This summer, 240 participants in the Savannah College of Art and Design-Atlanta’s community education programs visited the artists book collection in the . High school students from the SCAD Summer Seminars and teachers from both the
Advanced Placement Institutes and the Art Educators’ Forum heard introductory lectures about artists books from library staff, and also had hands-on sessions with the collection.
High school teachers who were enrolled in the Advanced Placement Institute in Studio Art at SCAD-Atlanta view artists books at the library presentation in Trois Gallery July 20. The API, which was co-sponsored by SCAD and The College Board, was held July 16–20.
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SCAD’s community education programs provide teachers and students with opportunities to acquire new skills and develop ideas for their classes or their own work. The more than 1,800 artists books in the library comprise one of the premier special collections at SCAD. Because the collection is diverse and wide-ranging in media and subject matter, it supports artists’ individual interests as well as the broader art and design curriculum. The artists books are a key resource at SCAD, and the librarians said they enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to share them with many individuals from outside the college.
In preparation for the class sessions, the librarians selected more than 30 artists books that define the genre and highlight the diversity of the collection.
“We wanted them to see a range of books, from those of the conceptual artists of the 1960s to work by our own faculty,” said visual resources librarian Lindsey Barnes.
The students and teachers saw and handled books by such artists as David Hockney and Dieter Roth, and contemporary bookmakers such as Carol Barton and Johanna Drucker. SCAD librarians introduced the groups to several 3-D and sculptural pieces in the collection, such as Carol Schwartzott’s “A Brief History of the Fan,” and other books that encompass photography, letterpress printing or watercolor, such as Jo Going’s “Wild Cranes.”
Many of the students and teachers said they were impressed with the diversity and creativity of the collection. One high school student stayed after her session to discuss her art class’s altered book project. One teacher shared her own book art with the librarians, and several other teachers returned for individual sessions and more time with the books they had seen in class.
The SCAD librarians said they are continually impressed with the forethought of the ACA librarians who started the collection in the 1970s. The artists book collection continues to expand through the librarians’ research and planning, as well as the connections they have established with artists and presses.
“Artists books are endlessly interesting and exciting, and we welcome the chance to share them with SCAD students and faculty, and members of the wider community,” said Barnes.
Article by Deborah Prosser, head librarian at SCAD-Atlanta. Photo by Dane Sponberg.
