The Decorated Book

Two Deadlines:

October 24, 2011 (POSTMARK)
October 28, 2011 (HAND DELIVERY)

The Decorated Book
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
December 2, 2011 to March 9, 2012


Concept: The Athenaeum of Philadelphia is a library and museum founded in 1814. Its legacy collections, surviving from the 19th and early 20th centuries, include rich holdings in designed bindings. The Decorated Book invites artists, through the medium of the book, to explore and respond to book covers from the legacy collections of the Athenaeum. Selected items from the designed binding collections, including work by Margaret Armstrong, Olive Grover and the studio artists of Decorative Designers, are emphasized in this call. See scans of their work at www.philaathenaeum.org/competition or visit the Athenaeum from 9 to 5 Monday through Friday, at 219 South 6th Street, Philadelphia, PA. The proposed books may be editioned or one-of-a-kind, artist books, book objects, altered books or zines but must in some way respond to the specified items from the designed binding collection posted on the Athenaeum website and on view at the museum.

Juror: Dr. J. Susan Isaacs, Curator of Special Projects of the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Wilmington, DE, and Professor of Art History/Curator for the Center for the Arts and Holtzman Galleries, Towson University, MD.

Eligibility: This is a nationwide, juried exhibition for book artists.

Guidelines for entries:
There is no fee to submit a proposal for this competition.
Artists should mail or hand deliver one CD with the following information and images:
 Complete contact information for the artist, including email, phone number and mailing address. Website if applicable.
 3 to 5 (300 or better DPI) digital images (jpg) of the finished book
 Insurance value of the book
 Information regarding size and materials as well as edition number if an editioned book. Due to case size, works should not exceed 30 inches in any dimension.
 Brief artist statement of 200 words or less describing how this work responds to the particular book from the Athenaeum collection.
 6-10 digital images (jpg) that reflect the artist’s other work
 Resume focused on book arts or other related experience
 CDs should be labeled with the artist’s name and in a protective case
 Online entries will not be accepted.

Download prospectus: www.philaathenaeum.org/Decorated_Book_Call_for_Entries.pdf

Visit website: www.philaathenaeum.org

Contact for questions: Sandra L. Tatman at the Athenaeum: sltatman@philaathenaeum.org or call 215-925-2688.


The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
The Decorated Book
219 South 6th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106