Hedi Kyle, Philadelphia, PA. ABC, 1989, offset, 12 x 6.25", 28" long fully extended

Maryline Pool Adams, Berkeley, CA. A Peep-Show Alice, 1989, letterpress, drawings, 3 x2.25", 8" deep

         These responses ranged from asking the basics questions of "What is a book?" and "What is an artist?" to philosophical ramblings, and to those who thought that since none of the words seem to fit the medium, a new word should be created. Book artists still feel strongly enough about this topic to write essays and give speeches on why their particular choice of words is the one that should take the medium into the next century. Perhaps one reason why this discussion is so passionate is that for many book artists the words they use are as important as the visual concept and words are laboriously and carefully chosen. The book created as a work of art is a relatively new concept in the modern world. New territory is being charted and with this inception comes the struggle for definition. There is an exuberance and passion for defining the art form.
        I find the Book_Arts_L listserv exchange of ideas useful in understanding the spirit of artists who create in the book medium and the essence of the work they create at this period in history. Book artists today bring many diverse areas of book arts expertise as well as interests and experience from various vocations: teachers, historians, chemists, librarians, conservationists, to name a few, all brought together out of the love for redefining the "book."

An artists' book is a book made by an artist. In the making of the object, expression by the artist predominates over conventions of bookmaking.
         When Marcel Duchamp installs a urinal in a museum, it is art. Intent is everything. An artists' book is different from other books simply because it is conceived and executed from the beginning as a work of art by its creator. Nothing anyone thinks changes the original intent of the artist. - Michael Morin, Artist/Librarian

An "artist book" is an assemblage of folios, bound or otherwise, meant to be observed in a sequential fashion, either arbitrary or predetermined, and comprised of elements both textual, or pictorial. Construction is often of an importance equal to that of content. Modes of reproduction are variable, as are methods of construction. - Michael Babcock, Interrobang Letterpress

         Like the examples above, other definitions for artists books contributed to the Book_Arts_L listserv debate fall into two categories. Interestingly, I think these two categories can be characterized by separating and using the two words they seek to define. The first group aligns with the word "artists" and draws their definition of artists books from this perspective. The second group derives its definition from the vantage of the more concrete work "book," bringing concrete consider-ations of structure and conformity rather than the philosophy of intent.

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