Sharing the Artists’ Book Experience Remotely

Abstract

One of the best parts of my job is sharing artists' books with students. Before March 13, 2020 we always showed artists' books in-person. During the pandemic I found myself trying to find a way forward to preserve the artists’ book classes that had not been canceled after our campus was closed and we were fully remote. What can I do with a lack of access to our collection? What can I do remotely? At the time we had a small collection of scanned Artist’s Books. I searched my house for books that could be considered artists' books, I reused a wire bookshelf and made a set up with my iPad and cutting mat. This allowed an overview of the items and gave me hands free operation. I began teaching shortened sessions focusing on a handful of titles and also spent some time on how the books were made. I focused on making simple structures that anyone could make with items easily found in their dorm room or home.