The 12th Annual Members' Exhibition is coming to The Evergreen State College Library! This year, the suggested theme is “Collaboration” and illustrates the organization’s efforts to build community throughout the region. Every member of PSBA has the opportunity of displaying a book in this exhibit, and the curatorial team of Abbie Birmingham, Jan Dove, Rachel Watson, Gina Pisello, and Belinda Hill are excited to work with the artists and share their distinctive creations. The books are created from various materials, including old books, found objects, metal, fabric, etc., and come in many sizes and structures.
Exhibition on Display from September 24 - December 15, 2023
Open Case Events: These two in-person events will be your best opportunity to see the books up close, out of their cases, and meet the artists who made them.
November 5, 2023 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm
November 13, 2023 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Artist Panel Presentation: TBD
For more information about PSBA and learn how to join (student membership is free!), visit https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/
Tiger in the Forest by Mari Epstein Gower & Kat Gower
How Do You Know? by Robin Hruska
3&1 by MalPina Chan
Memories of My Childhood Home by Ann Storey
Wish You Were Here, A Collaborative Project by Laurel Moorhead
OLD by Jan Dove & Lucia Harrison
Community by Ray Zill
The James F. Holly Rare Books Room has re-opened, and we're spotlighting materials from Walter Hamady and the Perishable Press. Come check it out during our open hours.
Who is Walter Hamady?
Walter Hamady is an influential letterpress printer, book artist, papermaker, and collage artist. He launched the Perishable Press in 1964 and began to publish works that are expertly printed, whimsical, nonsensical, and sometimes tongue-in-cheek. Hamady was good friends with James Holly, the founding dean of The Evergreen State College Library and namesake of our Rare Books Room.
What the heck is a gabberjabb?
Hamady published a short series of books called gabberjabbs, and the Rare Books Room owns the first 6 volumes. Hamady's gabberjabbs are the best example of how he simultaneously espouses traditional letterpress printing and the structure of the book while making a game of it. You'll have to follow the footnotes to find the meaning in the area between sense and nonsense. Each volume is a delight to read!
See below for some highlights from the exhibit.
An image of Walter Hamady posing in his studio, celebrating the Perishable Press's 20th anniversary.
Major Parking Lots, written by Clarence Major and printed by the Perishable Press.
A glimpse at some of Hamady's gabberjabbs.
A selection of poetry books written and printed by Walter Hamady.