Visual, tactile, interactive, and irreplaceable, books created as art works by artists engage our senses while exploring new narrative forms. Join us to learn about artists, graphic designers, printmakers, bookbinders, paper cutters and engineers, and others who focus on the book form as a creative medium. 

The editor, curator, and former librarian, May Castleberry, will present several artist’s book projects she has edited and produced for the Whitney Museum Library and the Museum of Modern Art. The books to be presented include: The Magic Magic Book, a book conceived by the sleight-of-hand artist and historian of magic Ricky Jay with original artwork by Glenn Ligon, Vija Celmins, Jane Hammond, Philip Taaffe, and others; Coisa Linda by artist Beatriz Milhazes, with images responding to lyrics of traditional Brazilian songs of the 20th century; The Island of Rota, by scientist Oliver Sacks, the photographer Abelardo Morrell, and the designer Ted Muehling; Tom Tit Tot, a book by the artist R.H. Quaytman responding to poetry and imagery created by her mother, the poet Susan Howe; a pop-up book considering the perceptual world of the spider, called From Arachnophobia to Arachnophilia by artist and architect Tomås Saraceno; and a new work in progress: Um poema desenhada, by Brazilian artist Sonia Gomes, best known for her work with textiles.

May Castleberry has been editor of the Contemporary Editions series published by the Library Council of The Museum of Modern Art since 2000. Between 1984 and 2000, she was librarian at the Whitney Museum as well as editor of a series of limited-edition artists books that brought together original art and new writing. She also organized exhibitions at the Whitney and at MoMA on photography and the history of the book. She lives in Lakeville and works several days each week in New York City.

This event is made possible by the generous support of the Friends of the Scoville Library.

Registration is required for this event.