The Idaho Booker’s Dozen 2013 are now on display at the University of Idaho library. The traveling display features 15 handmade books created by Idahoan and international artists.
The exhibit features work from artists throughout the state of Idaho and include Earle D. Swope, Katarzyna Cepek, Naomi Adams, Dynany Munson, Mare Blocker and Scott Samuelson.
Artists from Nebraska, Virginia, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands also have work in the collection.
Reference and Instruction Librarian Beth Canzoneri said the faculty at the UI library was excited to host the exhibit.
“I think this is a fantastic exhibit,” Canzoneri said. “(I) am glad they were able to share some of these creative efforts by these artists with the university community.”
Canzoneri said the UI library was fortunate to be on the list of libraries chosen to display the works. She said she hopes students will come and see the exhibit.
“It’s something totally unique,” Canzoneri said. “It’s mind-expanding.”
Exhibition coordinator Sarah Vangundy put the display together just outside the library elevator. She also said she hopes students will come see the exhibit.
“I would really encourage students to come look at it because it’s a great opportunity to see what international and national artists are doing, and (see) different ways to interact with text,” Vangundy said.
The exhibit encompasses a variety of works — some make use of entire books while others only parts of them. Each work features a statement from the artists.
UI is one of three academic institutions featuring the exhibit in its library. The other two are College of Southern Idaho and Brigham Young University — Idaho.
Next month, the display will be featured in Idaho Falls Public Library. From there, it will be featured in Coeur d’Alene in November, Boise in December and BYUI in January.
Booker’s Dozen was last in Moscow in February when it was on display in the Moscow City Hall gallery. The display remains in each institution for one month.
The exhibit will be on display at the library through Sept. 27. It will be open to the general public during the library’s normal operating hours — 7:45 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 7:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.
The exhibit is sponsored by the Idaho Center for the Book, located in Boise.
Andrew Jenson can be reached at [email protected]