Happy Spring!  With it brings a new round of book arts exhibits!  Opening this month is "Readers' Art 12:  Longing for Home" at the Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN...with a theme of home and what it means to you.  This blog's writer has two works in this always inventive and exciting annual exhibit!  Also, from NJ is Mary-Ellen Campbell who also has a work in the exhibit.  Check it out at http://www.susanhenselgallery.com/.  At the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center in Kalamazoo, MI, presents "Good Eats".  This is an annual exhibit as well with all 2-d food-related artwork.  (I also have a work in this exhibit as well...shameless self-promotion here!) This coincides with their annual Edible Book Fest taking place on April 2nd, where contributors to the Fest make all books edible!  In May, their other popular exhibit, "The Illustrated Accordion" will open with another work of mine in the show!  For more information, check it out at http://www.kalbookarts.org/category/kbac-gallery/.  Also, showing here on the East Coast and closing at the end of this month is an interesting exhibit at the Center for Book Arts entitled "Fine and Dirty" curated by Betty Bright and Jeff Rathermel showcasing letterpress and its use in book arts and more!  http://www.centerforbookarts.org/exhibits/archive/showdetail.asp?showID=217 Also, for the lovers of popups, check out this:  University of Rochester showcases "Pop-up and Movable Books from the 16th Century to Today".  It will be up for awhile and looks to be a great exhibit of pop-ups and moveables.  Another fun exhibit that opened at the Santa Fe Community College celebrating the creation of their Center for Book Arts and Printmaking is "BAG Shows Off", an exhibit of book artists from the area exhibiting their wonderful creations...and, yes, I have a piece in this exhibit as well!  Enjoy this lovely weather and get out there and make some books!

Happy May!...the lusty month of May!...(from Camelot's "The Lusty Month of May)...May brings spring flowers and things in bloom...and, celebrating new things, here are some new exhibits opening in the big apple which will certainly inspire and help your creative spirit to bloom.  Now showing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art:  The drawings of Richard Serra, the sculpture of Anthony Caro up on the rooftop sculpture garden, and the great lusty and edgy fashions of Alexander McQueen at the Costume Institute.  Check them all out, particularly the Alexander McQueen exhibit which has welcomed 43,000 visitors in its first week alone!  For more info, visit www.metmuseum.org.

Also opening at the Morgan Library in New York are three exhibits: Fashion in the medieval ages as illustrated in the Book of Hours, medieval and Renaissance manuscripts with some recreated garments from these time periods, the drawings of Jim Dine, the Glypotek Drawings and some selections from their permanent collections.  For more info, go to www.themorgan.org.

Now showing nationally, is the "Artist's Books Cornucopia" exhibit at the Abecedarian Gallery in Denver, Co.  Alicia Bailey's annual presentation of artist's books always serves up a lusty selection of exquisitry culled from national and international book artists.  Be sure to check out the online photos at her website. 

Another great exhibit of artists' book is "The Illustrated Accordion" at the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center in Kalamazoo, MI.  The writer of this blog has one piece in this exhibit and the photos on their Flickr photostream are great!  Also, check out "The Accordion Book of Accordions" online!  Fun, fun, fun...what a perfect book to submit for this exhibit.

And, just one more great exhibit at the Susan Hensel Gallery in Minneapolis, MN..."Ars Domestica" where mending circles with tales and mending are combined to create a performance piece and exhibit.  Go to www.susanhenselgallery.com for more info!

So, that's it for now...enjoy and always remember, if you have a great exhibit or item, please email me or post on this blog!  Happy May!

March is National Women's History Month and this blog post celebrates women who have propelled book arts into the forefront in the role as curator, book artist and dealer.  Diane Shaw, Curator and Director of Special Collections at Skillman Library at Lafayette College, Easton, PA, began acquiring artists' books 10 years ago.  Today, Lafayette's Collection rivals that of other prestigous collections throughout the country and she does it quietly and very well.  This haven of wonderful artist's books also highlights exhibits of artist's books and Ms. Shaw has brought to Skillman Library the work of 3 women book artists: Nava Atlas, Maureen Cummins and Ann Lovett.  Entitled "In Retrospect", the exhibit highlights how 3 different women approach gender issues and views of themselves through the narrative and visual format of the artist's book.  For info on their work, go to www.vampandtramp.com under Fine Presses/Artists Books and also check out Lafayette's blurb on their wonderful exhibit at www.lafayette.edu under Calendar of Events.  

Three other women who are not only book artists but gallery dealers as well and very successful at both include, Alicia Bailey owner of the Abecedarian Gallery, Denver, CO; Laura Russell owner of 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland, OR; and Susan Hensel owner of The Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis, MN.  All three have advanced the education of the public of what is an artist's book and its perception as an art object.  For more information on their work as book artists, check out www.vampandtramp.com or their individual gallery websites at:  www.abecedariangallery.com, www.23sandygallery.com, and www.susanhenselgallery.com.  Currently at Susan Hensel's space is an exhibit in its 11th year entitled "Readers' Art 11:  Urban/Urbane which opens tonight!  Susan is also a fabulous fiber artist and her yarns will want you to pick up those crochet hooks and knitting needles again.  Check out her artists' books at www.susanhenseldesign.com.  The writer of this blog has 2 works in this exhibit and is very excited to be a part of it.  Past exhibits at all galleries are worth more than a peek, but some of my favorites are: "The Boxy Book" at Abecedarian Gallery and "Pop-Up" at 23 Sandy Gallery. 

So have fun and have a great March and remember to celebrate those special women in your lives with cards, gifts and hugs of love!