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1960s called Fluxus. It encouraged artists in all media to create experimental works incorporating chance and playfulness. Some of his most influential projects were in the book form. For Maciunas, books did not require narratives. A book could easily consist of nothing more than a combination of interesting things, including even three-dimensional objects. One of his first publications was a book called Fluxus I, which consisted of a stack of envelopes bolted together with assorted images, text and sheets of music. The envelopes were filled with a hodge-podge of objects such as pantyhose, origami, scraps of paper and strips of plastic. One envelope, labeled “Love-ko A*I*, Napkin for next supper,” contains a small newspaper clipping of a woman’s eyes nestled in a folded white paper napkin. That this book was impossible to read in a traditional way was of no concern to Maciunas. His intent was simply to use the book form to present ideas for making life more joyful.

Perhaps the most famous of the early book artists was Ed Ruscha. Already known for his paintings and collages, he turned to the book in the early 1960s. He made photo-illustrated books that at first glance seem almost ordinary. With titles like Twentysix Gasoline Stations, Thirtyfour Parking Lots in Los Angeles and Nine Swimming Pools and a Broken Glass, each contains nothing but a series of photographic images relating to the title. But their simplicity is deceptive. His books offer a frank rendering of the 1960s urban landscape and are considered a key

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Major Collections of Artists’ Books
Museum of Modern Art Library
11 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019
212/708-9433, www.moma.org/research/library

New York Public Library
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street
New York, NY 10018
212/930-0830, www.nypl.org

Otis College of Art and Design
9045 Lincoln Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045
800/527-6847, www.otis.edu/library

Special Collections and Archives
James Branch Cabell Library
Virginia Commonwealth University
901 Park Avenue
Richmond, VA 23284
804/828-1108
www.library.vcu.edu/jbc/speccoll/bookart.html


Suggestions for Further Reading

Johanna Drucker, The Century of Artists’ Books.
New York: Granary Books, 2004.

Cornelia Lauf and Clive Phillpot, Artist/Author Contemporary Artists’ Books.
New York: Distributed Art Publishers, 1998.


Sources

Boekie Woekie
Berenstraat 16, 1016 GH Amsterdam
The Netherlands
+31 20 6390507, www.boekiewoekie.com

Priscilla Juvelis
11 Goose Fair
Kennebunkport, ME 04046
207/967-0909, www.juvelisbooks.com

Printed Matter
195 Tenth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
212/925-0325, www.printedmatter.org

Specific Object/David Platzker
601 West 26th Street, Room M285
New York, NY 10001
212/242-6253, www.specificobject.com

Vamp and Tramp, Booksellers
1951 Hoover Court, Suite 205
Birmingham, AL 35226
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