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Thu, April 11, 2013
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In preparation for the dismantling of the book stacks at Parkway Central, we've been surveying the "Art Lewis" books in the stacks. These are books from John Frederick Lewis's personal collection that were donated to the Library by his widow in 1934. Their call numbers begin with AL (for Art Lewis) and are housed together in a locked cage in the book stacks. Mr. Lewis was the great collector who gave the Free Library the European and Oriental manuscript collections, cuneiform tablets, and portrait collection. The most valuable AL volumes were sent to Rare Books a number of years ago, but they apparently missed a few with hidden gems. In a 1903 book called The Story of the Alphabet by Edward Clodd and an 1897 book called Latin Manuscripts by Harold W. Johnston we've found illuminated Book of Hours leaves and other medieval manuscript leaves or fragments tipped in. What a surprise! We're sending these to Rare Books for safe keeping.
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15th C illuminated Book of Hours leaf in a 1903 book on the alphabet |
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15th C French legal manuscript fragment in an 1897 book on Latin manuscripts |
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Another 15th C manuscript leaf fragment in an 1897 book on Latin manuscripts |
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Tue, November 27, 2012
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Book Paper Scissors
December 8, 2012
10 am - 4 pm
Parkway Central Library
Book Paper Scissors is an artists' book fair, free and open to the public, accompanied by book and paper workshops.
This festive event features prints, artists' books, handmade paper, zines, origami, blank books, paper sculpture, and jewelry, made by local artists. If it's paper-based art, it's here. Come and buy, or just be inspired! You will find hundreds of affordable and interesting gifts for everyone on your list by artists working in different disciplines at all price levels. This is a great opportunity to view and even handle unique works of art, to shop locally, and to purchase items crafted by hand.
BPS Workshops 2012 – in Room 108 (through the Home Page Café)
A Tale of Two Pamphlets with Erin Paulson
11 am - 12 pm
The pamphlet is a simple and elegant book structure that lends itself to many purposes, from zines to a special hand-written letter. In this workshop we will learn both the three-hole and the five-hole stitch, and you will walk away with two completed books!
Thaumatropes: Victorian era toys for kids with J. Pascoe and Erin Malkowski
2 pm - 3 pm
This workshop will explore the amazing versatility of thaumatropes -- a children's toy popular in the Victorian era that is now seen as a precursor to modern animation. Children will learn about and experiment with the thaumatrope as a vehicle to understanding basic animation, eye-hand coordination, and creativity!
Brought to you by Philadelphia Center for the Book and the Art Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
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A selection of pamphlet bindings |
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A thaumatrope |
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Fri, May 4, 2012
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Thursday, May 10, 2012
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Room 108, Parkway Central Library
Followed by a book signing. Books will be available for purchase.
For most people, Philadelphia is a place of red-brick, Revolutionary War-era structures, or 19th-century townhouses, with 20th-century row-houses added into the mix. But there is more to the story. All across the city – one here, a few there – are unique, surprising homes that are as much a part of the Philadelphia picture as the usual suspects.
Authors Virginia Restemeyer and E.I. Weiner brought together years of research and traveling to every part of the city, looking for and recording these one-of-a-kind houses. In their talk, the authors will show some of the best of the 90-plus properties spotlighted in their book: houses by some of the finest, boldest, most thoughtful, whimsical and singular minds who ever worked and lived in Philadelphia – resulting in the Hip and Hidden city that it is.
Sponsored by the Art Department.
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Book Cover |
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one example |
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another example |
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Mon, November 14, 2011
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2nd floor Art and Print Galleries
Parkway Central Library
Now through January 29, 2012
Artists have been involved with the production of books for centuries – from the illumination of medieval manuscripts to the illustration of children’s books to the graphic novels of today. What do we mean by artists’ books? Most simply (because even the experts don’t always agree), artists’ books are art works in which the artist has used the form and/or structure of the book as their medium. Sometimes text is involved, and, sometimes not. This exhibition features selections from the Print & Picture Collection of artists’ books dating from the 1970s to the present.
You’ll see Salient Seedling Press’s 1985 retelling of the Aesop’s tale, "The Fox and the Farmer", in which a rather traditional woodcut/letterpress page format is embellished with wild letterpress marginalia, or “gorp”.
You’ll also see Alice Austin’s beautiful "Red, Yellow, Blue" (2000) in which three double-page lotus-fold pop-ups open to reveal primary-colored woodcuts of flowers.
You can see these and more on Parkway Central’s second floor galleries outside the Art Department and Print & Picture Collection.
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Salient Seedling Press, 1985 |
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Alice Austin, Red Yellow Blue, 2000 |
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Mon, November 14, 2011
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SATURDAY, November 19, 2011
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
at the Parkway Central Library
Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Free and open to the public!
This festive book fair features prints, artists' books, handmade paper, zines, origami, blank books, paper sculpture, and jewelry, all made by local artists. If it's paper-based art, it's here!
Free book-making workshops for all ages will also be offered at the Library the day of the fair. Space is limited - please email events@philadelphiacenterforthebook.org to reserve your spot for the morning workshop.
For Adults and Teens:
Hidden Books
11:00 a.m. - Noon, Room 108
Within every sheet of paper is a hidden book lying in wait. We will discover how to make several of these single sheet structures. You'll leave with samples and the know-how to embed your own content into these functional, quick books!
For Kids and Families:
Pop-ups
2:00 -.3:00 p.m., Room 108 - walk-ins ok
Making pop-ups is easy - just cut, fold, and pop! We will explore paper engineering techniques to make cards that jump off the page! Students will learn the basics, including v-fold, layers, and simple tabs, to make your own personalized pop-up creations. Animate holiday cards, build abstract kinetic cards, and more. This workshop is for all ages and levels of experience.
Sponsored by The Philadelphia Center for the Book and the Art Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Tags:
Events at the Library,
artists' books
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