For Immediate Release
March 5, 2025
CLARK ART INSTITUTE PRESENTS
FIRST SUNDAY FREE: ARTISTS’ BOOKS DAY
Williamstown, Massachusetts—The Clark Art Institute’s First Sunday Free series continues on Sunday, April 6, with free admission and special activities all day, coinciding with Artists’ Books Day. An annual celebration at the Clark, Artists’ Books Day honors its library’s diverse collection of over 5,000 artists’ books and provides a unique opportunity to explore these works and gain a deeper understanding of the role of artists’ books in the contemporary art world. This monumental collection challenges the very notion of the “book,” inviting dialogue about the boundaries of artistic and literary expression.
The day’s activities include:
Clark Book Expo
11 am–4 pm, Michael Conforti Pavilion
The Clark presents its inaugural Book Expo, featuring regional artists, practitioners, and artists’ book publishers.
Featured practitioners: Antler Editions, Draw Down Books, Ghost Proposal, Horse Gurl Press, Kareem Michael Worrell, Kylie Gellatly, La Horchata Zine, Looky Here, Messenger Press, Molly Rideout/Alyssum Press, mundus press, Nine Syllables Press, Passenger Pigeon Press, PRESS | 29 Press, Publication Studio, Red Trillium Press, Seaton Street Press, siglio, Small Editions, THE BIRD PRESS/Thorsten Dennerline, and The Brother In Elysium.
Artists’ Books Art-Making Activities
1–4 pm, Manton Research Center, reading room
Uncover the many surprises of artists’ books through art-making activities inviting you to cut, fold, and create unique book structures of all shapes and sizes. Add to a giant accordion book that will unfold throughout the afternoon, make mini books you can take home in your pocket, and more!
Family programs are generously supported by Allen & Company.
Unusual Bindings and Inventive Structures Pop-Up
2–4 pm, Manton Study Center for Works on Paper
Andrea Puccio, director of the library, presents a selection of artists' books from the Clark library's collection featuring unusual bindings and inventive structures that challenge the traditional notion of a book.
Panel Discussion
4–5 pm, Manton Research Center, auditorium
Artists’ Books Day closes with a behind-the-scenes discussion of what it takes to bring an artists' book to fruition. May Castleberry, Lisa Pearson (Siglio Press), and Steven Daiber (Red Trillium Press) share their experiences with book production and distribution, and the exciting collaborations that can ensue.
Iron Coffee Co.
10 am–2 pm, Orientation Center
Enjoy freshly-brewed coffee from Iron Coffee Company, available for purchase. Founded by Mike Milliron in 2016, Iron Coffee Company started with a passion for small-batch roasting and quickly grew into a beloved coffee shop in Hoosick Falls, New York. They roast their beans daily, source local dairy, and pride themselves on serving fresh, bold coffee to their community.
Free admission all day. Special activities in the Michael Conforti Pavilion and Manton Research Center from 11 am to 5 pm. For more information, visit clarkart.edu/events. For accessibility questions, call 413 458 0524.
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 nearly 300,000 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 to all from 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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