For Immediate Release
March 4, 2024
CLARK ART INSTITUTE HOSTS ARTISTS’ BOOKS DAY
Williamstown, Massachusetts—On Saturday, April 6, the Clark Art Institute hosts Artists’ Books Day. From 1–4 pm, visitors are welcome to enjoy demonstrations cycling through the creation of artists’ books in the Michael Conforti Pavilion and explore a display of artists’ books from the Clark Library’s collection, including Numbers (the subject of the day’s final event), in the Clark’s library. At 4 pm, Dr. Alexandra J. Gold, a faculty member in the Harvard Writing Program, presents an artists’ book talk and live reading in the auditorium.
Demonstrations
1–4 pm | Clark Center, Michael Conforti Pavilion
Artist and Clark Library Specialist Nick Costantino demonstrates the process of making handmade paper, covering fiber materials and papermaking traditions. Artist and bookbinder Lisa Hersey guides visitors through crafting a three-hole pamphlet, explaining folding techniques, paper grain directions, and bookbinding adhesives. Pop-up book designer Simon Arizpe showcases the construction of complex pop-up books using simple paper structures.
Book Display
1–4 pm | Manton Research Center, Library
Be sure to spend time in the Clark's library browsing the Institute's collection of artists' books with Andrea Puccio, director of the library. Robert Creeley and Robert Indiana’s Numbers will be among the artists’ books on display.
When Artists Meet Poets: An Artists’ Book Talk and Live Reading
4 pm | Manton Research Center, Auditorium
Alexandra J. Gold discusses artist book collaborations between contemporary painters and poets. Her presentation highlights Black Mountain poet Robert Creeley and renowned visual artist Robert Indiana’s Numbers (1968). Numbers features a series of Creeley's poems (printed in both English and German) that correspond to ten Indiana silkscreens of the numbers 0–9. Gold presents Numbers alongside a live reading of Creeley’s poems by local theater students.
Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 549 0524.
All Artists' Books Day activities are free. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events.
ABOUT THE CLARK
The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 285,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.
The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Its 140-acre campus includes miles of hiking and walking trails through woodlands and meadows, providing an exceptional experience of art in nature. Galleries are open 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday, from September through June, and daily in July and August. Admission is free January through March and is $20 from March through December; admission is free year-round for Clark members, all visitors age 21 and under, and students with a valid student ID. Free admission is also available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; and EBT Card to Culture. For information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.
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