About Us:

Philadelphia has a rich history in book production and its book collections are strong. However, until now there was no institution devoted to book artists and the book arts as a contemporary art form. Collaborating with public and private book-collecting institutions throughout the city, the Philadelphia Center for the Book brings together book artists, librarians, educators and the public to appreciate the book as a contemporary form in the context of its historical antecedents.

Location: Our programs are held at Philadelphia area libraries, universities, and cultural institutions. Our offices are located at 728 So. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19146.

History:
The Philadelphia Center for the book began in November, 2004. In 2005 we organized two emblematic programs, Seekers & Keepers, a panel discussion and artists’ book sale, and Drawing Closer to Nature, a book arts workshop for teachers. Also in 2005, we held four Members’ Meetings, hosted by the Rosenbach Museum & Library, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and the Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia. In October of 2005 we installed an artists’ book exhibit at Voices & Visions, a local independent bookstore. In February of 2006, we incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

In less than three years, with a volunteer staff, we have captured the imagination and support of more than 85 people who have become members of the Philadelphia Center for the Book, and many more who have attended our events. Our programming for 2006 included members’ meetings at Special Collections Libraries and two hands-on workshops. In September 2006 we produced Challenging Collections, a book arts symposium and exhibit of members’ work at the Kelly Writers’ House at UPENN, and initiated several projects that have taken us into 2007.

One of these is a pilot program pairing a book artist with a Philadelphia area Special Collection. The artists will produce work in response to materials from the collection selected by the librarians. In a similar vein, in 2007, we were invited by Eric Pumroy of Bryn Mawr’s Canaday Library to create an exhibit of artists’ books in response to an exhibit of 18th & 19th century ticketed bindings. This exhibit was up from April to June 2007.

Our Board of Directors:

Jude Robison, President

Amy Morrison, Secretary

Caitlin Perkins, Treasurer

Rosae Reeder

Patty Smith

Susan Viguers

Donna Globus

Elysa Voshell