BOOKS: VOLUME II
Opens at the SLIVER Gallery in Taos — November 18th
The second special anniversary exhibition, Books: Volume II, will open at the SLIVER Gallery in the Taos Lifestyle complex on November 18th. This second expanded exhibition continues the 20th anniversary celebration of the formation of the Taos Book Arts Group. Hosted by curator Mark Gould and Taos Lifestyle’s Mary Domito. In honor of this anniversary, the work in the glass case where the group normally shows artists’ books will be expanded to several of the large walls, showing works by book artists that relate to but go beyond their handmade books.
Among the books and artworks that viewers will see:
- two large handmade colored pulp paintings by Joy Purcell and Jane Farmer, both created in a workshop at the Taos Center for the Arts with artist Lynn Sures visiting from the Washington DC area
- a large “venetian blind” book, Palm Fronds, by Joy Purcell, so called because of the way the accordion fold book is “bound” with cords
- a fun large collaborative installation wall piece, Paper Snakes by members of The Taos Book Arts Group
- group member and poet Shelly Catterson has created perhaps the most unusual book, Heart Breakerbox, created around and within an antique defunct electrical circuit box
- Mary Claire Cartford’s Book of Script bursts with color and energy
- Books within a Book is Deborah McLean’s sculptural and visual pun about books and book arts
- Barbara Conley’s New Mexico Musings is a fun collection of old postcards, stamps and memorabilia from the Harvey Hotel chain days
- Marble Book by Donna Dufresne is a fun trompe l’oeil book on a trompe l’oeil piece of marble
- Encyclopedia of Tides by Jamie Ash, a miniature sculptural library of tiny bound books about tides
- Lynne Greene’s A Soft Night in Taos suggests a walk after one of our recent rains
- Ivory Billed Woodpecker, by Sara Jean Gray is a study in whimsy and charm
- Jill Rounds’ book Angela, depicts in story and form a forlorn tale of a troubled woman
- poet Marcelo Sosa tweaks the book form by wrapping his poem Palabras Elevadas around a rusty metal can
The Taos Book Arts exhibitions at the SLIVER Gallery are non-juried and open to members of the Taos Book Arts Group. The members bring their varied backgrounds and book making experiences to the interaction with and support by the other members of the group. Thanks to the Lifestyle complex for supporting and displaying this work. The medium of artists’ books is a meeting ground for subject matter—whether verbal or visual or both—and form. The books in Books: Volume II reflect the varied response to this challenge.
The Book Arts Group will conduct a public family holiday workshop at Mary’s Place on Saturday, Dec 5th from 1–4pm. No registration is needed. In Mary’s Place visitors are invited to work with volunteer members of the Taos Book Arts Group to make non-denominational holiday decorations and simple books. Small books, journals, and other items appropriate for holiday giving will be available for sale at a holiday gift table.
There will be an opening for Books: Volume II at the SLIVER Gallery on Wednesday, November 18th from 5–7pm.
SLIVER Gallery is located in the Taos Lifestyle complex at 710 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Suite C4, Taos, NM 87571.