C-80. Artists’ Books: Strategies for Collecting
16-20 July 2007 in Charlottesville
1) How useful were the pre-course readings?
1: Quite useful and relevant for the course, and will be equally useful as references in the future. 2: All readings were helpful and relevant. I look forward to revisiting them again. 3: Very useful. 4: Useful; they will be useful to read again, as well. 5: Very useful and relevant. 6: The readings were helpful not only as a framework for the course, but also as future reference materials for building an artists’ book collection. 7: Quite useful, but seeing/handling books was the most useful (for me); then the readings will make more sense to a beginner. 8: I read everything I could get my hands on, and them some! It was exactly the kind of reading I was looking for. I knew some of the materials, but not all by any means, and the bibliographies will lead me to more. We could have made more direct use of these readings in class, but that’s a minor quibble. 9: Very useful. 10: Very, though I did not get through all of them. Luckily this turned out not to be a hindrance. 11: Extremely useful, though I had difficulty getting a few of the additional readings on the list.
2) Were the course syllabus and other materials distributed in class appropriate and useful (or will they be so in the future, after you return home)?
1: They will be exceptionally useful. There is a basic bibliography of reference sources to have, and listings and citations to significant artists’ books by artist, press, and movements, to refer to and learn more about. 2: Yes. 3: Yes, very good: good outline of the course, and helped both to review material and to see what was coming next. 4: Yes. 5: Yes; very useful in class, and for future use. 6: Yes. 7: Most useful, both in class and no doubt later on. 8: The course syllabus was an appropriately malleable outline, and served as a basis for note-taking. It will continue to prove useful. Reference was made to materials that were going to be included in the “workbook”, but were not – it would have been nice to have those hard-to-find items. 9: Yes and Yes. 10: Yes. Unfortunately, the course guide got collated wrong. 11: Yes, I feel like I have a lot of useful information to sue as a starting ground for pulling together a useful teaching collection.
3) What aspects of the course content were of the greatest interest or relevance for your purposes? Was the intellectual level of the course appropriate?
1: The intellectual level was appropriate. I was most interested in obtaining a systematic and historic foundation for this field, as well as ways to approach books critically. These purposes were well met by the class. 2: The history of the field was very useful and informative, and the [intellectual] level was perfect for our group – brought us all to a higher level without being overwhelming. 3: Yes. The history of artists’ books was very good and very useful, and the framework for understanding artist’s books was very good. 4: Because many of us had different backgrounds with artists’ books, the intellectual level varied but was always interesting and informative. All theory and hands-on activities were very helpful. 5: The instructor’s knowledge of artists’ books, and aesthetic judgement of materials presented. The intellectual level of the course was appropriate. 6: JD framed the course around building different types of collections: reference, teaching, and research. The vast number of examples we saw, and handled, was invaluable for providing actual visual access to representative works. The examples were the building blocks of starter collections. 7: All interesting, and for me, quite demanding. 8: The analytical framework for considering artists’ books in terms of production value and conceptual value is enormously useful – flexible enough to provide a framework for thinking about the visual and verbal elements in a range of objects. The intellectual level was generally appropriate for this smart group of professionals; sometimes it could have been pitched even higher. 9: I loved the variety of different professional people in class: librarians, retired bookseller, dealers, &c. Yes. 10: Historical overview of the field, artists and presses, critical evaluation tool. 11: Not only did we get a historical overview, we got hands-on interaction with materials on a daily basis as well. Also, I greatly appreciated the overview of language and controlled vocabulary. I appreciated having a framework within which to discuss materials; the intellectual content was appropriate.
4) If your course left its classroom to visit Special Collections (SC) or to make other field trips away from your classroom, was the time devoted to this purpose well spent?
1: Absolutely. We had the opportunity to see and learn about so many books which would not have been possible otherwise. 2: SC time was essential. 3: Yes, we visited SC every day. This was very good, and very important. 4: Yes. The trips to SC were well planned, and the break-up in the day of the rooms was appreciated as well. 5: Yes. 6: Yes; we reinforced what we viewed and discussed in class with more examples from SC. The historical perspectives session was especially helpful, since we did not have access to those materials in the classroom. 7: Essential. 9-10: Yes. 11: Yes, most certainly!
5) What did you like best about the course?
1: JD: she is absolutely amazing – a superlative teacher and great person. Her knowledge and experience cannot be matched in this field. (2) Getting to see and handle the wonderful, and sometimes not so wonderful, books. (3) My fellow classmates. Being with this diverse and congenial group definitely enhance the overall experience. 2: JD is a brilliant lecturer. I’ve never experienced a speaker who can hold a group’s attention so well. I never once was bored, tired, distracted, or annoyed. 3: Seeing the books, being able to touch the books, and the lively, energetic professor. 4: JD’s insights, and the other participants. 5: The richness of JD’s knowledge and experience, and the mix of students selected for the class. 6: JD is a wonderful teacher. Also, the class itself was particularly diverse, which led to interesting cross-institutional and cross-professional discussions. 7: The large quantity of examples of artists’ books we saw and handled. 8: (1) The interaction with such a great, diverse, smart group of people – I learned a great deal from all of them. (2) To actually work with the artists’ books! Not just slides, but the objects. (3) to work with JD: an artist, writer, and theorist who really knows her stuff. 9: JD is a wonderful, articulate, authority in the field of artists’ books. There is no one better to have teaching this class. She is knowledgeable, and beyond. Our group got along very well, and each of us brought different ideas, views, institutional knowledge, &c to the table. 10: The topic, and the interaction and enthusiasm of all the participants (including JD). 11: JD’s experience, enthusiasm, and energy. She is an excellent teacher who presented materials in a way that allows for practical application.
6) How could the course have been improved?
1: Being two weeks instead of one. It was so good that I didn’t want it to end. 2: I felt a little bit that there could have been a broader range of books shown. 3: I really liked the course as is: the information, the group work, and the lectures were all very good. 4: I would have liked a little more as to art history, but that’s because I really enjoy it. Overall, I had no complaints about the class. 6: I can’t think of any way to improve this class. I hope it continues to be offered. 8: More time to workshops and debrief – to follow through on tasks and to hear from the group. 9: Perhaps more comprehensive lists to take home? Though we did have lists in our notebooks; perhaps we could have additional lists of upcoming artists’ book fairs, shows, &c. 10: I don’t know, but the artists’ books collection can always use more examples. 11: Only a warmer classroom, which was not under the professor’s control.
7) We are always concerned about the physical well-being both of the RBS teaching collections and of materials owned by UVa’s Special Collections. If relevant, what suggestions do you have for the improved classroom handling of such materials used in your course this week?
1: No suggestions; books were handled carefully and appropriately. 2: None. 3: I think the materials were handled appropriately. 6: Everyone handled materials carefully. 8: This was a respectful, careful group: materials were handled with care. 10: JD was diligent about making us throw our coffee cups out. 11: Classroom handling was handled well; everyone respected materials, and it was all done in an organized fashion.
8) If you attended the Sunday and/or other evening lectures, were they worth attending?
1: Sunday – useful and interesting; Monday – I found dull, but that was just me. 2: The movies were good, but I was not really impressed by the lectures, but that may be a result of fatigue issues at the end of the day. 3: Sunday, yes. The other lectures, no: too dry and uninteresting; the speakers should be more engaging, more lively, and more relevant to how books fit into culture today. 4: I didn’t think the lectures were particularly interesting as I’m not interested in antiquarian or rare books, but all the socializing events were great for the students to meet-up and discuss other issues. 5: The Sunday “orientation” lecture was not only worthwhile, it is essential to promote a sense of collegiality among new attendees for the week ahead. 6: Yes. However, an artists’ books theme lecture would be useful and welcome. 8: Sunday was not worth attending, I’m sorry to say; felt too much like a club. 9: The Sunday lecture was interesting. 10: To a certain extent; James Green wasn’t the liveliest presence, but it was interesting enough. 11: I appreciated all the events. I would like to see artists’ books lectures on the evening schedule. I think the topic has broader appeal and would benefit others beyond those who signed up for the course. I know I’ve attended Sue Allen’s evening lecture when I was not in her course, and it opened up a whole new area of knowledge for me.
9) Did you get your money’s worth? Any final or summary thoughts, or advice for other persons considering taking this course in a future year?
1: I would recommend this class as immeasurably useful for anyone with and interest in this area, the history of the book – or, almost, to everyone who wants a week of fascinating content, books, and instruction: more than got my money’s worth. The class was marvelous! 2: One hundred percent, yes. I can’t wait to come again. 3: Yes. The course is well-organized and informative. The professor is excellent – very good handle on the field overall. JD is an excellent teacher, and very enjoyable as well as knowledgeable. 4: Absolutely. It’s a wonderful and rich course. Anyone with even the slightest interest in artists’ books will leave the class with a great deal of respect and appreciation. Even though I have worked with a collection of artists’ books for a year, this class will be immensely helpful in the future. 5: Yes, I do believe it was worth the money. Preparation with assigned readings before the course is helpful. 6: This class is more than worth the money. 7: Sure did! 8: Yes, Yes, Yes: Exactly what I wanted, and more than. 9: Yes! If you want to know the A to Z about artists’ books, this is the course to take. The reference collections that the artists’ books class introduced me to will be invaluable. 10: Definitely – I loved the breakfasts, breaks, and receptions too. You treated us well! 11: Yes! I would highly recommend this course. We filled every second of our class periods, and lively discussions were encouraged.
Number of respondents: 11
Percentages
Leave Tuition Housing Travel
Institution Institution Institution Institution
gave me leave paid tuition paid housing paid travel
72% 72% 63% 63%
I took vaca- I paid tui- I paid for my I paid my own
tion time tion myself own housing travel
9% 18% 27% 27%
N/A: self- N/A: Self- N/A: stayed N/A: lived
employed, re- employed, with friends nearby
tired, or had retired, or or lived at
summers off scholarship home
18% 9% 9% 9%
There were 3 librarians with some rare book duties (27%); 2 general librarians (18%); 2 antiquarian booksellers (18%); 1 rare book librarian/archivist (9%); 1 teacher (9%); 1 art museum employee (9%); and 1 retired (9%).