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Women and the Artist's Book
In 1973 two events occurred at opposite ends of the country whose synchronicity changed the landscape of creativity for many women writers and artists across America. On the West Coast, the first independent feminist art education program was initiated in Los Angeles. The Feminist Studio Workshop provided a locus for women to "speak our own language" within the context of visual art and the production of multiples, including books. In Philadelphia, the Moore College of Art opened an exhibition which, while offering little of women artists on the walls, was the first to coin the term "artist's book".
The sympathetic reaction between women and artists' books has resonated across the genre of bookmaking since that surprise convergence. Coming from the craft tradition, many women were responsive to the conjunction of the hand elements involved in bookmaking — sewing, gluing, carving, illustrating — with the opportunity to finally tell their stories. Entering the narrative space of the book through the doorway of production possibilities suggested new room for expression. Coupled with new access to the means of production — letterpress & offset printing — and the impetus of second-wave feminism with its encouragement of public forms of self-expression, women began making books all across the country. In Berkeley Betsy Davids and Frances Butler were particularly attuned to both the new language of books and their prior history within conceptual art practice and the avant garde. With their partners Jim Petrillo and Alastair Johnston they produced, exhibited and performed a compelling group of works. Jaime Robles and her partners in Five Trees Press, Cheryl Miller & Kathleen Walkup, focused on literary fine press publishing, as did Bonnie Carpenter (Effie's Press), Robin Heyeck (Heyeck Press) and, in Santa Cruz, Felicia Rice (Moving Parts Press), along with many others. The 1980s brought the first wave of women to the Bay Area who had passed through the fledgling academic programs at California College of Arts & Crafts and Mills College. Julie Chen, Johanna Drucker, Alisa Golden, Dorothy Yule, Ruth McGurk, Leda Black, Marylee Bytheriver, became part of the group of book artists whose books, manuals & teaching continue to exert a strong influence on the direction of the medium today.
—Kathleen Walkup
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