Fall Exhibitions at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

BIBLIOMANIA
a new exhibition examining the myriad ways contemporary artists feature books as the subject of their art

WHEN: October 7 – December 11, Opening Reception: October 14, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Gallery Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 10:00 AM- 5:00 PM; Thursday 10:00 AM – 8 PM; and Saturday & Sunday 11 AM – 4 PM. Please call to confirm holiday hours.
WHERE: Visual Arts Center of NJ, 68 Elm Street, Summit
SUGGESTED ADMISSION: Adults $5; Seniors/Kids $3; Art Center Members free

Why, at this moment in time, are some artists focusing their attention on the good-old-fashioned bound volume? Does this stem from a growing anxiety over the possible obsolescence of books? Are books becoming cultural artifacts, and are artists treating them as relics, and perhaps even fetishizing them? Whatever the motivation, many artists are making provocative works that challenge viewers to consider the roles and meaning of the book in the digital age. (left: Thomas Broadbent, Fall, 2011; 68.25 in. x 47 in., watercolor on paper)

A “book” used to be defined as a number of printed or written pages bound together along one edge, protected by covers. Today, the concept of the book continues to evolve and expand, most notably in the direction of digital media. (right: Viviane Rombaldi Seppey, Verdi, 2009; 38 in. x 38 in., white and yellow pages from Italian phonebooks; Courtesy of the artist)

Interestingly, many contemporary artists are making art about books—photographing them, arranging them, drawing and painting them, dissecting them and making sculptural facsimiles of them—always finding various ways to address the book as subject matter for their work. Ironically, while the content of books becomes increasingly more accessible with the advent of electronic readers e-books and digitized books, artists seem to be paying more attention to the book as an object.

Featured artists: Richard Baker; Thomas Broadbent; Ryan Brown; Joy Garnett; Nina Katchadourian; Brandon Lattu; Björn Meyer-Ebrecht; Abelardo Morell; Mickey Smith; and Jude Tallichet.

Related Programs to Bibliomania:

Panel Discussion: The Future of the Book
October 27, 7:00 -9:00 PM
A distinguished panel of experts will explore the future of the book in a digital age.

Accordion Book Mania
November 13, 1:00 -4:00 PM
Artist Erin Sweeney leads a creative book arts project open to all.

Viviane Rombaldi Seppey: Belonging
On view in the Mitzi & Warren Eisenberg Gallery
Viviane Rombaldi Seppey explores concepts of identity and mobility in a series of collages using phonebook pages from around the world.

Heather Lewis: Deskilled Drawing
On view in Studio X
In her site-specific installation, North Carolina artist Heather Lewis utilizes mirrors, light and shadows to create images.

Papermaking: Students of Fran Willner & Lois Shapiro
On view in the Marite & Joe Robinson Strolling Gallery II
Recent works by papermaking students.

All Exhibitions:

October 7 – December 11, 2011

Opening Reception: October 14, 6:00 pm- 8:00 pm

About the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
Founded in 1933, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is the state’s largest organization dedicated exclusively to viewing, making and learning about contemporary art. Comprising a renowned studio school and a thriving exhibition, education and programming schedule, the Art Center welcomes over 60,000 visitors each year.