Artist Books: Private Collector’s Approach Marvin A Sackner Co-Founder, Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry
Decision Making Private collector can define an artist book according to his/her vision. Ineluctable modality of the visible! Private collector can integrate artist books into his/her collection without consensus. Public collection must conform with an established canon. Library? Prints or drawings section? Nowhere?
Definition of Artist Book Book composed by an artist(s). Who is an artist? Visual artist Writer Poet Performer Composer Content of artist book Images Words or word-like appearance (e.g., hieroglyphics, ideograms) Diagrams Musical notations
Extended Definition of Artist Book Artist book has a visually appealing presentation as a result of hands-on involvement by a visual artist, writer, poet, performer, or composer. Artist book is not a book in which fine typography is utilized for conventional fiction, non-fiction and poetry nor is it a book in which images and text or poems exist side by side throughout the book (Livre d’Artiste).
Types of Artist Books Artist Book (Mass Produced): 500 copies or more. Inexpensive: less than $35. Expensive: greater than $35. Artist Book (Limited Edition): 11 to 499 copies. Artist Book: 1 to 10 copies.
Examples of Mass Produced Artist Books Verbal/Visual Concrete poetry, visual poetry, sound poetry, performance art/poetry, shaped poetry, rebus, conceptual art, pictograph books. Unusual shaped books or bindings Diarist Experimental calligraphy Experimental fiction Flip pages and pop-up books
Visual Poetry
Concrete Poetry
Cancelled Text
Sound Poetry
Performance Poetry
Conceptual Art
Picture Poetry
Shaped Poetry
Letter Picture
Rebus
Letter Picture
Permutation
Visual Art
Children’s Book
Outside Art
Outsider Art
Visual Poetry
Book Object
Book Object – Children’s Book
Ancient Codex Binding
Unusual Binding
Unusual Shape
Tunnel Book
Diarist
Experimental Calligraphy
Autograph Book: Visual Poetry
Autograph Book: Concrete Poetry
Experimental Fiction
Flip Pages