TIA BLASSINGAME 9

websites. When you organize conferences and symposiums on African
American book and print history, post the information to book arts
listservs and online forums. Let book arts and printmaking departments
and certificate programs know; their students might be very interested.
Many African American college and graduate students are creating
prints and artists’ books about race and ethnicity. Through isolation and a
lack of knowledge, they feel like solitary pioneers without known histories
or examples of African American artists and printers to inspire them.
Without exposure to the likes of Dox Thrash, Elizabeth Catlett, Alison Saar,
Ruth Ellis, and so many pioneers of print, they lack significant history
and inspiration. They miss the insight to see quilts by the many forgotten
African Americans or those by the celebrated Gee’s Bend quilters or by Faith
Ringgold as artworks with arguably strong bookish characteristics. You
might be surprised by the ignorance of their professors on these topics.

LIBRARIANS

More often than not, you and your collections introduce artists’ books, fine
press books and the very notion of book arts to audiences young and old.
Take your time; read the books in your collection. If the artist is still living,

 

Anniversary, 2011, Tja Blassingame, editioned artists’ book.
Photo: the artist