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Writers make books, gallery becomes library in ‘Writers Making Books’ at Arcadia University’s Spruance Gallery

Roberta speaks with Richard Torchia and Zachary See at Arcadia University's Spruance Art Gallery. Richard and Zach curated the current exhibit, "Writers Making Books," (in conjunction with the city-wide festival, "Whitman at 200: Art and Democracy"). The show closes on April 21, 2019. The interview is 28:54 minutes long.

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Zachary See and Richard Torchia. Photo courtesy of Morgan Nitz.
Zachary See and Richard Torchia. Photo courtesy of Morgan Nitz.

Inspired by Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass,” Writers Making Books at Arcadia University’s Spruance Gallery explores the art of bookmaking — specifically, books made by writers, self-published books or press-published books. The show, in conjunction with the festival, “Whitman at 200: Art and Democracy,” puts books on individual shelves in the gallery, and the installation, with green walls (leaf green) includes a newly made table with two book cradles for proper perusing of books without damaging their spines. Voila! the gallery is transformed into a library-like reading room, filled with innovative works such as “House of Leaves” by Mark Z. Danielewski, “Word Rain” by Madeline Gins, and books by Philadelphia area artist/writers like Ditta Baron Hoeber and Marianne Dages.  There’s a fine line between artist’s books and writers books, and the two curators talk about that and other aspects of books in the podcast.

ALSO! You are invited to flip through the collection and sit in one of two easy chairs installed in the gallery or at a beautiful, student-built reading table. Make yourself comfortable and meditate on the art of bookmaking!

“Writers Making Books” at Arcadia University’s Spruance Gallery, 450 S. Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038, from January 24 to April 21, 2019.

Thanks to Morgan Nitz, who recorded and edited this podcast and took the picture of Richard Torchia and Zachary See. The podcast interview is 28:54 minutes long. ARTBLOG RADIO is now available on Apple (iTunes and Apple Podcasts) and Spotify, and available via RSS.


More Photos

Installation view, "Writers Making Books" at Arcadia University.
Installation view, “Writers Making Books” at Arcadia University. Photo courtesy of Sam Fritch.
Installation view, "Writers Making Books" at Arcadia University.
Installation view, “Writers Making Books” at Arcadia University. Photo courtesy of Sam Fritch.
"Leaves of Grass", Walt Whitman. From "Writers making Books" at Arcadia University.
“Leaves of Grass”, Walt Whitman. From “Writers making Books” at Arcadia University. Photo courtesy of Sam Fritch.
"House of Leaves," Mark Z. Danielewski. From "Writers Making Books" at Arcadia University.
“House of Leaves,” Mark Z. Danielewski. From “Writers Making Books” at Arcadia University. Photo courtesy of Richard Torchia.
"Work Rain," Madeline Gins. From "Writers Making Books" at Arcadia University.
“Word Rain,” Madeline Gins. From “Writers Making Books” at Arcadia University. Photo courtesy of Richard Torchia.
"Heart of Darkness," Fiona Banner. From "Writers Making Books" at Arcadia University. Photo courtesy of Richard Torchia.
“Heart of Darkness,” Fiona Banner. From “Writers Making Books” at Arcadia University. Photo courtesy of Richard Torchia.
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