May 30, 2002

‘Booker's Dozen’ Displayed at Sandpoint Library During June

“Booker’s Dozen,” an exhibition of artists’ books designed and produced by Idahoans, will be displayed at the Sandpoint Branch Library during June as part of a program presented by the Idaho Center for the Book at Boise State University.

The library is located at 1407 Cedar Street, Sandpoint. Summer hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The exhibit will be displayed through June 27.

“Booker’s Dozen” includes 14 handmade books that were selected by Idaho artists, bookmakers, gallery owners, writers and publishers. This year, for the first time, the jury has designated four of the entries as “best of show.” The juried exhibit will travel to 12 locations around the state during 2002, including libraries in Moscow, Lewiston, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Falls, Pocatello and Sandpoint.

The creations stretch the boundaries of what we imagine a book to be, according to Tom Trusky, a Boise State English professor and ICB director. For example, “The Final Spin” by Susan A. Bosley uses cut-and-taped 45 rpm vinyl records as a base and “labels” presented in exquisite detail to chronicle the deaths of such entertainment legends as Kurt Cobain, Karen Carpenter, Jim Morrison and Elvis Presley.

“Ouch” by James Ross Orr features a total of 128 thumbtacks in the cover, and pop-up pages inside to lead the reader through a series of seemingly “painful” events in the life of the author. Another creation, “Auto-Retrat Ficticieux” by Stephanie Bacon includes a deck of original cards that can be shuffled to create a near infinite number of stories.

“You need not be a member of the artists union to make an artists’ book, nor is a volume rife with Picasso’s illustrations necessarily an artists’ book,” Trusky said. “The book — not the maker — decides the issue.”

The Idaho Center for the Book was established at Boise State in 1993 and is affiliated with the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The ICB works to encourage and promote an interest in reading, writing, making,disseminating and collecting books. The center also seeks to preserve and publicize the bibliophilic heritage of the Gem State.

Contact:
Tom Trusky
English
208-426-1999
ttrusky@boisestate.edu

Media Contact:
Janelle Brown
communications and marketing
208-426-1790
jbrown2@boisestate.edu