Ninth Annual New Jersey Book Arts Symposium
Styles of Collecting, Styles of the Book
Rutgers University Libraries case (by Michael Joseph)
Brief Collecting Statement
The Rutgers University Libraries collects artists books that reference the history, geography, socio-political life or material culture of New Jersey, and by New Jersey book artists, in this latter category including artists who have either been born or educated, reside or have resided, work or have worked in New Jersey, or made some outstanding or noteworthy contribution to the current way we understand the historiographical construct of "New Jersey." Our artists books form a part of and partner to a collection of New Jersey book arts, in which are housed exemplars of the traditional arts and crafts associated with book making. While celebrating the talent and imagination of New Jerseyans, we also strive for our collection to serve as a resource for students and scholars pursuing serious research into contemporary discourses about the nature and meaning of books and the intentional (Husserl) book. Toward that purpose we hope to make our collecting as broadly inclusive as possible, both toward the variety of contemporary bookmaking activities, and the output of particular artists whose work is regarded as influential and exemplary.
In this case we are presenting books acquired over the last year. All but one are housed in Special Collections and University Archives, in New Brunswick, where I am the rare book curator. One Hour Lunch, by Rocco Scary, forms part of the permanent collection of artworks adorning the walls of The John Cotton Dana Library, collected by my colleague, Lynn S. Mullins.
Rocco Scary. One Hour Lunch. 2002.
Handmade paper, wood, plexiglass, and steel.
Maureen Cummins. Ghost Diary. 2002
Glass, metal, steel.
Library copy is #7 of 25.
Karen Guancione. Art of Labor. 2003
Library's copy 1 of 40 copies
-- Il Viaggio Adentro Di Me: L'Estate 2003. Mixed media.
Sarah K. Stengle. Accounting for Cobalt. 2003.
Jet-ink on antique accounting paper. Text by artist, Library copy 1 of 3.
Jacqueline Clipsham. Intervals and Rhythms of the Landscape. 2002.
Suellen Glashausser. Birds. [n.d.] Mixed Media..
--Metal Book with Leaves (1989)
Copper, aluminum, beads, brass, etched surfaces.
Michael Scott Joseph
November 2003
