Virginia Arts of The Book » Group Projects

Why Beg an Indulgence When You Can Buy One?

Garrett Queen — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:10:29 +0000

Announcing the Virginia Arts of the Book Center’s 2010 Annual Members Project.

In the tradition of the founding father of our craft, Johann Guttenberg the VABC will issue a “book” of Indulgences.

To help finance his press, the development of movable type and the first printing of the bible, Gutenberg was known to have printed thousands of Indulgences.

We figure that if that was an acceptable fundraiser for Johann, it would be a suitable project to help swell the coffers here at the VABC.

Not that we’re alone, the Catholic Church has recently (once again) begun granting indulgences. (See the New York Times Article)

(Note: Income from the Members Project and items sold at the Raucous Auction account for a substantial part of our annual operating budget.)

We’re not about to grant an “actual” dispensation from sins (real or imagined), but this project will (at the very least) provide a playful and possibly insightful look into a wide range of human frailties.

The project as envisioned (thus far) might be in the form of a coupon book (possibly a version of stab binding with perforated pages).

Paper, page size, printing techniques, design considerations, range and types of sins and transgressions have yet to be determined.

If you’re interested in participating in this project (completion of printing mid-Setember 2010) please contact:

Garrett Queen
VABC Printer in Residence
& Clerk of the Works

gsqueen@comcast.net

"F" — Inspired by Frankenstein

Kristin Adolfson — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:08:17 +0000

Images from “F”, a portfolio of prints by the artists of the Virginia Arts of the Book Center, Charlottesville, 2008. All prints were inspired by the Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, accomplished in various media including letterpress, block printing, and etching. For inquiries contact Kevin McFadden.

Collaborative artists include John McCarthy (posthumously), Kristin Adolfson, Josef Beery, Bonnie Bernstein, Pierre Blondel, Patrick Costello, Dean Dass, Stacey Evans, Barbara Heritage, Angie Hogan, Sarah Knorr, Kevin McFadden, Lindsey Mears, Catherine Moore, Garrett Queen, Frank Riccio, Joani Schatzman, Jesse Wells.

Creation

Kevin McFadden — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:43:42 +0000

Images from Creation, a portfolio of prints by the artists of the Virginia Arts of the Book Center, Charlottesville, 2005. All prints were inspired by the theme of creation, accomplished in various media including letterpress, block printing, and etching. No complete collections are available for sale; for inquiries about individual prints contact Kevin McFadden.

The Cautionary Tale

Kevin McFadden — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:18:38 +0000

Images from The Cautionary Tale, a group project by artists of the Virginia Arts of the Book Center, Charlottesville, 2006. Artists worked with pieces and turns of a story in “exquisite corpse” style collaboration. The collection was a limited edition of 30; some copies of The Cautionary Tale are available for $300 in a handsome, handmade portfolio. Contact Kevin McFadden for details.

Hesitant Ruin

Kristin Adolfson — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:11:11 +0000

Images from Hesitant Ruin, a collaborative bound book created by the artists of the Virginia Arts of the Book Center, Charlottesville, 2007. All images were collected on the theme of time, decay, or ruin. The title and direction were supplied by randomized pairings of of adjectives and nouns… “Hesitant Ruin” was selected and parameters for the collection were set. A limited edition of 40, some remaining copies are available for $500. Contact Kevin McFadden for details.