On View in the Library

This display from Laurie Snyder's artists' book classes includes 13 unique projects employing drawing, painting, sculpture, digital art, photography, printmaking and collage, with diverse materials, formats, and imagery, and exquisite production values. See for yourself from May 9 through September 9, 2008.

 Participating artists are:
   Julia Arredondo ~ Courtney Ay ~ Natasha Bhamla
   Rebecca Bridges ~ Sarah Elek ~ Phylicia Ghee
   Magenta Livengood ~ Joe Plaskowitz
   Kelly Romany ~ Anna Scheid ~ J. Aiden Simon
   Joe Sturm ~ Catherina Zaras

Featured Book - Summer 2008

They first remind me of those people glued in little lit dioramas or fixed along train track houses — but wait, these are real and there’s something just a little too disturbing about these photographed city scenes. I’m feeling David Lynch’s Twin Peaks yet I’m seeing Edward Hopper through a View-Master (but not from Fisher Price). It’s creepy and startling and, amazing. But, there’s more, on subsequent glances.

Fans will thrill to see this folio-sized collection of 49 color plates (the library has 3 of Crewdson's other smaller, yet well-circulating books). Some, never seen before photos are here along with fascinating production documentation. Plus, there’s an analytic essay by award-winning writer Russell Banks (check out his two novels in our fiction section) who paints the corners of Crewdson’s talent: “it’s an opera,” “he makes pictures,” [they’re conceived] “like chapters in a novel,” then fires one spot on: “on viewing [his photographs] one’s own secret inner life is necessarily revealed, too — at least to oneself.”

Enter his world if you dare. - - ML

New books are displayed for one week upstairs at the Library, becoming available for check out each Friday - visit the Circulation Desk to place a hold on the book.

Want to suggest a book for the Decker Library to acquire? Complete this Recommendation Form (PDF file) and drop it off at the Circulation or Information Desk. If you need the book quickly, request it from Interlibrary Loan.