Dec. 1: Dimensions of Dialogue exhibition of student work opening and reception

Special Collections and University Archives is partnering with ARTIS 355x: Letterpress Book Arts, taught by Raluca Iancu, assistant professor of art and visual culture, to present an upcoming exhibition, Dimensions of Dialogue, featuring student work inspired by books from Special Collections.  

Students visited Special Collections and University Archives in early September to learn about the history of the book and printing, explore the materiality of books from different periods, and gather inspiration for their own book projects.  

This exhibition highlights the students’ second project of the semester, for which they created two accordion books that are in dialogue with each other and respond to one or more books from Special Collections. In the exhibition statement, Iancu explains that the conversation between the two pieces “could take place in the binding, through the physical relationship of the accordion form, scale, and materials, or through the use of imagery.” 

The exhibition will be opening December 1, and the pieces will be displayed in the exhibit case on the first floor of the library near the Main Desk. An opening reception is planned from 2:10-5 p.m. in Room 198. A general reception will take place from 2:10-2:45 p.m., followed by student presentations. Each student will give a brief artist talk, including all the works they have made this semester and all their research. The program is open to the public. Light refreshments will be available. 

This is the second time Special Collections and University Archives has partnered with this class for an exhibition of student work.

Image: Student work from the Spring 2022 Letterpress Book Arts class that was exhibited in the library March-May 2022.