Dummies for Photographers

Last spring, in order for our library to more actively participate within the lively discourse about the artist book, we asked ICP Alumni and Guggenheim-grant winning artist Victor Sira to curate a show devoted to the photographer’s book dummy.

Victor chose a small group of artists who, like him, speak through the tireless working out of photographic ideas by binding them together into books, sometimes a multiple of them before they are satisfied that the book adequately conveys their intentions.

The greatest challenge was to re-vivify the books that were locked in the vitrines away from their interactive function. For this, Victor worked with each artist to video tape the interaction with the books, scan page spreads to allow the book to “explode” onto the adjacent walls, or select framed works that animate the subject within the book. The results are 7 small solo shows, as well as one show that works very well together.

Pax Paloscia, a 2007 graduate of ICP’s General Studies Program, was the graphic design force behind the inviting collage image in the school’s pavilion, the postcard and the poster.

Part of the exhibition is displayed in the library, where the published works are arrayed for more thorough perusal…including Victor’s own Book Dummy of his Book Dummies!

The impetus of the exhibition was ICP’s part in the first annual Contemporary Artist Book Conference in New York, which was held at the Museum of Modern Art and the New York Public Library, in cooperation with the Art Libraries Society New York Chapter and Printed Matter’s Art Book Fair. On October 24 I hosted a session called “Dummies for Photographers” at the New York Public Library’s beautiful South Court Auditorium featuring Darius Himes, Victor Sira, Yuichi Hibi, Leigh Ledare and Esther Levine. We hope that a transcription will be published as a part of the conference proceedings at a future date.

Victor Sira's website has more information.

The exhibition was in the Education Galleries of ICP at 1114 Avenue of the Americas last autumn. Please pass by and mention the blog and you may have a free poster.