A New Manifesto for Book Art Criticism

Books have long been recognized as ● Defining book art and artist a key medium for artists. Mallarme books as broadly as possible, in- wrote in 1895 that, “Everything in cluding digital and other novel the world exists to end up in a book.” and experimental forms. That is ever more true in today’s cli- ● Acknowledging that the way we mate as the book form is leveraged tell the history of book art needs to share ideas, perspectives, outrage, to be expanded, revised, and an- protest, humor, and beauty. notated because of our culture’s changing perspective. Book art production is more prolif- ● Acknowledging that there is no ic now than ever before, yet critical single model for proper criti- writing about book art and specif- cism, but that critical writing ically about artist books lags far be- should generally entail thinking hind critical writing about other me- about subject; maker; image; text; dia. Few publications devote space to typography & design; binding writing about book arts. Reviews of structure; printing method; oth- Beginning in fall 2020, we artist books often consist mostly of er physical attributes; time and will launch the Book Art descriptions of the book rather than place of origin; and quantity pro- Review project with a range a structured analysis. duced. of activities including: ● Demystifying artist books and making them more accessible to ● Open public discussion about a wider audience. what artist book criticism should ● Encouraging dialogue about look like and what the field book art in as many forms currently lacks. and forums as possible. ● Producing educational resources and classes for prospective writers. ● A physical and online journal. ● A prize for book art criticism. ● Public outreach and education programs.

We want to raise the bar! The Book Art Review is our plan to make book art criticism more visible If you are a writer with an interest and more valuable, and to engage in writing about the book as an art with a diverse group of writers and form, we would like to hear from you. readers. Our main principles are: Email us at bar@centerforbookarts. org. And find more details at www. centerforbookarts.org/bar

Megan N. Liberty David Solo Corina Reynolds