Into the Fold surveys the contemporary field of book art, with a focus on collaborative editions produced in the state of Florida. From historic woodcuts and previously unpublished manuscripts to laser cut bindings and experimental structures, the work in this exhibition expands our understanding of the book as an art form and celebrates the artists working in our region.

Programs Featured in this Exhibition Include:
The Coffey Residency for Book Arts (University of Florida)
Graphicstudio (University of South Florida)
The Letterpress and Book Arts Center (Ringling College of Art and Design)
Small Craft Advisory Press (Florida State University)
The Tampa Book Art Studio (University of Tampa)

Book art is, according to the majority of contemporary theorists, a 20th century art form that encompasses many related fields, including artists’ books, altered books, fine press books, sculptural books, zines, and even performance and installation. The unifying factor in all of these practices is that the artists making the work approach the book, in and of itself, as a work of art. Book art often interrogates the traditional identity of the book and it is, by nature, an interdisciplinary practice, integrating the fields of visual art, literature, graphic design, and more, depending on the project at hand. Accessibility is another common theme for book art, as artists often engage the book form with intentions to reach a wider audience with their work. Tactility is also a defining characteristic of book as an art form. Most books must be held and manipulated by the reader to be fully experienced, and this kind of direct physical interaction with an art form is an exciting and rare experience to which many artists and viewers are drawn.

Just as there is a broad continuum of practices housed under the umbrella of book art, there are a wide variety of contexts in which the work is made. For this show, we focus in on the practice of producing collaborative editions of book art in an institutional setting. This studio-based practice finds its routes in printmaking and the model of the atelier, where a master printer and their apprentices or interns work with visiting artists to realize editions of original prints. In the case of book art, it is often an academic institution that hosts this kind of collaborative production, organizing faculty, students, and staff to assists artists in the creation of editioned bookworks. The state of Florida has recently experienced an marked growth in the number of these opportunities. With this exhibition, we hope to shine a light on a selection of the resulting editions and the exciting array of artists making book art in our region.