Art Under Cover

Carol Schwartzott, A Brief History of the Quilt, Lilliput Press, c1996

About the Exhibit

This exhibition of artists' books from Canada, Britain and the United States challenges our traditional perception of how books tell stories. Whether it is through imaginative design, alternative materials, or three dimensional forms, artists' books alter the way in which we read. Be engaged, amused and even puzzled by this diverse collection from the Special Collections of Toronto Public Library.

Exhibition Items:

Ronald King, Anansi Company; Cat, Circle Press, c1992.

Ronald King, Anansi Company; Tiger, Circle Press, c1992.

Anansi Company: A Collection Of Thirteen Hand-made Wire And Card
Rod Puppets.
Ronald King, artist
Roy Fisher, poet
London: Circle Press, 1992

Ronald King produced this artist's book of Caribbean tales relating to Anansi and his company of animal friends. The puppets of various animals and mythical creatures may be removed from the page and animated by hand. The verse was created by poet Roy Fisher, and is a contemporary interpretation based on the tale of Anansi, the Spider-man. He has written the text for nine of Ron King's books.

Ronald King has been producing artists' books since the 1960s. He lived in Toronto for several years and during that time the library acquired a number of works from Circle Press. He currently lives in England and continues to manage Circle Press, a studio of like-minded artists working within a supportive framework, which since 1967 has produced work by over on

Lise Melhorn-Boe, The Sex Lives of Vegetables: A Seed Catalogue,
Transformer Press, c1990.

The Sex Lives Of Vegetables: A Seed Catalogue
Lise Melhorn-Boe, artist
Lorna Crozier, poet
North Bay: Transformer Presser, 1990
One of fifteen copies

This example of a folded work was cut in the shape of vegetables and collaged with coloured photocopies. The text by Lorna Crozier is a collection of poems about the imagined sex lives of vegetables as well as seed catalogue descriptions. Lise Melhorn-Boe has been making and exhibiting books for thirty years. The focus of much of her work is the examination of women's experiences in society. She addresses controversial issues by using humour to create unique books and multiples.

Carol Schwartzott, A Brief History of the Fan, Lilliput Press, c2003.

A Brief History of the Fan
Carol Schwartzott
Niagara Falls, N.Y.: Lilliput Press, 2003
One of twenty copies

This expanding book is a literal re-creation of a fan, a subject that is well suited to the challenges of folding paper sculpture. It is accompanied by a miniature book that describes the history of the fan from 3200 B.C.E. to the present. It is one of a series of histories in miniature produced by noted book artist Carol Schwartzott.