Means of Production: Student Publications in the Albert Solheim Library at Pacific Northwest College of Art
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5399/osu/1093-7374.26.01.10Keywords:
Oregon, library, association, Oregon libraries, academic library, libraries, librarians, northwest, information science, information literacy, social media, writing, library trends, books, donors, library funding, Oregon library association, quarterly, Oregon library association quarterly, American library association, ala, ola, reading, library success, success, evolving roles, OSU, Oregon state, University, web services, public, new discipline, changes in libraries, career, careers, library careers, library career, professional journal, scholarly, academic, circulation, Portland, innovative, inventive, solution, oregon librarians, librarian, civics, civic education, inspiring, engagement, role, participation, skills, create, creating, resources, develop, source, evaluate, evaluation, evaluating, collections, community, connecting, communities, history, Serenity Ibsen, PNCA, Pacific Northwest College of Art, director, art, student, fine press, printmaking, letterpress, wood cut, screen printing, queer, dominant culture, subversive, Albert Solheim, special collections, professional practice, artist, publication, thesis, print mediaAbstract
The creation of books has long been a way for artists to explore different mediums and avenues for sharing their work, “getting art off the wall, out of the gallery, and into the hands of a wide, democratic, or populist audience” (White, 2012, p. 46). A book is generally cheap to design and produce, is relatively portable, and easy to interact with. Books offer both intimacy between creator and viewer and the feeling of sharing a wider experience with others.
According to Suzy Taraba (2019), “contemporary artist’s books evolved from two divergent strains of antecedents: the fine press book and the democratic multiple” (p. 86), the latter becoming the predominant artists’ publication type in the 1960s and ‘70s. The contemporary art student’s publication is somewhat of a hybrid of the two. Often created in small editions with inexpensive materials, these publications may also utilize multiple laborious printmaking techniques such as letterpress, woodcut, or screen printing, and include one-of-a-kind details such as paintings, pop-ups, drawings, inserts, or detailed bindings. Many students build intricate enclosures for their work.