The Art of the Book '08

October 2009 - January 15, 2010

The Bruce Peel Special Collections Library and the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild are pleased to announce the opening of The Art of the Book '08 exhibition, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of CBBAG. The exhibition is curated and organized by Susan V. Corrigan and Shelagh Smith, co-chairs of the CBBAG Exhibition Committee.

The exhibition includes a wide variety of work reflecting the distinct but overlapping elements of the book arts: Fine Binding; Papermaking; Paper Decorating (including marbling); Calligraphy; Box Making; Fine Printing; and Artists' Books. The range of work is from the traditional to cutting edge contemporary. The depth of exploration and experimentation of contemporary book arts is amply exemplified. The result makes for a visually interesting, intellectually stimulating, and a very exciting exhibition. The exhibition also reflects the more than 25 years of expansion in the book arts, with organizations such as CBBAG and centers throughout the United States, United Kingdom, and elsewhere taking a leading role.

This installation includes 78 works by 70 book artists from Canada, the United States, and Japan, and will be shown in 9 cities across Canada. We hope the originality and artistic merit of these pieces will provide standards and inspiration for the Canadian book arts community.

A catalogue with photographs of all pieces in the exhibit has been published and is available online at www.cbbag.ca. Print editions of the catalogue may be purchased at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library.