What is Freed Formats: the book reconsidered?
Books: Everyone has seen them, handled them, read them, loaned or borrowed them, and possibly even put one or two in the recycle bin. Everyone has been exposed to books. We know what they look like and what their purpose is. They tell stories and entertain, they help to educate and inform, and some may incite or offend. They have created memories of where and when we read them or had them read to us.
But do we really know books?
Freed Formats: the book reconsidered—a traveling exhibition, curated by book artists Chris Perry of Ridgefield, CT and Alice Walsh of Carmel, NY—presents us with a variety of works that challenge all that we may think about books. Chris and Alice spent two and a half years curating an exhibition of book art by 53 artists working locally and from far away. They brought together 135 works representing 17 states and 2 countries that were exhibited in six Arts Centers from March to October 2019.
Initially, the project began as a show for a very small gallery, but as they continued to view more and more pieces that they wished to include, it became a full-gallery collection of work. It was at this point that they asked themselves where else the exhibition could be shown to expand accessibility to all those who could benefit from viewing this alluring and uncommon genre. Thus, a traveling show became an integral part of their focus.
As they approached various arts centers, excitement and support was elicited by all. The artists selected were enthusiastic from the start and offered suggestions for additional locations. Calendars were consulted and plans were set. Classes were designed and talks were scheduled. They even had an award-winning film to screen, a form of book art itself.
The opening exhibitions ran concurrently at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists, 34 Halpin Lane and at The Mark Twain Library, 439 Redding Road, in Redding. The opening reception at the Guild was Saturday, March 30. There was a closing reception, film screening and talk at the Mark Twain Library on Sunday, April 28. The Putnam Arts Council and Mahopac Public Library were the next venues to open on May 11, and ran until June 9. The Exhibition then moved to Creative Arts Workshops in New Haven, CT where it stayed until July 28. It took a short break and returned for its last venue at Five Points Gallery in Torrington, CT on September 19, closing for the last time on October 19, 2019.
While the exhibition was open Chris and Alice held classes so that children aged 8 to 12 could learn to make an accordion book, and adults to learn to make a Japanese Stab-bound book. Classes were held at all the exhibition venues. There were Artist's Talks by almost all of the local artists, and white glove tours were offered and well attended.
You may think you know books, but not until you explore all the works that Freed Formats has to offer will you truly begin to understand all that books can be.
But do we really know books?
Freed Formats: the book reconsidered—a traveling exhibition, curated by book artists Chris Perry of Ridgefield, CT and Alice Walsh of Carmel, NY—presents us with a variety of works that challenge all that we may think about books. Chris and Alice spent two and a half years curating an exhibition of book art by 53 artists working locally and from far away. They brought together 135 works representing 17 states and 2 countries that were exhibited in six Arts Centers from March to October 2019.
Initially, the project began as a show for a very small gallery, but as they continued to view more and more pieces that they wished to include, it became a full-gallery collection of work. It was at this point that they asked themselves where else the exhibition could be shown to expand accessibility to all those who could benefit from viewing this alluring and uncommon genre. Thus, a traveling show became an integral part of their focus.
As they approached various arts centers, excitement and support was elicited by all. The artists selected were enthusiastic from the start and offered suggestions for additional locations. Calendars were consulted and plans were set. Classes were designed and talks were scheduled. They even had an award-winning film to screen, a form of book art itself.
The opening exhibitions ran concurrently at the Ridgefield Guild of Artists, 34 Halpin Lane and at The Mark Twain Library, 439 Redding Road, in Redding. The opening reception at the Guild was Saturday, March 30. There was a closing reception, film screening and talk at the Mark Twain Library on Sunday, April 28. The Putnam Arts Council and Mahopac Public Library were the next venues to open on May 11, and ran until June 9. The Exhibition then moved to Creative Arts Workshops in New Haven, CT where it stayed until July 28. It took a short break and returned for its last venue at Five Points Gallery in Torrington, CT on September 19, closing for the last time on October 19, 2019.
While the exhibition was open Chris and Alice held classes so that children aged 8 to 12 could learn to make an accordion book, and adults to learn to make a Japanese Stab-bound book. Classes were held at all the exhibition venues. There were Artist's Talks by almost all of the local artists, and white glove tours were offered and well attended.
You may think you know books, but not until you explore all the works that Freed Formats has to offer will you truly begin to understand all that books can be.
Acknowledgments
Freed Formats received generous support from the following:
Freed Formats received generous support from the following:
- The Department of Economic and Community Development, Connecticut Office of the Arts, which also receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
- The program is made possible, in part, with public funds through the Arts Link Community Grant Program of the Putnam Arts Council (PAC) Mahopac, NY. These funds are provided to PAC through the NYS Council on the Arts with support from Andrew M. Cuomo and the NYS Legislature
- A Grant from The Sylvia B. Henschel Trust, a bequest to Mahopac Public Library
- A Project Assistance Grant from the College Book Art Association (CBAA). CBAA supports and promotes academic book arts education by fostering the development of its practice, teaching, scholarship, and criticism
- A Grant from The Friends of Mahopac Public Library
- The generous support from The Ridgefield Guild of Artists
- With program support from the Ridgefield Library
- In partnership with the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut
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