Learn to Read Art: A Surviving History of Printed Matter
Opening at NYU’s 80 Washington Square East (WSE) Gallery
December 2, 2014 – February 14, 2015
Printed Matter, a pioneer in the field of artists’ books and a nerve center for New York’s alternative arts world for four decades, is the subject of the newest exhibition and publishing project at NYU’s 80WSE gallery, launching December 2. A public opening will take place on Friday, December 12th, 6- 8PM.
A carefully selected amalgamation of books, records, exhibition documentation and flyers,Learn to Read Art: A Surviving History of Printed Matter charts the organizational history of the New York non-profit in relation to the history of artists’ books and important movements in contemporary art from the 70’s to the present, encompassing the alternative space movement, downtown NYC counter-cultural scenes, and artist activism.
“The field of artists’ books traces the historical trajectory of contemporary art, and many pioneering conceptual artists produced books and publications in order to both reach wider audiences and to circumvent the market and the institutions that much of the work implicitly critiqued,” said Max Schumann, the Acting Executive Director and veteran of Printed Matter. “As one of the pioneering organizations in the field of artists’ books, Printed Matter has stood at the junction of the book as art-form, art-vehicle, art-concept and art-process throughout its 39 year history. The goal of this exhibition is to provide a space for the examination and celebration of this critical cultural activity.”
Printed Matter was founded in 1976 by Sol Lewitt and Lucy Lippard among others, and capitalized on the growing interest in publications made by leading contemporary artists, such as Vito Acconci, Kathy Acker, John Baldessari, Hanne Darboven, Alison Knowles, Louise Lawler, Sol LeWitt, Edward Ruscha, and Lawrence Weiner. Through decades of its own records and files, Learn to Read Art provides a visual account of the history of the store’s collaboration with artists as well as the contemporary art scene in which it engaged.
Learn to Read Art: A Surviving History of Printed Matter will be organized along a timeline of documents, ephemera, editions and publications, which will be presented alongside a chronologically arranged reading library of artists’ books from the corresponding decades, allowing for a hands-on, between-the-covers interaction with exhibition.
Publishing Residency
Complimenting the expansive visual installation will be a fully equipped onsite bookmaking studio where artist residents will produce new publications over the course of the exhibition. Artists Mary Ellen Carroll, Juliana Huxtable, Red76, Research and Destroy New York City and Josh Smith will work with the support of NYU studio assistants to produce editioned publications on a photocopy printer, a risograph printer, silkscreen, and letterpress.
Pop-up Bookshop
A portion of the exhibition space will become a temporary Printed Matter bookstore, featuring a broad selection of contemporary artists’ books from the organization’s inventory. Publications will be available for sale, providing an important platform for the activation of these works through their physical dissemination. Books produced onsite by publishing residents will also be available within this space.
“Printed Matter remains unique in its ability to democratize the field of contemporary art. Where else in NYC does an artist book by Ed Ruscha sit next to a zine by a teenager from rural Ohio?” said Jonathan Berger, Director of the 80WSE Gallery. “Through offering a full history of how Printed Matter developed as the vital institution that it is, I believe that this exhibition has the potential to be an incredible resource for new generations of artists in search of new and different independent models, which enable new possibilities that push beyond the confines of the present.”
Learn to Read Art: A Surviving History of Printed Matter is curated by artist/curator Max Schumann, a veteran of Printed Matter, and artist/curator Jonathan Berger, Director of the 80WSE Gallery and Assistant Professor of Art and Arts Professions at the NYU Steinhardt School.
The title of the exhibition is taken from a text piece by conceptual artist Lawrence Weiner, who has a career-long artists’ book practice, and has had a relationship with Printed Matter since its founding.
Learn to Read Art: A Surviving History of Printed Matter is on view at 80WSE Gallery, 80 Washington Square East, New York, NY, between December 2 – February 14, 2015. The gallery is open to the public Tuesday – Saturday, 10:30am – 6:00pm. Please note the Gallery will be closed for winter break December 20th – January 5th.
To receive additional information on the exhibition please email Shonna Keogan, Press Officer, New York University at resk91@nyu.edu or Max Schumann, Acting Executive Director, Printed Matter, at Mschumann@printedmatter.org.
Process & Skills 