Credit: Jay York Photography

Remarkable Maine Women
Artist’s Books Exhibit

What is an “artist’s book?” The simple definition is, “art in book form,” but the talented artists who work in this unusual medium regularly take the concept of a book to a whole new level. The current exhibit in the Stier Family Gallery features “artists’ books” that honor famous Maine women. 

The inspiration for the show, entitled Remarkable Maine Women, stemmed from the 2020 celebrations of the Bicentennial of Maine’s statehood and the Centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment. Fifteen women artists from the Critique Group at the USM Kate Cheney Chappell ’83 Center for Book Art participated in the project, each designing their own books as well as contributing a page honoring a remarkable Maine woman to each of five copies of a collaborative book.

Several of the artists whose works are featured in the exhibit joined us via Zoom on November 18th for a discussion of “artists’ books” as an art form, and to talk about the works on display, including how the artists approached their subjects, and the process of creating these unique works of art. You can view the recording of that program here. The artists will also present a second program, Artist’s Books 101, on December 14th for anyone who wants to learn more about this unusual and incredible art form or try their hand at creating artists’ books themselves. You can register for this program by clicking here. You can view Remarkable Maine Women in the Stier Family Gallery at the library from November 1 through December 30, 2021.