The Noyes Museum of Art Exhibits Artist's Books

Monday, 23 October 2006 11:36

OCEANVILLE, N.J. – Artists’ books combine innovative images, text and materials to create unique, often self-published, creations that continue to influence contemporary art today.  The ever-changing art form will be examined in the exhibition “Telling the Story: Artists’ Books” at The Noyes Museum of Art which continues through December 10, 2006.  “Telling the Story: Artists’ Books” features 32 artists from the mid-Atlantic region who use paintings, text, poems, etchings, photographs, and even objects as diverse as bar napkins, personal checks and Plexiglas to create elaborate book forms.  Some creations unfold, fan out like an accordion, or incorporate Origami folding techniques to create three-dimensional forms.  Others feature cut-outs, pop-ups or richly decorated boxes that invite readers to explore and interact with the piece.

The book designs are often whimsical but the messages they carry are often powerfully political or deeply private, personal explorations.  Maryann Riker’s “The Mystic Traveler” is a visual representation of the spiritual journey from childhood to adulthood.  Artist Heejung Kim’s “Karma” is based on central Buddhist ideas that support her understanding of life and the relationship between humans and nature.  Other artists use socially or politically motivated topics to create art objects.  Gordon Murray’s “Crimes of Silence” (2001) uses Lutheran Minister Martin Niemollers’ well-known homily that was written in response to Hitler’s gradual accumulation of power and its ultimate abuse.  Readers are drawn to artist Lai-Chung Poon’s “Origami Novel” with beautifully animated images only to discover the haunting story of a young girl dealing with racism and the struggle with her new American surroundings.

Artists’ books take various forms and are created as original or limited edition works that push the boundaries of what is considered the traditional linear book format of pages fastened between two covers.  The artists’ book is unique because the artist controls the books’ form and content during creation and production.  Varied formats such as cut outs, accordion folds and even etched glass panels are employed to force the reader to see how the books’ physical form, as well as the words and images, are an integral part of the entire experience and contribute to the overall meaning of the object.

The early 20th century Dada and Surrealist movements produced experimental publications by artists, as did the Futurism and Russian Constructivism movements.  Early examples of 3-dimensional book objects were produced by Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968) and Max Ernst (1891-1976) and by the mid-60’s artists associated with the Pop Art movement, such as Andy Warhol (1928-1987) and Ed Ruscha (1937-) produced well-known artists’ books.  The 1970s brought recognition to the artists’ book and the study and teaching, as well as the collection, of this art form were established.  Today exhibitions, conferences and organizations devoted to the presentation and preservation of artists’ books flourish.

The Noyes Museum of Art is located one and a half miles south of Historic Smithville Village, off Route 9, on Lily Lake Road in Oceanville, New Jersey. Opened in 1983, The Noyes Museum of Art was the vision of local entrepreneurs Fred W. and Ethel (Lindbach) Noyes, Jr. who were avid art and antique collectors.  Mr. Noyes was also an academically trained artist and produced many works which reflect his love of South Jersey's natural features.  Visit : www.noyesmuseum.org/