The other day I got a copy of 500 Handmade Books Volume 2, a follow on to a previous volume picturing 500 books. My complaint about the first book unfortunately holds true for this one—the pictures are beautiful but don’t really give the reader a sense of what is in them.
However, there was a pleasant difference in Volume 2—Julie Chen’s introduction. She says
“..students ask me to explain exactly what an artist’ book is… I usually make an analogy between a book and a pocket calculator… the pocket calculator—once a thing of wonder—has become so commonplace that it’s a stand feature on every home computer and smartphone. But how many people have the knowledge required to fully utilize it, to take advantage of all its functions?…To a well-informed few…the pocket calculator is a power tool that can solve complex problems. That is where the connection to artists’ books comes in. Most people know, or think they know, what a book is. In its most basic format, it’s a common everyday object…But just like the pocket calculator, a book has hidden powers that are utilized only by those with special knowledge. In the hands of an artist, a book’s full potential is realized. It’s transformed into something more than just a container for information. It becomes an experimental medium for creative expression.”