Earlier this month, eight Art and the Book alumni—representing the first graduating class all the way to the most recent in 2016—participated in CODEX 2017, the Sixth Biennial International Book Fair and Symposium in Richmond California.
Alumni included Camden Richards, Maria San Martin, Beth Curren, Jennaway Pearson, Whitney Stahl, Tia Blassingame, Sydney Reisen and Krista Sharp.
Each alum's print and book work was on display and for purchase to national and international visitors, such as book arts enthusiasts, independent collectors, rare book representatives, and librarians from college and universities and from public and private institutions. Works explored such varied topics as women’s rights, ecological concerns, human rights issues, the contemplation of our place in the world and the vastness of space exploration.
Art and Design Professor Kerry McAleer-Keeler’s work was also on display at the College Book Art Association (CBAA) table at Codex in a portfolio she recently participated in called Folium—CBAA’s inaugural print portfolio/exchange to benefit the CBAA academic journal, Openings: Studies in Book Art. The participating artists are professionals in the field of book arts: printers, binders, educators and fine artists.
The Codex International Book Fair and the Codex Foundation itself exists to preserve and promote the hand-made book as a work of art in the broadest possible context and to bring to public recognition the artists, craftsmanship and rich history of the civilization of the book.