Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Overview
Cultural Writing. Book Arts. Edited by Granary Books' Steven Clay, with an introduction by Charles Bernstein, this beautifully designed volume elegantly catalogs Granary's output from 1985 to 2001. Rich color plates, summaries, and citations provide a history of this important independent press, which has brought its powerfully artistic vision of the book as object to texts by many of America's best-known experimental writers. Curiously, this particular book, this book of books, provides something that no one of the books depicted possibly can. For the images and texts...make a picture not just of discrete works but also of something that cannot be contained by a book, a publisher: a publisher's aesthetic, a publisher's production — Charles Bernstein.
Synopsis
"For over a decade, Granary Books has brought together bookmakers, writers and artists to explore visual/verbal relations and the spirit of independent publishing. With a foreword by Charles Bernstein and an introduction by publisher Steven Clay, When will the book be done? features complete lists and descriptions of nearly 100 artists' books, writer/artist collaborations and books of theory pertaining to books, writing and publishing. Each title is annotated with quotes from the artists and writers, critical notes, bibliographic information and full color illustrations."--BOOK JACKET.
Library Journal
This is an attractive checklist of the publishing history of Granary Books a press that specializes in unique and limited- edition artist books. Individual "chapters" are actually two-page entries for each of their books and include the author's name, a description of the book's content, and reviewers' blurbs, among other information of interest to collectors of small press or artist's books. The catalog also includes a price list of all of Granary's titles (of the 96 listed, 27 are now out of print), a list of forthcoming publications, and a list of smaller publications produced by Granary broadsides, cards, and catalogs. Unfortunately, some of the writing in the introductory essays is annoyingly wordy and pretentious, and many of the books described seem to have been intended (by their authors) for a small clique of likeminded acquaintances. Because of the book's limited audience, most libraries can skip this purchase. Margarete Gross, Chicago P.L. Fiber craftS By Jan Zlendich, California State Univ. Lib., Fullerton Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.