Monumental Ideas in Miniature Books (MIMB)

August 9 – September 30, 2010

This travelling show of 141 miniature books by international artists showcases a wide range of printmaking techniques and book structures.  Organized by Hui-Chu Ying, University of Akron in conjunction with the Southern Graphics Council, the show is scheduled to be on the road from 2009-2012, with stops in Spain, China, South Korea, Japan, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Pakistan, Argentina, and Puerto-Rico, as well as the United States.  Each artist created a book for the exhibit in an edition of at least 6 copies.  Two complete sets are travelling around the world at the same time.  As “an intimate, economical, democratic and global exchange project,” this show attempts to “investigate the power of small-scale artists’ books to challenge their readers with grand, powerful, urgent, and poignant content.”  (quotes by Hui-Chu Ying)

Although the Miniature Book Society says U.S. standards for “miniature” status are generally no more than three inches in height, width or depth (four inches in Europe), this exhibition accepted books up to 4” X 5” X 1” (expanding to any length when opened).  UW-Madison alumni and faculty included in the show are:  Professor Michael G. Connors, Sandra C. Fernandez, Diane Fine, Dusty Herbig, Prof. John Hitchcock, Tracy Honn, Phyllis McGibbon, and Kathleen O’Connell.  On view at the Kohler Art Library are 94 books from this exhibition.

Curated by Tracy Honn and Lyn Korenic.

Image:  Kathryn Polk.  My Visual Story.