Social & Political Engagement

Our Humanity

These works explore loss and genorosity surrounding war, immigration and hunger. The stories bring attention to and ask us to seek ethical resolutions to complex issues.

If the structure of, Possesion is Nine-Tenths, interested you, check out: Hello Hedi: Book Art Inspired by Hedi Kyle (Portland: 23 Sandy Gallery, 2015). Available onsite.

And check out, Possesion is Nine-Tenths, and other works by women artists' books on the SAM Blog.

Choices

These three items investigate our rights. Two realities are investigated: the rights and choices that are taken from us and those we give up.

To explore more artists' books that investigate our sociopolitical world, check out: Book Power Redux: Artist Books Addressing Our Social and Political World (Portland: 23 Sandy Gallery, 2015). Available onsite.

Telling Stories

These eight works share stories by and about marginalized communities and/or marginalized experiences. The expected linear progression of a book is halted through the forms of these works. Cut-outs, fold-outs, and other internal devices slow the sequencing. The narrative is layered and in some cases folds-in on itself or doesn't exist at all. Instead of focusing on progression we are asked to reread and reexamine.

To explore more about the relationship between meaning and form, check out: Johanna Drucker, Century of Artists' Books (New York: Granary Book, 2004). Available onsite.

To learn more about African American artists who use the book form, visit: We, Too, Are Book Artists, Minnesota Center for Book Arts. Exhibition held 2007.

Read more about Erin Mickelson's, He Wears a Feather, on the SAM Blog.