent overlays.
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Sunrise 1
Jill Timm, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
accordion variation with three cascading panels, housed in silk covered slipcase; box cover; cover; interior spreads. Tinted sky and mountains, printed on three unfolding panels reveal a peaceful sunrise landscape.
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Power Pop
UG, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
1 volume, 10 unnumbered pages. Cover title. Publisher name, copyright date, and edition number from page [4] of cover. Edition of 100. First and last pages are pastedowns. Five double-pages pop-ups, silkscreen-printed in pixilated style of the 8-bit video and arcade games of the 1980s. Illustrations depict cityscapes and robots.
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Altered Book
Unknown. Possibly RISD Student., Special Collections, and Fleet Library
1 object. Altered book, consists of a portion of the spine (blue buckram) and a small part of the text block. Portions of words and illustrations can be seen as pages are flipped. Possibly made by a Rhode Island School of Design student. Donated to the library by Jan Baker, a former graphic design instructor who taught classes in artists' books. Case binding. Text in English. Curated title for Fleet Library Special Collections exhibition Stacked & Altered, summer 2022.
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New Horizons
Bruno van den Elshout, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
212 pages : all color illustrations. Title from case. Edition of 2012 numbered copies. Flatbook. Issued in paper wrapper and slipcase. Book design: Rob van Hoesel. On New Years Eve 2011 artist Bruno van den Elshout launches his camera-machine on the roof of a hotel on the beach in The Hague (NL). His goal is to capture the North Sea-horizon one year round. The camera-machine takes a picture of the horizon once every hour of 2012. That is 8,785 images. When these images start to arrive from the machine, the horizon suddenly reveals his surprisingly overwhelming appearance. Gray, grim, ordinary, or wild, waving, with skies reminiscent of The Hague School paintings in the late 19th century. Sometimes tranquil misty, unreal calm or bombastically colorful. The result is an incredibly surprising collection of images.
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Lunar Calculations
Katherine Venturelli, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
3 folded sheets. Publication information from Vamp & Tramp Booksellers website. Variable edition of 5. "Three Turkish map folds. A three-dimensional celestial map intaglio printed on white Lenox print papers. Bound in black linen book cloth over boards. Embossed circle on boards. Cord loop on each board to facilitate hanging"--Vamp & Tramp Booksellers website (accessed November 8, 2016). "Lunar Calculations is a book which opens up into a three-dimensional celestial map. My etched imagery printed on the interiors and exteriors of the pop out pages are lunar phases and mathematical symbols which are archetypal symbols that I have utilized in my on-going work. The book can be displayed by hanging it from the ceiling or on a wall. I selected the Turkish map fold/pop out format for two reasons. One, it enables the lunar and mathematical imagery to be viewed as if it were a celestial map, and two, the pop-out structure element captures and recreates the excitement of infinite possibilities"--Artist's statement, Vamp & Tramp Booksellers website (accessed November 8, 2016). Includes wooden stand.
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The Self Inside the House
Susan Viguers, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
pamphlet stitch variation, made from one folded piece of paper, with pop-up elements, enclosed in a paper wrapper; cover; cover (without slipcase); interior spreads and page; colophon. Using architecture as a metaphor, the artist muses on the aging process and how what is on the outside of us does not always reflect the real self, the part of us that is inside.
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Berlin and Phenomena
Wolf Vostell, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
14 pages. A Great Bear Pamphlet ; no. 9. Cover title. Translation of: 2 dé-coll/age-happenings. "Translated by Laura P. Williams"--Page 14. Paper wrapper, stapled. Gift of Estera Milman, RISD Class of 1970. Estera Milman (RISD BFA Painting/Printmaking and Film, 1970) scholar of post-World War II avant-garde art. Founded Alternative Traditions in Contemporary Art (ATCA) at the University of Iowa, 1982, and served as its director until 2000. She is the author of many books, articles, interviews, and exhibition catalogs on Fluxus and No!art. In December 2018 she donated a selection books from her library to the Fleet Library at RISD. Curated title for Fleet Library Special Collections exhibition By Hand: Women & Books Exhibit fall, 2021.
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Library in a Book: seven books in one
Mark Wagner, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
screw post bound album; pages have a variety of types of pockets with assorted small books in them; cover; first opening; interior pages. Using library ephemera such as catalog cards, date due slips, date stamps and more, assorted small artists' books are bound an album giving the the feel of a traveling library.
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Smoke in my Dreams
Mark Wagner, Special Collections, and Fleet Library
case bound in hard cover with exposed spine and paper covered boards; cover; interior spreads and pages. Using images of tobacco processing machines, wafting smoke, ephemera such as maps, hospital parking lot tickets and all the paper found in a pack of Camel cigarettes, the artist conveys his longing to be able to smoke in his dreams, a far safer option than smoking