Make an online gift to The University of Iowa Center for the BookUICB News Spring 2003
The Book Culture Colloquium Brings Book Studies Community to the Table
Empyrean Press Releases All Things
Book Kits are a Growing Industry
Grant Funds Secured for New Course
Paper Production & Research Facility
The
Book Culture Colloquium Brings Book Studies Community to the Table
This year
the UICB began a series of lunch-hour discussions with local and visiting
speakers. The Book Culture Colloquium is a brown bag series exploring
the expressive power and social function of words in their material form.
Experts from the arts, the humanities, and the social sciences deliver
short talks, which are then followed by a question-and-answer period.
Concerned with the written word as both art and artifact, the series looks
at the past, present, and future of books, illustrating their centrality
to current discussions of literacy, visual media, and information technology.
In the fall 2002 semester, speakers included:
- “Queen Charlotte’s Hand-Copied Books” presented by Judith Pascoe, Associate Professor of English
-
“A Transatlantic Echo Chamber: The Mather Family Library
and the Protestant International, 1600-1750”
presented by Mark Peterson, Associate Professor of History - “Prehuman Reading Behaviors and Haptics of the Print Mode” presented by Gary Frost, Conservator, UI Libraries
Future speakers will include David Banash of the Department of English, Christine Pawley of the School of Library and Information Science, and Kathleen Kamerick of the Department of History/Center for the Book. Contact the uicb to confirm the speakers and dates for the spring semester.
Empyrean
Press Releases All
Things
Most readers of UICB News are familiar with the unique and historic home
of literary fine printing at the University of Iowa. Over a span of five
decades, Prairie Press, Cummington Press, and Windhover Press books have
been recognized for their literary taste as well as their exquisite design
and craftsmanship. Since KK Merker’s retirement in 2001, the UICB
has continued its commitment to publishing literature and art-of-the-book
titles. This year the UICB proudly released its inaugural title under
Empyrean Press, a literary imprint established by Fine Press Director
Shari DeGraw. All Things, by Pulitzer-Prize-winning
poet Jorie Graham, was completed in April 2002 in an edition of 315 copies.
The project culminated with Graham’s reading at Shambaugh Auditorium
to a standing-room-only audience. This collection addresses themes of
loss and evolution as the author continues to establish an original voice
in American literature. The book was printed in Spectrum type on Rives
Heavyweight Paper and case bound. The title page artwork was printed from
photopolymer plates and layered inks to reproduce an original pastel drawing
by painter Ronald Cohen. Binders Julie Leonard and Sara Langworthy have
included silk-sewn headbands to complement the indigo-dyed cover paper.
Fifteen special edition copies were bound by Mick LeTourneaux. Sales of
All Things are progressing well – the book has already
found its way to the Library of Congress and the British Library
Book
Kits are a Growing Industry
Kit
production has shifted into school-year mode at the UICB. Between keeping
the vending machine stocked and filling on-line orders, we are refining
both the kits and our production methods. Julie Cobb Smith leads a crew
who are revising kit instructions, creating a stock of kits, and developing
new kits for the holiday shopping season. We are also refurbishing an
old Cold Foods vending machine purchased with kit proceeds. Once gussied
up, this machine will be used for an experimental print-on-demand artist
book vending project. So, keep your eyes open for exciting new vending
opportunities this winter. Meanwhile, the Book Drop vending machine continues
to thrive in the North Lobby of the Main Library. Aramark Food Services
has generously extended the loan of the machine through October 2003.
We expect to offer a greater variety of kits, finished book projects,
and student work this fall. Thanks to all who have donated their time,
work, and effort to make Book Drop and kit production a success.
Grant
Funds Secured for Interdisciplinary Course
Professor Matt Brown has been awarded $5000 to develop an interdisciplinary
book studies course. The funding came from the College of Liberal Arts
& Sciences through the Division of Interdisciplinary Programs. Introduction
to Book Studies (108:185) will be offered for the first time in the
spring semester 2003.
In the course, students will read explore children’s literature,
pattern poetry, cookbooks, graphic novels, manuscript fascicles, magazine
fiction, artists’s books, websites, and literary narratives, as
well as secondary criticism and theory about book studies.
From
the Director’s Desk
After six and a half years of service as Director of the UICenter for
the Book, I’ll be returning to papermaking production, research,
publishing and teaching effective January 2003. It has been an honor and
a pleasure to serve as Director and I don’t regret a bit of the
time and energy the job demanded. Coincidentally, next semester I’m
taking on a visiting faculty position at the University of Michigan School
of Art and Design. I look forward to returning to Iowa City next June.
In the meantime, Jon Wilcox has graciously agreed to serve as Interim
Coordinator of the UICB while our Advisory Board works with the Dean to
identify leadership for the long term future.
In other news, Matt Brown, our faculty member in English/Book Studies,
now serves as graduate student advisor for our certificate program students.
Matt has also organized an excellent brown bag lunch lecture series designed
to bring the book studies community together several times a semester.
We very much appreciate Matt’s contributions in both areas.
Lynn Amlie was interviewed at length by a reporter from the Wall Street
Journal about the UICB Paper Facility’s production of special
paper used in the preservation of the ‘Charters of Freedom’
at the National Archives. The conversation resulted in a bit of national
exposure for the UICB– an illustrated article which appeared in
the July 2, 2001 edition.
All Things, the new Empyrean Press publication designed and printed
by Shari DeGraw, is now complete and available in both regular and special
editions. See details above.
Many of our students are distinguishing themselves through exhibitions
and publications. We are currently developing the student section of our
webpage to show off their accomplishments.
In the meantime, another bit of good news: we’ve discovered that
interdisciplinary degrees currently offered by the Graduate College may
provide certain students with full graduate degree study options while
the UICB proposal for stand alone MA and MFA degrees in book studies remains
under consideration.
As all of our faculty, staff and students know, the financial situation
in the state and at the University is not as strong as we would wish.
We continue to be more dependent than ever on the good will and generosity
of our supporters. Please contact us directly if you are in a position
to help us build our special assets and maintain our unique strengths
in book studies during this difficult time.
Tim Barrett, Director
Type
Kitchen Student Printing Studios
Publishing collaborations among author, artist and printer
have been a great success in the Type Kitchen, and have added tangible
artwork to literary events in Iowa City this fall. Working with UI Professor
of Art John Dilg, Shari DeGraw and her students reproduced two of Dilg’s
paintings on broadsides for visiting authors Tomaz Salamun and Lyn Heijinian.
These broadsides feature new work by each author and are available for
purchase at Prairie Lights Bookstore.
Poet Timothy Krcmarik completed Ashes Poetica, 14 previously
unpublished poems by Marvin Bell. Krcmarik and Bell spoke about the collaboration
and Bell read some of the poems on the ui’ås wsui radio station
in September. SLISstudent Holly Huffman worked with current UI Interim
President Sandy Boyd to produce a handsome collection of Mr. Boyd’s
commencement speeches delivered during his service as UI President during
the 1970s and 80s. Chelsey Johnson, a fiction writer, published a Christmas
tale sure to raise eyebrows, The Baby in the Manger, by best-selling
children’s author Lemony Snicket. Fine press assistant and poet
Sarah Roberts produced True False, a breathtaking twenty-three
foot accordion-folded poem by Dean Young.
Oakdale
Paper Research & Production Facility
Activities at the Oakdale Paper Facility include restocking our PC4 papers,
creating a new book paper from hemp and fermented flax, and ongoing work
on a number of research projects. Lee Running and Tatiana Ginsberg continue
to provide excellent assistance in a variety of capacities.
Lynn Amlie continues her research on the ergonomics of hand papermaking
equipment and procedures designed to prevent worker injury. Last year,
Jim Elmborg (slis) generously provided Tim Bryant as research assistant
on this project. Bryant was instrumental in shooting digital video, and
provided editorial assistance and formatting a potential website for the
changes implemented by the Paper Facility. Amlie and Tim Barrett also
designed and produced an electrically driven stamper beater that should
eliminate the need for extensive hand beating during our winter Japanese
style paper production. Amlie presented her research at the annual Friends
of Dard Hunter Papermaking Conference in Portland, Oregon, in October.
Tim Barrett and research assistant John Baty completed two key experiments
related to the role of gelatin in paper permanence. One shows that gelatin
can help keep the paper pH closer to neutral or alkaline over time and
the other suggests that gelatin, because it helps the sheet to retain
more moisture, may help maintain fiber flexibility and promote longer
lasting mechanical properties in the paper. They are hoping to publish
this research in a forthcoming issue of the American Institute for Conservation
Journal.
Calligraphy
Courses Offer a Wide Range of Experiences
At least three courses in letterforms are offered each semester. Students
from the uicb program and many other majors fill the classes consistently.
Adjunct Assistant Professor Cheryl Jacobsen’s History of Western
Letterforms (108:143) is a great class for non-calligraphers who
study manuscripts and wish to increase their level of understanding by
learning how the scribes actually made letters. This study is invaluable
for translation and transcription of manuscripts. Time is spent each week
actually using a pen and recreating the various hands produced between
AD 100 and 1900. The emphasis is on understanding the process, not in
becoming proficient at any one hand, as the class moves quickly and fits
a lot of information in a short period of time. Students experiment with
quills and vellum and papyrus, and even do a little illumination. They
can expect more reading than the average studio class and more hands-on
than the average history class.
Foundational Hands (108:145) focuses on three hands: Roman, Humanistic
Minuscule, and Italic, which are the inspiration for our modern typographic
forms. Inspiration for projects is taken from historical forms as well
as the incredible variety of work being produced by today’s lettering
artists.
In the summer, Jacobsen offers Italic and script Hands (108:143).
These two hands tend toward the more cursive side of letterforms and students
explore some of the early handwriting forms, too.
Adjunct Professor Glen Epstein has consistently offered two courses each
semester since 1984. They began as Calligraphy I and Calligraphy
II. As the UICB certificate program developed, the courses were renamed
Gothic Hands (108:140) and Expressive Forms (108:141).
In Gothic Hands Epstein focuses on teaching students to understand
the questions involved in art and craft, rather than working up a polished
letterform. Using Fraktur, an easily attainable type of Gothic hand, the
course emphasizes the ideal conditions of practice, in-cluding making
concentration as much a physical part of practice as gripping the pen.
Expressive Forms introduces the student to the vast possibilities
– the width rather than the depth – of calligraphy. It introduces
the student to new letterforms and new tools used to accomplish them:
letters resulting from a broad-edged nib (Italic); pressure (Copperplate,
Brushscript); and drawing (Versals). The class also introduces watercolor
and the dip pen. Epstein takes the leash off here, and focuses on individual
growth both calligraphically and cathartically.
UICB
Continues Its Tradition of Public Lectures
This fall the UICB hosted Nicholas Basbanes for its seventh annual Brownell
Lecture on the History of the Book. Basbanes’s interests include
the world of bibliomania – the avid collection of books. The story
of Steven Bloomberg, book thief from Ottumwa, was a highlight of this
talk.
On April 17, 2003, Susan Skårsgard will deliver the Mitchell Lecture
on the Art of the Book. Her lecture, titled “The Hand in Type,”
is a multi-media event featuring four type designers each focusing on
one of their typefaces: Margo Chase (Shiraz), Jerry Campbell (Camalot),
Rick Cusick (Nyx), and Michael Clark (Pouty). Video footage of each of
the lettering artists at the drawing table shows how their type designs
were initially developed from writing or gestural marks by the hand.
Susan Skårsgard is an artist and designer from Ann Arbor, Michigan,
who uses letters to create image and meaning in her work. She is known
internationally for her original fine art works, as well as her graphic
design and lettering. Skårsgard works as a Lead Product Designer
and Lettering Specialist for General Motors Design Center and is also
pursuing an MFA at the University of Michigan.
David D. Hall comes to the UI as Ida Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor,
March 27-29, 2003. The week-long series of lectures and discussions is
co-sponsored by American Studies, History, and the UICB. Hall is a divinity
scholar at Harvard, with a special interest in book studies.
Tim Moore of Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a specialist in hand-crafted hand
papermaking equipment. He spoke to a a group of students and faculty on
November 11.
Summer
2002 Graduate
CONGRATULATIONS! to Susan Klatz, who received her Center for the Book
certificate in August of 2002. Susan’s studies focused on the medieval
period and the history of manuscripts and libraries.
Student
Assistantships
Lee Emma Running is in her second year as Papermaking Apprentice to Lynn
Amlie at the Oakdale Facility. She previously studied at Dieu Donné
Papermill in New York City.
The UICB Fine Press has two RAs who each work 1/4 time. After graduating
from the Writer’s Workshop, Emily Wilson took a break to pursue
development of her small press, and has returned to the UICB program.
Tatiana Ginsberg, recently from the Metropolitan Museum of Art and native
of New York City, brings her expertise in production printing to the shop.
© The University of Iowa 2005. All rights reserved.
