Book Arts Exhibits Spring 2016

There are a couple of book arts exhibits this Spring in the Bay Area that are looking quite good, and I'm honored to be included in both.

On Hold - from KEEP: Modern Library series

Every year Seager Gray Gallery puts together an Art of the Book exhibit. Seager Gray Gallery is a year round proponent of the book arts but for this exhibit they always work extra hard to gather an interesting and varied group of book artists.

To Be Shelved - from KEEP: Modern Library series

Three pieces from my KEEP: Modern Library series will be included in this show. 

New Acquisitions - from KEEP: Modern Library series

Art of the Book

Seager Gray Gallery

Mill Valley, CA

May 2nd - June 5th, 2016

Reception: Saturday, May 14th, 5:30 - 7:30

Seager Gray Gallery has put together an online catalog on ISSUU that you can view here.

Contact the gallery if you are interested in purchasing a copy. 

In 2001, the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art put on an exhibit entitled This Is Not a Book. I remember being newly transplanted to California, being a book artist who didn't know that many artists in the area yet, and seeing this show and being profoundly affected by it. Many of the artists in the show weren't really "book artists" but rather artist making sculptural book objects or conceptual pieces with or relating to books. At the time I was interested in making books that existed more as three-dimensional objects representing books, and all that they embody, rather than page-turning objects with text on them. I wanted the object to tell the story rather than the words on the page, and this exhibit at the San Jose ICA was greatly influential in helping find my new direction. It was the first time I had seen Gaza Bowen's Biliotheca Memoria. If you haven't seen it, or pieces from it, you need to!

This Is Not a Book, Chapter Two is coming up in June 2016 at the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art. Seager Gray Gallery has collaborated with the SJICA and put together, what looks like, a winning line-up. I am honored to be part of this exhibit and will be installing my Exposed Spines there at the end of this month.

This Is Not a Book: Chapter Two

San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art

San Jose, CA

June 5th - September 11th, 2016

Reception: June 5th, 2:00 - 4:00

Exposed Spines

There is also a catalog planned for this exhibit but the online link is not available at this time. Check back for updates.

If you are in the Bay Area - lucky you - you can see these shows and you should! If you are reading this from afar, then it looks like you are also in luck since there will be print and online catalogs!

I will be in New England during the San Jose ICA reception but I will try my best to make it to the May 14th opening reception at Seager Gray.

Fall 2015 Book Arts Exhibits

Just a quick post to share a couple of stellar book arts exhibits happening in the USA this Fall.

Ten Years of Artist Books at the Brooklyn Public Library
Curated by Donna Seager, of Seager Gray Gallery 
Brooklyn Public Library
October 1st, 2015 - January 24th, 2016 

 Every year Donna curates an exhibit at her gallery called "The Art of the Book". This exhibit celebrates 10 years of that exhibit.

Some of my Exposed Spine pieces are in the exhibit, and as usual, Donna has gathered a group of amazing book works, by talented book artists, to keep them company.

 Be sure to check out the exhibit if you are in the New York area.

Exposed Spines by Jody Alexander (photo by r.r. jones)

Another fabulously curated book arts exhibit is happening at 
Whatcom Museum, in Bellingham, WA.

Unhinged: Book Art on the Cutting Edge 
Curated by Barbara Matilsky
September 27th, 2015 - January 3rd, 2016

Below is an image of my piece in the exhibit entitled: If She Thought it Would Help, Zelda Would Use Her Antediluvian Curse Cache to Attain Her Revenge

And, boy oh boy, is Zelda in good company at this exhibit. Many of the book artists in this show are artists that I have studied and admired for years - some real foremothers and forefathers of the book arts genre. Also, included are many of my book arts colleagues and friends.

If She Thought it Would Help, Zelda Would Use Her Antediluvian Curse Cache to Attain Her Revenge by Jody Alexander (photo by r.r. jones)

 It is a real honor to be included in both of these exhibits!

You can order a copy of the catalog for the Unhinged exhibit at Blurb here.

And, I believe you can order a copy of the Brooklyn Library exhibition catalog by contacting Seager Gray Gallery here. 

I won't be able to attend either exhibit but I hope that some of you can. 

Let me know if you do!