Volumes (of vulnerability).
GEFN Press, 2000. Item #3715 11 x 7 x 5 in. aluminum tin, containing 23 artists' books. Accompanied by fold-out catalog with introductory essay by Clive Phillpot, with contributions by Susan Johanknecht, Katharine Maynell, and Colin Sackett.
In his introductory essay, Phillpot notes: "this millennial project brings together two ideas, measurement and risk, at one location: the book—and its relatives." The artists' books within range in format, including traditional sewn booklets, a variety of single-sheet foldouts, photobooks, chapbooks with 3-D items tipped in, a compact disk, a cassette tape, and more.
Together, the contents of the artists' books and the materials that comprise their physical form play with the idea of "vulnerability," an emotional and developmental state that encompasses the first millennium. Phillpot notes the role of "vulnerability" in terms of access and preservation: "some of the works in this tin time-capsule will be more vulnerable to physical change over time than others, the photographic pieces especially. But, given events such as the discovery of ancient papyri in Egypt, scrolls by the Dead Sea, and codices in Latin America, it is not unlikely that some of these seemingly vulnerable volumes that long outlast the heroic monuments of this age—barring celestial accidents!"
Contributors include: Sophie Artemis, Caroline Bergvall, Penny Bernand & Stephen Williams, Stephen Bury, Helen Douglas, Cate Elwes, Joanna Hoffmann, Susan Johanknecht, Lilian Lijn, Lily Markiewicz, Katharine Meynell, Jim Mooney, Shariff Moossun/Alistair Skinner/Martin Ford/Ed Spencer, Hayley Newman, Colin Sackett, Gary Stevens, Ulrike Stoltz, David Thorne, Claire Van Vliet, and Elaine Worth.
Gefn Press, the publisher, is based in London. Susan Johanknecht, who began the press in Vermont in 1977, was apprenticed to Claire Van Vliet and the Janus Press.
This is from an edition of 160 copies; the catalog was produced in an edition of 500 copies. The catalog is printed by Michael Taylor at Paupers Press.
Tin and all contents are as new from publisher. There are a few minor imperfections on the tin, including a small scuff on front; overall as near fine as possible.
Price: $675.00