Library Purchases from Bookworks 14

This post comes to us from Jeanne Strauss-De Groote—

As curator of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County's artists books collection, I am delighted to announce that the library purchased some inspiring and very original books from this year's display. They will be added to the library's wonderful and always growing collection.

Retablo for Herb, Virginia Burroughs

Retablo for Herb, created by Virginia Burroughs, is a very personal and original piece in the form of an open box containing precious relics from the artist's late husband. Retablo for Herb is a memorial object that recalls traditional African American art made out of common daily objects, deeply charged emotionally.

Healing Not Whole, Cecie Chewning

Healing Not Whole, by Cecie Chewning, is an accordion book with photos of remarkably beautiful pastel drawings by the artist. Inspired by tree calluses observed in nature, the drawings are mysterious abstractions. The book, with its accompanying poem by J. A. Chewning, is rooted in the artist's personal experience and reflection on human suffering and healing, and their parallels in nature.

When I..., Janice Kagermeier

 When I... and Columbus Day are two books by Janice Kagermeier. Simple in appearance, they are deeply human and moving. Both are wonderfully crafted. When I... is a joyful memorial to the ceramic creations by Kentucky potter Greg Seigel that the artist has collected. Columbus Day is a book of memories, with images of older papers and photographs, celebrating the immigration of the artist's father from a Bavarian village to America. Both of Kagermeier's books mix text and images with a striking coherence and reveal the artist's great talent as a storyteller.

A page from Columbus Day, Janice Kagermeier

 _______________________________________________________

CBAS congratulates this year's artists and expresses its gratitude for the Public Library's continuing support of the art of the book.