This exhibit presents an opportunity to challenge our notions of what a book’s form, function, and message can be. Created by a diverse range of artists, the pieces on exhibit in “What is a book?” were curated by Associate Dean of Libraries Sha Towers (a book artist himself) whose vision and discerning eye first shaped the scope and content of the collection.
Content Note
Some works in this exhibit contain material that may be upsetting to some viewers. Please take care while viewing.
Learn More
Click on the title of each work to view its full catalog record, which includes dimensions, lists of materials used to construct it, and artist’s statements among other rich details.
Scripture, without any words, but verily / Leilei Guo.
Guo, Leilei, book artist.
Beijing, China : Leilei Guo, 2009
Circumstantial gravity / Macey Ley.
Ley, Macey, artist.
Atlanta, Georgia : Macey Ley, 2014
Imprisoned words / by Vince Koloski.
Koloski, Vince.
San Francisco, CA : Vince Koloski, 2004
The philosophy of umbrellas, by Robert Louis Stevenson / [Richard Minsky].
Minsky, Richard, book artist.
Philadelphia : Borowsky Center, The University of the Arts : Richard Minsky, 2008
V & A steamworks / Guy Himber.
Himber, Guy.
Tarzana, CA : G. Himber, 2009]
Chrysalis / by Julie Chen.
Chen, Julie, book artist.
Berkeley, California : Flying Fish Press, 2014
The alder / a poem by William Everson ; illustrations by Donna Thomas.
Everson, William, 1912-1994, author.
Santa Cruz : Peter and Donna Thomas, 2012
Sometimes I pretend : a poem / by Naomi Nye ; handmade paper, illustration, printing & binding by Peter and Donna Thomas.
Nye, Naomi Shihab.
Santa Cruz, Calif. : Peter and Donna Thomas, 2014
Cotton heritage / Alisa Banks.
Banks, Alisa C. (Alisa Christophe), book artist.
Dallas, Texas : A Bee Press, 2016
Water / Alisa Banks.
Banks, Alisa C. (Alisa Christophe), book artist.
Dallas, Texas ; A Bee Press, [2020]
Air / Alisa Banks.
Banks, Alisa C. (Alisa Christophe), book artist.
Dallas Texas : A Bee Press, 2014
Fire / Alisa Banks.
Banks, Alisa C. (Alisa Christophe), book artist.
Dallas, Texas : A Bee Press, [2020]
Reliquary : a collection of objects from the Mojave Desert / designed, printed and assembled by Keri Miki-Lani Schroeder.
Schroeder, Keri Miki-Lani, book artist.
Oakland, California : Coyote Bones Press, 2015
Box of happiness / Alice Austin.
Austin, Alice.
Philadelphia, PA : Alice Austin, 2009?]
Shintai Pages
Long, Mary Ellen
Durango, Colorado, 1982-83., 1982 – 1983
Shintai scrolls / Mary Ellen Long.
Long, Mary Ellen, book artist.
Durango, Colorado : Mary Ellen Long, [1984]
Dia de los locos / Harold Munson.
Munson, Howard, book artist.
San Francisco, California : Howard Munson, [2015]
Flecks of light / Malia Bence, Marissa Remy Dorit, Christopher Eskilson, Sophie Fahey, Nelson Tsui, Prof. Kitty Maryatt.
Claremont, California : Scripps College Press, 2015
[Pressing on] : [homage to Hannah More]. [No. 6] / [Carole P. Kunstadt].
Kunstadt, Carole P., book artist.
West Hurley, New York : Carole P. Kunstadt, [2018]
[Pressing on] : [homage to Hannah More]. [No. 40] / [Carole P. Kunstad].
Kunstadt, Carole P., book artist.
West Hurley, New York : Carole P. Kunstadt, [2018]
[Pressing on] : [homage to Hannah More]. [No. 15] / [Carole P. Kunstadt].
Kunstadt, Carole P., book artist.
West Hurley, New York : Carole P. Kunstadt, [2017]
[Literate poppy] / [Vicki Essig].
Essig, Vicki, book artist.
Asheville, North Carolina : Daniel Essig, [2016]
Faces of Tajtania / Tatiana Potts
Potts, Tatiana.
Maryville, Tennessee : Tatiana Potts, 2016
Handle with care / by Helen Hiebert.
Hiebert, Helen, 1965- book artist.
Avon, Colorado : Helen Hiebert, [2013]
50 revolutions.
Hiebert, Helen, 1965- book artist.
Red Cliff, Colorado : Helen Hiebert Studio, [2015]
The Night Hunter / words by Nancy Campbell ; sculpture, design and production by Roni Gross and Peter Schell.
Campbell, Nancy, author.
New York City : Z’roah Press, 2011
[City sights and sounds / by Stephanie Mahan Stigliano].
Stigliano, Stephanie Mahan.
Malden, Mass. : Stephanie Mahan Stigliano, 2004, c2005]
A brief history of the ukulele.
Thomas, Peter (Peter R.)
Santa Cruz Calif. : Peter & Donna Thomas, 2003
True to life / Julie Chen.
Chen, Julie.
Berkeley : Flying Fish Press, 2004
VVVVV / Judy Rushin, Denise Bookwalter, Allison Milham, AB Gorham, and Michelle Ray.
Rushin, Judy, book artist.
Tallahassee, FL : Small Craft Advisory Press, 2014
Array of delights / Charlene Asato.
Asato, Charlene, book artist.
Mountain View, Hawaii : Charlene Asato, [2014]
[Bibliophile] / Daniel Essig.
Essig, Daniel, 1967- artist.
Asheville, North Carolina : Daniel Essig, 2010
Dryland codex : maps and vistas of the American Southwest / [by Marian Crane].
Crane, Marian, book artist.
Tempe, Arizona : Marian Crane, 2015
Early lessons / Lynn Skordal.
Skordal, Lynn, book artist.
Mercer Island, Washington : Lynn Skordal, 2012
Turquoise scroll / Marian Crane.
Crane, Marian, book artist.
Tempe, Arizona : Crane Designs, 2004
Amanuensis / Robbin Ami Silverberg.
Silverberg, Robbin Ami.
Brooklyn, N.Y. : Dobbin Books, [2009]
[White Torah] / [Robbin Ami Silverberg].
Silverberg, Robbin Ami, book artist.
Brooklyn, New York : Dobbin Books, [2003]
Forest sphere : Hoh Rain Forest / Alicia Bailey.
Bailey, Alicia.
Aurora, CO? : Ravenpress, [2017?]
Home sweet home / Lise Melhorn-Boe.
Melhorn-Boe, Lise.
North Bay, Ont. : Transformer Press, 2008
Shadow of descent / Maddy Rosenberg [and] Hubert Sommerauer.
Rosenberg, Maddy.
New York : M. Rosenberg, 2003
Traveler. No. 2 / Thomas Parker Williams.
Williams, Thomas Parker, book artist.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Thomas Parker Williams, 2012
Boots / Dirk Hagner.
Hagner, Dirk, book artist.
San Juan Capistrano, California : Dirk Hagner, [2017]
Specimen series : a curiosity cabinet artist book : observations and collections of nature with hand painted diagrams and illustrations.
Alpers, Rhiannon, artist.
San Francisco, California : Gazelle & Goat Press, 2013-2014
Wildflower identification.
Bailey, Alicia, book artist.
Aurora, Colorado : Ravenpress, [2013]
Winter life under wraps / Ann P. Lewis.
Lewis, Ann (Ann P.), book artist.
Westhampton, Massachusetts : Ann P. Lewis, [1997]
Minute. Volume two / Alicia Bailey.
Bailey, Alicia, book artist.
Aurora, Colorado : Alicia Bailey, [2017]
The wandering eye / Ann P. Lewis.
Lewis, Ann (Ann P.), book artist.
Westhampton, Massachusetts : Ann P. Lewis, [2016]
Vessel of secrets / Thomas Parker Williams.
Williams, Thomas Parker, artist.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Thomas Parker Williams, [2015]
Smoke / by Amy Pirkle.
Pirkle, Amy.
Tuscaloosa, Ala. : Perkolator Press, 2008
[Mineral color study] / [Brianna Greenwell].
Greenwell, Brianna, book artist.
Waco, Texas : Brianna Greenwell, [2015]
Crossing borders / Elsi Vassdal Ellis.
Ellis, Elsi Vassdal, book artist.
Bellingham, Washington : EVE Press, [2016]
Direction of the road / by Ursula K. Le Guin ; woodcut by Aaron Johnson.
Le Guin, Ursula K., 1929-2018.
Santa Cruz Calif. : Foolscap Press, 2007
Sanctae Hildegardis Circulus sapientiae = Hildegard von Bingen 1098-1179, Circle of wisdom / introduction and notes by Elizabeth Thompson ; with English translation by W.R. Johnson.
Hildegard, Saint, 1098-1179.
Newark, Vermont : Printed at the Janus Press, 2001
Social navigation / Ariel Hansen Strong.
Strong, Ariel Hansen.
San Francisco, CA : A. Strong, 2015
Circle or zero : origins.
Eckstein Gower, Mari, book artist.
Redmond, Washington : Mari Eckstein Gower, [2014]
BIOSPHERE.
Burrell, Ginger R., book artist.
Morgan Hill, California : Midnight Moon Press, [2019]
[Wide white holes] / [Katya Reka].
Reka, Katya, 1982- book artist.
Santa Fe, New Mexico : Katya Reka, [2013]
2.5 / Bonnie Meltzer.
Meltzer, Bonnie, book artist.
Portland, Oregon : Bonnie Meltzer, [2014]
Boxed in? : What where why / Insiya Dhatt.
Dhatt, Insiya, book artist.
San Francisco, CA : Insiya Dhatt, 2021
Panorama / Julie Chen.
Chen, Julie.
Berkeley, Calif. : Flying Fish Press, 2008
Forgotten, lost and found / Amandine Nabarra-Piomelli.
Nabarra-Piomelli, Amandine.
Calif. : Amandine Nabarra-Piomelli, 2013
The tower book.
San Quentin Calif. : San Quentin State Prison ; Norco Calif. : The California Rehabilitation Center, 2007
The bad sparrow, or, My pathetic fallacy / Jessica White.
White, Jessica Christine, book artist.
Asheville, N.C. : Heroes & Criminals Press, [2013]
Ściana / Kain May.
May, Krzysztoff Skain, 1953- book artist.
Warsaw, Poland : Krzysztoff Skain May, [1985?]
Who is this? = Kto to jest? / Krzysztoff Skain May.
May, Krzysztoff Skain, 1953- book artist.
Warsaw, Poland : Krzysztoff Skain May, 2011
The sober second thought; or, Conscience and the fiend / [Adele Crawford].
Crawford, Adele, book artist.
Oakland, California : Adele Crawford, [2004]
The stranger and the gipsy girl : an anecdote of Windsor Forest / [Adele Crawford].
Crawford, Adele, book artist.
Oakland, California : Adele Crawford, [2004]
The dancing girl reposing / [Adele Crawford].
Crawford, Adele, book artist.
Oakland, California : Adele Crawford, [2004]
2020 : a fiasco / by Todd Thyberg.
Thyberg, Todd M., author, book designer.
Minneapolis : Angel Bomb, 2021
±OnePercent.
Washington, D.C. : Marginalia Press, Corcoran College of Art and Design, 2010
The little book of lies / created by Lynn Skordal.
Skordal, Lynn, book artist.
Mercer Island, Washington : Lynn Skordal, 2016
Ravel unravel / Lynn Agnew [and others].
Bainbridge Island, Wash. : Full Plate Press, ©2010
Piute Creek / Gary Snyder.
Thomas, Peter (Peter R.), book artist, papermaker, publisher.
Santa Cruz : Peter and Donna Thomas, 2017
Arch.
Claremont, Calif. : Scripps College Press, 2010
This too shall pass / Angela Batchelor.
Batchelor, Angela, book artist.
Twin Falls, Idaho : Angela Batchelor, 2022
It’s just / A. Batchelor.
Batchelor, Angela, book artist.
Twin Falls, Idaho? : Angela Batchelor, 2021
Luck. Book two / Bonnie Stahlecker.
Stahlecker, Bonnie, book artist.
Plainfield, Indiana? : Bonnie Stahlecker, [2016]
Forgetting. Book two / Bonnie Stahlecker.
Stahlecker, Bonnie, book artist.
Plainfield, Indiana? : Bonnie Stahlecker, [2019]
Remembering. Book two / Bonnie Stahlecker.
Stahlecker, Bonnie, book artist.
Plainfield, Indiana? : Bonnie Stahlecker, [2019]
Sanctuary one / Bonnie Stahlecker.
Stahlecker, Bonnie, book artist.
Plainfield, Indiana : Bonnie Stahlecker, 2017
The book of hurt and healing / Smith.
Eliot, Smith, book artist.
Portland, Oregon : Smith Eliot, [2013]
Excerpts from Chief Seattle’s Peace Treaty Statement
Wood, Dave (David Thomas)
Pomona, Australia : D. J. Harwood and Assoc. Press, 2009
Talisman for nights ahead / C. Ednie.
Ednie, Catherine, book artist.
Hancock, Maine : Catherine Ednie, 2019
Magnificent beast / Laura Russell.
Russell, Laura, 1964- book artist.
Portland, Oregon : Simply Books, Ltd., 2016
Anything helps : a limited edition artist book / by Laura Russell.
Russell, Laura, 1964-, artist, book designer.
Portland, Oregon : Simply Books, Ltd., [2013]
Ul’nigid’ / Rhiannon Skye Tafoya.
Tafoya, Rhiannon Skye, book artist.
Rosendale, New York : Women’s Studio Workshop, 2019
Blackletter body / Mervi Pakaste.
Pakaste, Mervi, book artist.
Manhattan, Kansas : Mervi Pakaste, 2017
Hit the road! : Highway 99 roadside art-ifacts. Volume 1, Washington.
Russell, Laura, 1964-
Portland, Or. : Simply Books, ©2008
DOC/UNDOC : Documentado/Undocumented Ars Shamánica Performática / texts Guillermo Gómez-Peña, images & bookwork Felicia Rice, video Guillermo Gómez-Peña & Gustavo Vazquez, critical commentary Jennifer González, sound art Zachary Watkins.
Gómez-Peña, Guillermo, book artist.
Santa Cruz, CA : Moving Parts Press, 2014
[Infinite cycle] / [Carla Busquets].
Busquets, Carla, 1988- book artist.
Barcelona, Spain : Carla Busquets, [2020]
[Through the looking glass] / [Jillian Shaw].
Shaw, Jillian (Book artist), book artist.
Waco, Texas : Jillian Shaw, [2015]
Message received / created by Devin Powell.
Powell, Devin, book artist.
Claremont, California : Scripps College Press, 2017
Ellipses / Deborah Greenwood.
Greenwood, Deborah, artist.
Tacoma, Washington : Deborah Greenwood, 2011
Sisters / Deborah Greenwood.
Greenwood, Deborah, book artist.
Tacoma, Washington : Deborah Greenwood, 2008
[Tributary-crest / Daniel Essig]
Essig, Daniel, 1967-
[2012]
Echoes = Aṣdāʼ / Islam Aly.
Aly, Islam, artist, binder.
Iowa City : Islam Aly, 2014
Statera : mizan.
Aly, Islam, book artist.
Cairo, Egypt : Islam Aly, 2020
Notions : Piece work by 20 artists about factory girls, fatal fires, and the common threads that bind us all.
Charlottesville, Va. : Virginia Arts of the Book Center, 2014
Agent Orange : an American legacy in Vietnam / by C. David Thomas ; with a foreward by Catherine Karnow.
Thomas, C. David, book artist, author.
Wellesley, Massachusetts : C. David Thomas, 2015
More Garbage / Lise Melhorn-Boe.
Melhorn-Boe, Lise, 1955-
North Bay, Ontario : Transformer Press, [2010]