North Carolina, Part 2

While in the state of North Carolina, I reached out to Josh Hockensmith, Art Library Assistant for the Joseph C. Sloane Art Library of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill for the presentation of my artists’ books.

Prior to my visit, Josh asked if perusing the collection would be of interest, if so, he would be delighted to pull a selection of books for me. Enthusiastically looking through their collection in the Artstor image database, I chose several books. The artists' books that interested me where the ones relating to subject matters in my own or future books. I was also interested in researching different interpretations of similar themes or innovative concept while at Hanes Art Center. 

I presented my artists’ books to Josh Hockensmith and Alice Whiteside, the head of the art library. After our session, Joshua talked about Angela Lorenz’s artists’ book called Soap Story. As, I washed my hands with one of the last six tiny bars of soap, I found myself instrumental in helping an artist realize her goal by releasing a little more of the text, silk-screened on linen pages placed inside the soap.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. A selection of books that were pulled for me to peruse at the Joseph C. Sloane Art Library of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Afterwards, I was guided to a table full of artists’ books for me to genuinely enjoy. It was thrilling to be able to properly view artists’ books included on my short list. Some were seen online, others discovered through conversations, without having the unique experience of reading them first hand.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. High Tension: Montage by Philip Zimmermann. Paperback machine-sewn, offset printing, unpaged.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. High Tension: Montage by Philip Zimmermann. “I wanted to create a book that investigated stress and perhaps even looked into ways of relieving it.” — PhilipZimmerman.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Sanctus Sonorensisby Philip Zimmermann, Spaceheater Editions. Board book, offset printing, 90 unnumbered pages, color illustrations, 28 cm.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Sanctus Sonorensis by Philip Zimmermann. “The cover image is part of the Sonoran desert in Southern Arizona about 50 miles from Lukeville and just a couple of miles from the Mexican border. It is one of the most heavily trafficked and dangerous entry points for illegal Mexican immigrants entering the United States. Many die there each year from exposure and lack of water. The skyscapes are all photographed in New Mexico and Arizona during 2003 and 2004.”

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. The fortune teller by Malini Gupta. Digitally printed, Japanese Stab binding, waxed paper infused with the smell of incense; 17 unnumbered leaves-color illustrations in a box + 1 folded sheet.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Mutually Exclusive by Emily Martin, Naughty Dog Press. Magic wallet, letterpress printing, 12x17 cm, unpaged.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Mutually Exclusive by Emily Martin.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Anything from Anywhere by Emily Tipps, RG Brian Dickson, Jon Pierce, and Jennifer Moore. Single-fold pamphlet in a clamshell box, letterpress printing, handmade papers, 21 x 14 cm; 1 box (4 volumes of 16 or 20 pages each.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Sidewalk Salon by Manar Moursi, Cairo Al Kotob Khan for Publishing. Smyth sewing, offset printing.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Sidewalk Salonby Manar Moursi. 214 pages illustrations, 26 cm + 3 maps.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Sidewalk Salon by Manar Moursi.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. The Sundown Salon unfolding archive: a project by Fritz Haeg.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. The Sundown Salon unfolding archive: a project by Fritz Haeg.

After naturally viewing my web site Josh added quite a few more artists’ books that might peek a mutual interest. I enjoyed Josh’s excellent selection.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Age Specific by Dennis Marsico. Accordion fold, letterpress printing, digital prints, 13 sequences in one box.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Age Specific by Dennis Marsico.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Atlas of Punctuation by Heidi Neilson. Case binding, letterpress printing, 29 pages.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Atlas of Punctuation by Heidi Neilson.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Atlas of Punctuation by Heidi Neilson.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Descendant by Jennifer Brook. Artist improvised structure, coptic binding, letterpress printing, wooden bindings, 12 pages, 20 x 10 x 11 cm.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Descendant by Jennifer Brook.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Transplant by Jennifer Brook, Tree House Press. Coptic binding, letterpress printing, unpaged, 17 cm.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Transplant by Jennifer Brook.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Intrusion by Ellen Knudson, Crooked Letter Press. 18 double leaves color illustrations wood cuts in slipcase.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Intrusion by Ellen Knudson. Illustrations 29 x 19 cm in slipcase 30 x 19 cm.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Intrusion by Ellen Knudson.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. The square by Islam Aly. Coptic binding, laser cut, 160 unnumbered pages, chiefly illustrations, 12 cm.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. The square by Islam Aly. “Tahrir Square in Cairo became the focal point and the most effective symbol of the protests in January and February 2011. For 18 days Egyptians repeated the slogan: The People Want to Bring down the Regime (al-sha`b yurid isqat al-nizam) until the regime stepped down on the 11th of February 2011. Cairo’s map is laser engraved on the book covers. Three edges of the book are colored then laser engraved to demonstrate the streets of Cairo.”

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. The square by Islam Aly.

I also viewed Fragments from the stacked deck by Judy Anderson, Nexus Press. Loose-leaf in enclosure, offset printing."This book began in outrage, a response to the increasing reports of violence against women in the world. Text fragments were taken from the daily news, juxtaposed with one woman's voice." A deck of cards offset printed in color on one side and black-and-white on the opposite side, with silhouettes of women and "feminine" forms such as vases and floral/botanical imagery cut out from surrounding fields of text.

Panorama by Julie Chen; took two people to handle for viewing, so, Josh helped me to experience the book opened as it revealed various panoramic views. Panorama contains two main sections, each with layered pop-ups. Each page contains relief and pressure print images and texts. When completely opened the book measures 5 feet wide. Housed in a cloth-covered, drop-spine box.

My books and I were well received, and I enjoyed viewing some incredible creations from some talented artists. Later onI will provide feedback on the results of my visit.

I hope you enjoyed reading of my visit at the Joseph C. Sloane Art Library. I wish you all a great year 2020.

Pennsylvania

My plans for the end of September were to present my artists’ books to libraries in Pennsylvania. 

The first visit was to the Special Collections Research Center of the Charles Library of Temple University in Philadelphia. The library had completely been reconstructed by the AD100 architectural firm Snøhetta. This space echoes Snøhetta’s completed work at the Calgary Library in Alberta, Canada. The Charles Library is filled with a variety of specialized and innovative spaces providing a gateway to Temple’s campus.

© 2019 Michael Grimm. Outside the Charles Library, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Standing in front of the Charles Library, I was amazed at the soaring cedar-clad roof that continues throughout the inner atriums. The unique architecture made me pause at the information desk. I was gobsmacked at the building’s unique structure and the number of students engaged in flexible multipurpose rooms, reading areas, and study spaces giving them access to knowledge and technology.

© 2019 Michael Grimm. Inside view of the Charles Library, Temple University.

I was escorted through the « pièce de résistance » — the grand entrance, a three-story, domed atrium to the Special Collection Research Center on the first floor — an inspirational environment. Special Collection Research Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible primary resources and rare or unique materials, to stimulate, enrich, and support research, teaching, learning, and administration at Temple University.

Before entering enthusiastically into my appointment with Margery N. Sly, the librarian in charge of acquiring artists’ books, I spotted an exhibition filled with book arts reflecting the theme of architecture, celebrating the current facilities. I viewed books by Julie Chen, Brian Dettmer, Colette Fu, Malini Gupta, Guy Himber, Emily Martin, Carol Schwartzott, Jana Sim, and Thomas Parker Williams. 

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Exhibition at the Special Collection Research Center of the Charles Library, Temple University.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Ashima by Colette Fu part of the exhibition at the Special Collection Research Center.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. left: The Gist of Romeo and Julier by Emily Martin, right: A Brief History of the Fan by Carol Schwartzott at the Special Collection Research Center.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Language Möbius by Jana Sim at the Special Collection Research Center.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Spiral Dome Sculpture in Paper and Steel by Thomas Parker Williams at the Special Collection Research Center.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. [Material in the tissue spaces] by Brian Dettmer at the Special Collection Research Center.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Clock Work Fish by Guy Himber part of the exhibition at the Special Collection Research Center.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. The Fortune Teller by Malini Gupta at the Special Collection Research Center.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. Chrysalis by Julie Chen at the Special Collection Research Center.

My experience went beyond my interaction and presentation to Margery; I felt enveloped by art. Margery was a very approachable librarian who expressed considerable interest in artists’ books. I’m thrilled to announce that Finding Home, A Day Filled with Onomatopoeias, and Earth.15 (Outside the Studio) are now part of Special Collections Research Center of the Charles Library of Temple University.

© 2016 Louise Levergneux. Finding Home, a visual narrative on being unsettled in an environment— to find a sense of place, a sense of belonging.

© 2013 Louise Levergneux. A Day Filled with Onomatopoeias (book and audio), is an interactive book based on the word onomatopoeia and it’s definition.

© 2012 Louise Levergneux. Earth.15 part of the series Outside the Studio, a photographic documentation and a study in movement and time featuring the four basic elements published in a weekly edition.

---

My subsequent visit was the McCabe Library of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore. Amy McColl, Head of Collections provided explicit instructions to the library making it a pleasant introduction to the campus. Most librarians I have encountered provide a visual characterization of the library; Amy’s description was a fun and surprising one “the building looks sort of like a fortress” she naturally added in her email. At my arrival I was delightfully surprised by the architecture, it does look like a Medieval Castle outside and inside. With great astonishment the building is referred to as “The Cage,” McCabe Library inspires a wide range of feelings among the student body, many of which are far from positive. Though, I enjoyed the cozy feeling of the atrium, its stone walls and dim lighting seemed to set a claustrophobic mood, but the atmosphere does not transfer to the librarians.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. McCabe Library, Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. The main lobby of the McCabe Library, Swarthmore College.

Swarthmore College is home to a vibrant and continually growing collection of contemporary artists' books. The Book Arts and Private Press Collection is committed to the acquisition of fine printing and artists' books and endeavours to represent all aspects of the physical book including bookbinding, typography, letterpress and offset printing, hand paper-making, illustration, and book design.

After a very up-beat dialogue with both Amy and Susan Dreher, my artists’ books Traverse, Parade, and City Shields (Pennsylvania volume) have fortunately found a new home in the Special Collection of the Rare Book Room in McCabe Library. These join four flip books: Air.10, Earth 16, Fire.3, H2O.11 (Outside the Studio) already collected through Vamp and Tramp in 2018.

© 2015 Louise Levergneux. Traverse, a documentation on the artist’s annual trip across the country to her home town of Gatineau, Québec, Canada.

© 2014 Louise Levergneux. Parade, presents the strange and intriguing scene of empty chairs waiting for the owner that will be curb side when the parade begins.

© 2008 Louise Levergneux. City Shields, Pennsylvania Vol US6: No 1. A photographic documentation using manhole covers to depict exploration of geographical locations along the artist's life journey.

---

This brings me to a sad moment for the community, as I convey my sincere condolences for the profound loss of Bill Stewart of Vamp & Tramp, Booksellers at the beginning of November. Bill, with his wife Vicky, were very instrumental in introducing my artists’ books to Special Collections of university libraries in the United States. I will always be appreciative for his demanding work, dedication, and professionalism. Bill will be sorely missed.