Why, apart from its contents, is the physical book such a compelling and beloved object? My obsessive interest in books and in objects made in emulation of them began years ago with this question, and led to a comprehensive study of objects made in book form, from the humblest item to rare works of art. I refer to these objects by the convenient term blooks, a contraction of “book-look”. The goal of my studies and collecting endeavors is to determine the scope of the subject through the examination of thematic trends, makers and manufacturers, and object histories; to contextualize blooks within the realms of book history, material culture, and the arts; and to introduce the most interesting blook structures to artists and makers—Mindell Dubansky, Curator.
This exhibition encourages today’s artists to see beyond the book’s traditional purpose, inviting them to explore the form’s rich potential for subversion, concealment, and narrative layering.
Mon - Thu 11am - 6pm
Fri & Sat 11am-5pm
Sun CLOSED
Center for Book Arts
28 West 27th St, 3rd Fl
New York, NY
40.744765463681, -73.9899346
200 Years of Blooks
