The Art of the Book in California: Five Contemporary Presses July 28, 2011

These five presses, selected by curator and printer Peter Koch, exemplify the book arts in California today. Each press, exemplary in its own way, has produced books and related art that richly illustrate the varieties of content, media, and collaborative methods that contemporary artists are employing across the globe. This exhibition includes the most significant works of each press, including supporting art and archival materials. There is also space devoted to contextualizing the work by exhibiting books that have exerted a significant influence on the field of contemporary California book arts since the beginning of the 20th century. An illustrated catalog, with essays by Koch and by the distinguished typographic historian, writer, and critic Robert Bringhurst, accompanies the exhibition.