| One-Day Symposium at Winchester
School of Art, A one-day symposium at Winchester School of Art co-hosted by the Centre for Fine Print Research, UWE, Bristol & Winchester School of Art Library, University of Southampton. Friday 13th July 2007 |
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21 years in 21 minutes: past present and future – the artists' book collection at Winchester School of Art Library
Linda Newington and Catherine Polley
A brief summary of how the collection here has grown and developed
The 1970s – the beginning
• Collection started in the early 1970s by Tony Godfrey and located in the Rotunda
•Books were on open shelves, described as “artists' fiction” and “reference only not to be removed from the Library” written in biro on the covers!
•Examples include works by Ed Ruscha, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Stephen Willats and Richard Long
The 1980s - consolidation
• Linda started at WSAL in 1986 and brought the artists' fiction together as a separate and distinct collection of artists' books
• Continued to add to the collection mainly through purchases from the Nigel Greenwood Gallery and Ian Shipley bookshop
The 1990s - development
• Catherine arrived at WSAL in 1993
• Previously worked at Chelsea College of Art and Design
• Some contact with the artists' books collection there and items such as a milk bottle started me questioning what artists' books were
• Beginnings of the LAB enabled me to start adding to the collection
• WSA became part of the University of Southampton in 1996
• Moved into a new library in 1996 and were able to house the artists' books collection in purpose built cabinets with linked reading room
• Accepted that while the collection was valuable and contained in locked cabinets, would be a handling collection
• Started retrospectively converting the records
• Successful application to the University's Strategic Fund enabled us to buy the complete set of John Bently's Liver and Lights Scriptorium together with related ephemera
• Collection development decisions informed by
• Teaching and research needs of School
• Strengths of collection (particular artists, presses, themes)
• Acquisitions from staff and students
The 2000s – collaboration and promotion
• Collaborative projects with Winchester Gallery showcasing aspects of the collection eg. 50 concertinas
• Workshops for schools and colleges
• Produced printed 'collections guide'
• Stands at artists' book fairs with WSA
• Adding to the collection from further afield, beyond the UK
• Embedding book arts in the curriculum across a range of disciplines
• Creating the 'inspiring collections' project with support from the faculty
• A potential new project with an emphasis on linking the Knitting Reference Library with making artists' books for the 'In the loop:
past present and future' conference at WSA in July 2008
Above all the collection is there to inspire!
Download:
Intrduction talk mp3 (7.4mb) to download, right click and 'save as'
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