For more than fifty years, Janus Press in the United States has been turning out highly-designed, handmade editions that are more like sculptures than books.
They are complete art works in themselves.
Aucklanders Elizabeth Steiner and Beth Serjeant each own several of the precious (and costly) books and their collections range from the tiny to the tremendous. But Elizabeth says they are still, at heart, things that demand to be read.
Over the years Janus Press have published several works by New Zealand authors (including one co-authored by Elizabeth) and now Objectspace Gallery in Auckland is staging an exhibition to highlight that Kiwi connection. The exhibition, which opens in late October 2014, will coincide with The Association of Book Crafts NZ first international conference and trade fair. Elizabeth, Beth (and their book collection) will be there, along with international guests, all arguing the case for the book in the age of the eBook.
“The fact that you can touch it, you can hold it, you feel its weight, its texture. I love it. I love it.”
Produced by Justin Gregory.