BA 524 Artist Books
This course is devoted to the history, context, and production of artist books. It is also an opportunity to develop a habit of creativity. We will use the power of sequence and innovative book structure to complicate and deepen our creative work. Since the end of the 19th century, a wide spectrum of artists enlisted the form of the book as a means of creative expression. In this course, we will engage in creative mark-making, writing assignments, content-generation exercises, and bookbinding to facilitate the creation of a series of artist book projects. Our book production will be supplemented by readings and visits from guest artists and special collections librarians in order to provide a broad context for artist books. Books are interdisciplinary by nature, and this course can complement a wide range of interests, including photography, printmaking, painting, creative writing, architecture, libraries, graphic design, art history, zines, graphic novels, and many other topics.
Book Arts, MFA
Graduate
The MFA Book Arts Program is a 60-credit hour course of study in the fine art and traditional practices of making books by hand. Individual artistic expression is emphasized through development of craft skills based in historical principles, practice, and technique. Courses in letterpress printing and publishing, typography, hand bookbinding, hand papermaking, and the history of the book provide training and context for the role of the book as a medium for expression in art and society. Our emphasis is on the book as an integrated unit, although there are opportunities for students who wish to pursue specific interests in one or more of these areas after the initial year of general study.