This exhibit will feature selected letterpress printed books and ephemera from a variety of private presses founded in Iowa’s rich literary fine press environment. The exhibit includes The following University of Iowa printers: Carroll Coleman, Prairie Press; Harry Duncan, Cummington Press; Kim Merker, Stone Wall Press and Windhover Press; Kay Amert, Seamark Press; and the work of some of their most illustrious students. A gallery talk will be offered by Sara Sauers Thursday afternoon.

Selections from the Conservation Labs collection of models of historical bookbinding types begun by UI Conservator William Anthony and continued by UI Conservators Pamela Spitzmueller and Gary Frost. Gary Frost will discuss the instructional uses of this collection.

A selection of offset printed artist books from the collection of Professor Jim Snitzer. Work from Chicago Books, Visual Studies Workshop, Nexus Press, and self-published works will be on display. Jim Snitzer will speak about specific works and the significance of offset production in artist book work.

An exhibit of work by members of CBAA, juried by Karen Kunc, Chip Schilling and Pamela Spitzmueller. Winners and finalists of the CBAA Student Award Competition will also be on display.

This exhibit draws from The University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections, which has extensive holdings of artist books dating back to the early 1960’s. In keeping with the theme of the conference and in honor of the Old Capitol Museum’s mission, books have been chosen that address historical narrative, memoir, time in both books and perception, and representations of place.

Book Environ: Iowa City - Artists’ Books as Shelter, Escape, Epiphany, Shaping Our Space, Our Thoughts, and Our Aspirations - a unique installation of large-scale artists’ books by Meda and Veda Rives. “BookEnviron” is an artist’s book that by concept and scale creates an immersion experience for the viewer who enters and explores the space created and shaped by the book.