While her roots are in traditional typographic forms, van vliet has moved beyond the boundaries of standard book design through her free composition of. A literary text is, for a book artist, like a score for a musician or a script for an actor. Many of the books from the janus press were the generous gifts of patricia g. The artists seeks out rock formations on her travels. Claire van vliet, 2009 ettinger book artist series uwm. Beauty in use is a book of poetry by sandra mcpherson, her third collaboration with janus press. Here is another beautifully constructed book from claire van vliet s janus press. Many have been designed, illustrated, typeset, printed sometimes on paper made by the artist, and bound by van vliet in a wellequipped studio. As a public health precaution due to covid19 coronavirus, all smithsonian museums are closed temporarily and all public programs, events, and tours are canceled through july 1. Though some books are entirely van vliets creation, from the writing and art to the finished product, janus press has also designed and. A couple of weeks ago, i visited the brattleboro museum and art center to take in the claire van vliet. The tower of babel, an anthology artist, publisher. An unbelievable production in both design, art, printing, music, paper engineering.
Claire van vliet and the janus press national gallery of art. In text, color, and threedimensional forms, claire van vliet s book seen here evokes the visionary music and poetry of 12thcentury visionary. Claire van vliet is one of americas preeminent artists of the book, having created some of the 20thcenturys most important fine editions. Each poem is accompanied by a colorful and complex paper quilt. Claire van vliet tumbling blocks for pris and bruce. Claire van vliet is one of the most admired and in. Bookmaker claire van vliet artist profile seven days. Van vliet started janus press, presently located in newark, vermont.
Van vliet, whose many honors include a macarthur fellowship, is the proprietor of the janus press, located in newark. Claire van vliet is widely recognized as a master printmaker and has won numerous awards, including election to the national academy, two honorary doctorates of fine arts and the prestigious macarthur prize fellowship. The book arts library of congress rare books and special. The press embodies the ageold tradition of book making, yet it also experiments with. In 1989 van vliet was honored with a macarthur fellowship, the first ever awarded to a book artist. Claire van vliet, book artist extraordinaire and recipient of the macarthur genius grant, writes a book describing how a few of her and her colleagues artists books were bound. Aug 9, 2014 this pin was discovered by barbara hutsell. Please select ok if you would like to proceed with this request anyway. Accordion fold book with cutouts and a strip that weaves through the pages. Celebration of paper exhibit the exhibit included both van vliet s handmade books and pulp paintings. Triangle fold book interlocking book structure moeraki boulders by claire van vliet.
This exhibition celebrated the 50th anniversary of the janus press, founded by claire van vliet, by showcasing books published by the press from the national gallery of art librarys artists book collection. Van vliet founded janus press, which publishes small editions of artist books, in 1955 in san diego. Claire van vliet, kilclooney night, 1998, vitreograph, 23. Claire van vliet born 1933 in ottawa, ontario is an artist, illustrator, and typographer who. This catalogue was published on the occasion of the exhibition in black and white. Claire van vliet is the proprietor of the janus press, founded in 1955 and located in newark, vermont, since 1966. Claire van vliet book art, book sculpture, book making. Claire van vliet national museum of women in the arts.
Claire van vliet product categories abecedarian gallery. She was educated at san diego state university in california where she received a bachelor of arts and at claremont college graduate school where she was awarded a. This exhibition celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the janus press, founded by claire van vliet, by showcasing a selection of their books from the national gallery of art librarys artists book collection. Book artist claire van vliet has, at her janus press, constructed dazzling broadsides and artist books based on poetry by, among others, hayden carruth, galway kinnell, and margaret kaufman. Artist, printmaker and publisher claire van vliet presented the 2009 ettinger book artist lecture on saturday, october 31, 2009 at 2 p. Modified moeraki boulders another view of my enlarged version of moeraki boulders. While her roots are in traditional typographic forms, van vliet has moved beyond the boundaries of standard book design through her free composition of text pages, her incorporation. She was slightly ahead of the curve of the conceptualarts movement of the 1960s, which. Most of the drawings include references to ancient, classical, and renaissance art in contemporary settings, with the artist included as observer statement by the artist. Number of two hundred copies signed by claire van vliet.
Janus press checklist 1990 by janus press van vliet, claire and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This publication was planned to celebrate hildegards nine hundredth birthday. Claire van vliet is one of the most important book designers and artists of the last half of the twentieth century. Janus publications books, pamphlets, and broadsides number approximately 100. Her work has been exhibited throughout the united states and abroad and has been featured in numerous publications, books and articles. Their work was featured in several exhibitions at key galleries and museums, including the racine art museum and the bates college, museum of art. Claire van vliet is widely recognized as a master printmaker and has won. Book artist claire van vliet on the janus press nov 2, 2009 claire van vliet is the owner of the janus press founded in 1955 located, since 1966, in newark, vermont.
These directions on how to bind her books involving. She published her first artists book in 1955, called the oxford odyssey, and since then she and her proprietary janus press have published over ninety more. An anthology, 1975, claire van vliet american, born canada, b. Claire van vliet born 1933 in ottawa, ontario is an artist, illustrator, and typographer who founded janus press in san diego, california in 1955. The fireproof floors of witley court by james schuyler was published in 1976 by the janus press. Van vliet founded janus press in 1955, through which she has published handprinted books illustrated with original prints and pulp paintings. That same year, van vliets first artist book of wood engravings, the oxford odyssey, was published. Twenty years of artists books from the national museum of. A more extensive version of this exhibition was installed at the grolier club in new. Claire van vliet is a renowned book artist who founded the janus press in 1955 and has produced groundbreaking innovations in the book arts field for more than six decades. The book is assembled and bound without the use of adhesives.
Poet sandra mcphersons collection of africanamerican quilts inspired herspoke to her, as she tells itto write the thirteen poems contained in this volume. Woven and interlocking book structures claire van vliet and elizabeth steiner, woven and interlocking book structures newark, vermont. Designed and printed by artist publisher claire van vliet in newark, vermont, in a run of 150 copies, this finely made chapbook is perhaps the scarcest publication in schuylers oeuvre. Four slipcases containing 16 book models are enclosed with the book in. The books were presented on open pedestals without a glassplexiglass cover. Claire van vliet is a graphic artist, a printmaker, a bookmaker, a papermaker, and the founder of the janus press in 1955. This exhibition brings together a selection of vitreographs by claire van vliet, a renowned printmaker and book artist. Books by claire van vliet in olin library special collections. Thoughts on bookmaking by claire van vliet of the janus press.
Canadian born and living in vermont, claire van vliet has a passion for understanding the natural world, and finds that drawing with ink and pencil and lithograph engraving of those subjects are conducive to that understanding. University of virginia library online exhibits lady. Ever since she started janus press in 1955, claire van vliet fine1984 has been one of the most. She published her first artists book in 1955, called the oxford odyssey. Distributed to the trade by distributed art publishers. Macarthur foundation prize fellowship and an ingram merrill foundation award. Claire van vliet made the pulp paintings with katie macgregor in whiting, me. Nek book artist wins lockwood prize claire van vliet, book artist.
The landscapes on view, printed at harvey littleton studios in spruce pine, nc between 1993 and 2010, depict dramatic rock formations from new zealand, ireland, and the american southwest. Handsome production, designed by claire van vliet and printed at the stinehour press, lunenburg, vermont. Claire van vliet is one of americas preeminent artists of the book, having created some of. She founded the janus press in 1955 and has published over one hundred books with original artwork of her own and other artists. Library of congress rare books and special collections. The relief prints were printed from the original blocks. Link to loneliness in olin library special collections lady freedom among us. Van vliet works primarily with artists books but also makes etchings and lithographs. For decades she has made significant contributions to and innovations in the fields of fine printing, papermaking, bookbinding and printmaking. The artist turns to the book explores 20thcentury handmade artists books from the getty research institutes collections. Modified interlocking book structure by claire van vliet. Claire van vliet is a printmaker and book artist who has been honored with a john d.