Black/White [and Read]

Organized by Gloria Helfgott
Artist and Independent Curator

Black/White [and Read] seeks to advance an artistic challenge-to deliver a powerful graphic statement, eschewing color, and utilizing solely black and white imagery. Through these book objects, the public reads works of art without being seduced by color or even text. The theme pervading this exhibition is that the black and white book becomes a symbolic form of censorship by the limitation forced upon the work. It blurs out information by the economy of its means and, with its dichotomous forces, it can shed light on universal themes. It is more than just showing artist’s books or objects, but surrounding them with ideas that emphasize their importance in the construction of our histories.

This exhibition reflects the complexity of matching only two colors (which some observers will not consider colors at all, but only shadows and textures) with individual interpretation and emotional response to its symbolism, such as life/death, good /evil, night/day.

Black/White [and Read] will lay bare the bones of the book and thus will manifest the strength of image and structure. Works by 15 book artists will be featured including Maria Barbosa, Geri Boggs, Inge Bruggemann, Doug Beube, Beatrice Coron, Pamela Drix, Bill Hendricks, Charles Hobson, Kumi Korf, Mary Ellen Long, Barbara Lazerus Metz, Werner Pfieffer, Pia Pizzo, Lise Poirier, Stephen Sidelinger, Robbin Ami Silverberg, Alice Simpson, Beth Thielen, Mary Ting, Nik Tongas, Susann Wilber, Ana Wolf, Arne Wolf, Crista Wolf.

Exhibition Checklist:

Tania  Baban

Recipe with Dogs
(2007) Inkjet Print on Stonehenge, mixed media, plush fabric

Maria  Barbosa

Theatre of War
(2006) Mixed media, silkscreen and inkjet prints

Toy II
(2006) Mixed media, etching monoprint and inkjet prints

Douglas  Beube

A Void: Consonants and Vowels (after Georges Perec)
(2006) Altered page

Italian to English Speakers
(2007) Altered book, recorded voice
Recorded voice- Manuela Ferrari
Audio Assistance- Greg Boas
Audio Editing- Michelle Leftheris

Twisted Meanings
(2006) Altered dictionary

G. R.  Boggs

Cracked
(2006) Mixed media, eggshell mosaics, porcelain egg, wood, paper, scrolls, xerography

The New Middle East
(2006) Mixed media, xerography, accordian binding

Inge  Bruggemann

Impact: Shades of Gray
(2006) Letterpress printing on vellum, plexiglass, post binding

Beatrice  Coron

Artists Statements
(2006) Cut paper and inkjet prints on Arches, accordian binding

Fleurs d’Insomnie
(2006) Cut Arches paper

Pamela  Drix

The Bitter Cup
(2005) Altered book, mixed media

Charles  Hobson & Kay Bradner

R. O. W. (A Consideration of the Right of Way Rules for Sailboats)
(2006) Linoleum relief print with cutouts, corrugated cover, cleat and line

Kumi  Korf

Rock Garden
(2006) Lithograph and etching, handmade box

Waves at My Side
(2007) Lithograph and etchin, handmade box

Barbara  Lazerus-Metz

Zebra Alphabet
(1998) Rubber stamps, ink on Rives BFK, embossed leather covers

Susan  Leopold

A Labyrinthine World of Correlations
(1995) Wood, glass lens, spray paint, sintra, B&W photographs

Mary Ellen  Long

Coral
(2006) 7 books, mixed media, ink on Japanese paper, sand, board

Memory, Black and White
(2006) Cast paper on forest detritus, natural materials, Sumi ink, inkjet prints

Werner  Pfeiffer

All That’s Left
(1992) Book covered with gesso and crumpled page

Foldout Book #2
(2006) Hand-cut, hand painted Strathmore paper

Pia  Pizzo

Ab Initio
(2006) Ink and acrylics on Arches and rice paper

The Holy Sound
(2006) Ink and watercolors on Lamma Li and rice paper

Lise  Poirier

Vox Natura
(2006) Collage reproduction on Strathmore

What’s New?
(2004) Collage, India ink on found paper, accordian binding

Stephen  Sidelinger

Cavafy Poems
(2006) Ink-heighted with white and collage, silk bookcloth

Moving
(2005) Ink on KromeKote paper, accordian binding

Selected Twentieth Century French Poetry
(2007) Ink and gouache on Strathmore paper, black velvet, inlaid paper labels

Robbin Ami  Silverberg

Gr�faz
(2003) Calligraphy on handmade Abaca and flax papers

Proverbial Threads
(2006) Archival inkjet print

Simulacrum (detail)
(2004) 3 of 9 panels
Handmade paper, glass, lights

Thoughts in the Form of a Letter
(2003) Pulp-painted and cut Abaca paper

Alice  Simpson

One for the Book
(2005) Offset printed Monadnock silk paper, accordian binding in origami enclosure, with DVD

Beth  Thielen

Katrina
(2007) Made with inmate artists from San Quentin State Prison and the California Rehabilitation Center
Photocopy on Stonehenge paper, Canapetta bookcloth, model train figures

Beth  Thielen & Katya McCullouch

Tower Book
(2007) Linoleum prints on Arches paper, Canapetta bookcloth

Mary  Ting

Book of Grief
(2006) Collograph on mulberry paper, wax, accordian binding

Nik  Tongas

Callosamia Promethea
(2005) Steel and zinc

Susann  Wilbur

Persephone’s Passage I
(2006) Pen and ink, paint on Japanese papers with mixed media, handmade box

Anna  Wolf

Symphony of A’s (or One of Rimbaud’s Follies)
(1999) Offset printing on Canson and Magnani, accordian binding

Christa  Wolf

Monologue
(2006) Artist Book, Etching, Asian Paper, Black Handmade paper, string, foam button

White Noise
(2007) Artist Book, cut outs on vellum

Support for the Center for Book Arts’ visual arts programming is provided, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

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