A Creative Journey Through Time
Collins Library welcomes back the annual PSBA exhibition! Playful and profound, the Puget Sound Book Artists 13th annual member exhibit on the theme of Time Travel will be exhibited at the Collins Memorial Library, University of Puget Sound, from June 4 until August 1, 2024. It will also be shown at The Evergreen State College Library, in Olympia, from September 29 until December 20, 2024.
On display will be a total of fifty-five artist books from forty-two different artists representing all parts of the Puget Sound and the western United States. Ann Storey, exhibit team chair, stated: “It is always a wonderful surprise to see how creative people interpret and play with an exhibit theme. The topic of Time Travel seemed to be especially resonant and sparked imaginative leaps across both time and space. After our recent experience of lock-down, when we couldn’t travel physically but managed to travel metaphorically, and when we confronted time in the form of facing our mortality, we have such interesting ideas to draw from in creating the artist books in this show.”
Some of these books time travel to the past to celebrate the strength and grace of ancestors, while others look backwards for a different reason–to question received wisdom. Judy Cook takes a more humorous approach by illustrating vignettes from her high school Home Economics class–the time when a runaway electric mixer sprayed chocolate frosting around the classroom and girls were taught how to gracefully exit cars.
Susan Aurand takes an original, science-based approach, stating “When I thought about this theme, it came to me that bits of us (the atoms in our bodies, the air molecules we breathe) are part of a continuous circulation of matter and energy moving among all living things…This idea fascinates me and makes me wonder about experiences that bits of me have had as other beings.” Her unique assemblage helps to make visible these esoteric ideas–a bridge between the visible and invisible.
Abbie Birmingham touches on both science and geology. She created an evocative piece that originated with a poem, Raven, and then meditated on the dramatic landscape of the channeled scablands of eastern Washington. Her poem begins, “The faces in the cliff are silent,|Riddle of ice, fire and flood.|Encrypted. Then decoded|By the ones who slowly walk the land…” Birmingham alludes to the tremendous ice age floods that sculpted this landscape and the dawning understanding of this phenomenon within the scientific community.
Other artists draw inspiration from nature. This could be celebratory or to issue a warning about our destruction of wildlife and habitat. For example, Jan Dove explains her entry Don’t Go, by saying “I’m living in a time when even the trees must travel to find a place to survive.”
There will be an opening reception on Thursday, June 6 from 4:30-6:30 pm at the Collins Library. Award winners will be announced in five categories including most innovative book structure, best original writing, award of overall excellence, most exciting first time entry and thematic merit. The public is welcome. During two open case events artists will personally share and discuss their works. They are scheduled for June 15, 2-4 pm, and July 16, 1-3 pm. A free online Time Travel art workshop will be offered to PSBA members by Ann Storey and Belinda Hill on July 13, 10-11:30 am. Participants will create a story map about travel to an imaginary time and place using body mapping and a Turkish map fold structure.
The Collins Memorial Library is pleased to support this event as shared in remarks by Acting Library Director Peggy Burge:
Collins Library is very pleased to host the PSBA annual exhibit once again. This has been a summer tradition at Collins for the past 13 years, and we look forward every year to seeing and celebrating the creativity of our regional book artists. We welcome both new and returning visitors to the exhibit.
This enthusiasm is reinforced by remarks shared by Sally Alger, President of the Puget Sound Book Artists:
Each year in our members’ exhibit the Puget Sound Book Artists show us all how to explore ideas about books and art. The depth of thinking… and the fun of making books is very infectious.
This year’s exhibit team consists of Belinda Hill, PSBA board member, artist and educator; Carrie Larson, Judy Cook, and Diane Miller, artists and writers; and is chaired by Ann Storey, PhD, art historian and artist, faculty emerita of The Evergreen State College.
- For more information on the exhibit, please contact psba.exhibition@pugetsoundbookartists.org
- For more information on Puget Sound Book Artists, please visit our website: https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/
Related Events:
- June 6: Opening Reception, Collins Memorial Library. 4:30-6:30 p.m. See University website for parking information.
- June 15: Open Cases, Collins Memorial Library. 2-4 p.m. Informal opportunity to meet and listen to artists.
- July 16: Open Cases, Collins Memorial Library. 1-3 p.m. Informal opportunity to meet and listen to artists.
- July 13: Story Map and Time Travel – Zoom based online workshop for PSBA members. 10-11:30 a.m. Participants will create a story map about travel to an imaginary time and place using body mapping and a Turkish map fold structure. Information will be distributed to members prior to the event.
University of Puget Sound parking and campus information: https://www.pugetsound.edu/security-services/campus-parking-traffic-and-transportation-information