EXHIBITS: We are pleased to host the following exhibit in the Collins Link:
Maremade: August 17 – January 19, 2018.
Full list of library exhibits (past, present and future)
SEPTEMBER
- Tuesday, September 5: Behind the Archives Door: A Conversation with Clarissa Sligh.
Join us for a conversation with visual artist and social activist Clarissa Sligh. For over 30 years, Sligh has woven together the cultural, historical, personal and political to explore concepts of memory and transmutation, and perceptions of boundaries and identity: themes that have roots in her own experiences. Her photo-text images, artists’ books and installations have been exhibited in places such as The Museum of Modern Art and the Jewish Museum, New York, NY, Walker Art Center and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN, The National Gallery of Art and Corcoran Gallery of Art and the National African American Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. The Archives & Special Collections holds six of Sligh’s artists’ books, which will be available for viewing.
Clarissa is joined by Kim Purser, an artist, poet and teacher she met while at the Penland School of Crafts in the mid-nineties. Kim is a photographer and book artist and has worked with Clarissa on many projects. She is currently employed as a clinical director working with young people and professionals at Eliada Homes in Asheville. In 2005, she taught Clarissa how to fold cranes and has been helping her fold cranes ever since. Her academic degrees include the BA, BFA, MA, and MSW. 5:30–7:00 p.m. (Reception outside the Archives & Special Collections, 5:30–6:00 p.m.) Talk and questions 6:00–7:00 p.m., in the Archives & Special Collections Seminar Room, Collins Library. - Thursday, September 7: Behind the Archives Door: Collecting Incunabula. David Wertheimer, an avid collector of early printed books and a Director at the Gates Foundation, will share his story of collecting. Many of the books that he owns, all printed before 1502, will be available for viewing. 4:00–5:00 p.m. light refreshments and an informal lecture. Archives & Special Collections Seminar room, Collins Library.
- Monday, September 11: Behind the Archives Door: Artists’ Books from the Abecedarian Gallery.
Denver based curator and artists’ book dealer Alicia Bailey (abecedarian Gallery) will be giving an informal Artists Books on the Road presentation. The presentation will provide a unique opportunity to learn more about this engaging and intimate approach to art making through hands on interaction and Q & A. 4:00–5:00 p.m. light refreshments and an informal lecture. Archives & Special Collections Seminar room, Collins Library. - Wednesday, September 13: Behind the Archives Door: Debut of the “Refashioning Identity” Collection.
Contributors to the campus and community embroidery project “Refashioning Identity” will gather to view the collection and share remarks about their work. Artist and stitcher Diana Weymar will join this event to share updates on her own work and exciting information about exhibitions organized that will include our pages. This is an open event, so all are welcome. 4:00–5:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Archives & Special Collections Seminar room, Collins Library.
- Thursday, September 14: Mare Made Artist Reception.
August 21, 2017 – January 19, 2018.
Mare Made, spans over 4 decades of the work of local artist Mare Blocker. Teacher, mentor, writer, illustrator, printer and book artist, Mare Blocker’s work incorporates wit, humor, personal reflection and commentary about our world using a variety of techniques, formats and materials. In her own words:”In 1979, I made my first trip to the Special Collections Library at the University of Washington, which literally, changed the pathway of my life. I realized that one form, the book, could encompass my interdisciplinary passions. This was my epiphany, and I have been a book artist since. I purchased my first printing press, a Vandercook 219 and founded the MKimberly Press in 1984. Teaching affords me the opportunity to print with my students, while teaching them to print. Our exchanges have informed my work, and added another layer to my interdisciplinary practice. I like to think of the lab as a contemporary medieval workshop. When everyone is working, and the presses are running, there is a feeling of community that is magical. Nothing can prepare you for that first proof, that alchemical moment of turning lead into words on a finely printed page. I feel honored to be able to pass this tradition on.”Collins Library is honored to showcase the career of Mare Blocker in this retrospective exhibition that runs through January showcasing her early work as well as the most recent project My Beloved Community Dictionary Project. For this project Mare invited 200 of her closet friends to contribute a 6 x 8 linoleum block of a single word that will be woven together to form a community quilt of words. According to Mare, “I have always been drawn to illustrated dictionaries. I love their little pictures, charts and lists of cities and places. I’ve been contemplating a dictionary project for years, and now that I have my power press up and running smoothly, it’s time to jump into it.”Mare received her M.F.A., University of Idaho, 2006 and her B.F.A, in Ceramic Sculpture, University of Washington, 1982. She is a member of the faculty of Pacific Lutheran University and serves as an Assistant Professor of Art and Design. She teaches classes in the art of the book and printmaking and was instrumental in established the Thornily Printing Center at PLU last spring. She is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades and you can read more about her work by visiting her blog site: 4:30–6:30 p.m., Informal Remarks by Mare at 5:30 p.m., Collins Library.
- Thursday, September 21: Dr. Safiya Noble – Challenging the Algorithms of Oppression: Race, Gender and Representation in the Age of Digital Information.
Noble’s academic research focuses on the design of digital media platforms on the internet and their impact on society. Her work is both sociological and interdisciplinary, marking the ways that digital media impacts and intersects with issues of race, gender, culture, and technology design. A presentation not to be missed! Sponsored by the Collins Memorial Library, Gender and Queer Studies, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, School of Education. Meet & Greet with Safiya: 4:30 to 5:00. Presentation with Q&A: 5:00–6:00 p.m. Tahoma Room, Thomas Hall. - Monday, September 25: Behind the Archives Door: Treasures from the Archives & Special Collections.
Join our new Archivist & Special Collections Librarian Adriana Flores and Assistant Archivist Laura Edgar as they share a few of their favorite things from our collections. 4:00–5:00 p.m. light refreshments and an informal lecture. Archives & Special Collections Seminar room, Collins Library.
OCTOBER
- Sunday, October 1 : Riding the Rails: A Panel on the Life and Art of Abby Williams Hill
An adventurer and nature enthusiast, Hill traveled across the country by rail to paint promotional images for the Northern Pacific railroad. A scholar, an archivist, a historian, and a curator share their insights on the life and artistic practice of 19th century painter Abby Hill. Panelists provide an exclusive look at incredible artifacts from the artist, courtesy of the University of Puget Sound. Hear stories about Hill’s family, art, activism, and the many ways that she challenged historical expectations of women. 2:00–3:00 p.m., Tacoma Art Museum.
- Tuesday, October 3: Exploring Text & Image: A Conversation About Artists’ Books
We are delighted to welcome back Bill and Vicky Stewart. Bill and Vicky own Vamp & Tramp, a unique business representing over 400 fine press and book artists from around the world. They will share examples from their collection. Those attending their presentation will learn more about the unique world of artists’ books. 1:00–2:30 p.m. Archives & Special Collections Seminar room, Collins Library.
- Thursday, October 5: Behind the Archives Door: Zines and More!
Katy Curtis, Humanities Librarian, will showcase our growing collection of zines and discuss how they can be used for teaching and learning.
The Collins Library Zine Collection is a unique addition to our collections that came to Puget Sound from a generous donation through the Zine Pavilion at the American Library Association Annual Conference in June 2016 and has been growing since last summer. Currently, the Zine Collection contains around 175 zines on a variety of topics, both personal and political, including several authored by Puget Sound students. The wide breadth of topics include zines on local and national issues, politics, activism and social justice, environmental justice, queer identities, trans experiences, feminism, body image, fat embodiment, mental health, sexual assault, reproductive rights, race, whiteness, and more. 4:00–5:00 p.m. light refreshments and an informal lecture. Archives & Special Collections Seminar room, Collins Library.
- Thursday, October 19: Behind the Archives Door: The African American Communist Party Pamphlets.
Lori Ricigliano, Reference and Learning Commons Coordinator and Associate Director for User Services, will showcase our unique collection of African American Communist Party pamphlets, as well as other new acquisitions related to African American history. 4:00–5:00 p.m. light refreshments and an informal lecture. Archives & Special Collections Seminar room, Collins Library.
- Monday, October 30: Behind the Archives Door: Open House!
Have you ever wondered exactly what an archivist does all day? Join us for an open house. Tour our spaces for a behind the scenes look at the Archives & Special Collections and learn how we process archival materials and get them ready for use by our researchers. 4:00–5:00 p.m. light refreshments and an informal lecture. Archives & Special Collections Seminar room, Collins Library.