Book Arts Collection in Texas

January 21, 2018

As I travel, my on-going goal is to promote my artists' books. After a few emails to book arts collections in Texas, I scheduled two appointments.

My first rendez-vous was with Shā Towers, Curator of the Book Arts Collection, Art Liaison Librarian, and Associate Director of the Central Libraries at Baylor University. Since 2007, the artists’ book collection of The Crouch Fine Arts Library has grown to over 800 works representing many artists and presses. The collection functions as a teaching collection for both studio artists working in the medium and various disciplines outside the arts. The collection includes a wide-ranging representation of everything from single-page constructions, complex forms, sculptural book-works, fine press, letterpress, photography, handmade papers, textiles, collaborative works, and more.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, the Jesse H Jones Library, one of the central libraries at Baylor University in Waco, Texas

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, the Jesse H Jones Library entrance to a very friendly staff

I arrived in Waco, had a pleasant visit and exchange on the Library collection with Shā. Following my artists' books presentation, I left re-energized. It’s nice to talk with someone who has an understanding, interest and creates artists' books.

I'm thrilled to say my artists’ books: Conversation, Decades Apart, Traverse, the Texas and New Mexico volumes of City Shields, are now part of the Crouch Fine Arts Library.

© 2006 Louise Levergneux, City Shields, New Mexico volume

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, door in downtown Waco, Texas

My second consultation was with Rebecca Pad, Humanities Liaison Librarian for the Fine Arts Library at the University of Texas.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Oak trees around the Doty Fine Arts Building

Examples of Artists' Books can be found in Libraries and Art Collections across the University campus. The artists' books in these collections contain illustrations by artists, livres d'artistes, multiple-copied and inexpensive produced booklets, limited-edition, and handcrafted books.

Rebecca Pad, three other colleagues and I sat and reviewed my books. I took pleasure in seeing my ideas and concepts experienced with amusement. I’m fond of bringing a smile to the reader, part of my artistic statement and philosophy behind my work.

At the end of our session, the Fine Arts Library acquired Ambivalence, a flip book from the Outside of the Studio series entitled Earth.20 and my last published book Shadow Me.

© 2012 Louise Levergneux, Earth.20 from the Outside the Studio Series

Shadow Me is a documentary that exemplifies solitary moments after the loss of unconditional love of a devoted companion. Rebecca was touched by this book, I’m glad it's now part of the collection.

In the past, I wasn’t keen on talking about my work, but Texans have a way of welcoming you, what can I say Y'all made me feel at home!

The Harry Ransom Center

January 14, 2018

The structure of the Harry Ransom Center building is alluring. My camera came out of my bag and I began shooting. I wanted to take photos of the etched glass images of the first-floor plazas—trying to recognize the images became a game!

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, right plaza etched glass of the Harry Ransom Center, *Gloria Swanson, Edward Steichen, 1924*

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, left plaza etched glass of the Harry Ransom Center, Austin, Storyboard from Gone with the Wind, 1939 — © 2017 Louise Levergneux, left plaza etched glass of the Harry Ransom Center, Austin, *Storyboard from Gone with the Wind, 1939*

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, right plaza etched glass of the Harry Ransom Center, Austin, Horse in Motion, Eadweard Muybridge, ca 1886 — © 2017 Louise Levergneux, right plaza etched glass of the Harry Ransom Center, Austin, *Horse in Motion,* *Eadweard Muybridge, ca 1886*

Olivia Primanis invited me to a second French lunch. I enjoyed dialoguing thoughts and ideas in my native tongue. French conversations stimulate a different rapport. This get-together gave me the chance to visit the Conservation Departments of the Harry Ransom Center.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, we started with the Book Conservation Lab where we met the week before for my presentation of my artists’ books

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Olivia Primanis working at her station in the Book Conservation Lab

Then we stepped into the Paper Conservation Lab where this year’s intern Kimberly Kwan was working. I met Ken Grant, Head of Paper Lab, Preservation and Conservation and Jane Boyd, Conservator of the Paper Lab.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Kimberly Kwan and Jane Boyd in the Paper Conservation Lab

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Ken Grant and Kimberly Kwan in the Paper Conservation Lab

The third lab was the Photograph Conservation, I found it interesting to see the equipment used by the staff to accomplish assignments.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Photograph Conservation Lab

Last, but not least, I visited the Preservation Lab, where I was introduced to the different collections that are maintained and kept. Genevieve Pierce, Preservation Technician, was informative and knowledgeable.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Genevieve Pierce in the Preservation Lab working on boxes for a specific collection

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, the other side of the Preservation Lab

This was a great exploration, I’m looking forward to perusing the Books Arts Collection in depth next year.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, my last gaze at the Harry Ransom Center before leaving Austin

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, The Harry Ransom Center

Austin, Texas

January 8, 2018

I visited the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas in Austin, twice during my séjour. The structure captivated my attention from the outside in with its two inside plazas etched in glass with images of the collections.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, The Harry Ransom Center, Picasso's Eyes, David Douglas Duncan, 1957; silhouette of Oliver Twist, Sir Francis Carruthers Gould, 1890s; Rooster device, Golden Cockerel Press, ca 1923; Horse in Motion, Eadweard Myubridge, ca 1… — © 2017 Louise Levergneux, The Harry Ransom Center, Picasso's Eyes, David Douglas Duncan, 1957; silhouette of Oliver Twist, Sir Francis Carruthers Gould, 1890s; Rooster device, Golden Cockerel Press, ca 1923; Horse in Motion, Eadweard Myubridge, ca 1886

Front facade, first and second floors of the Center were re-designed and completed in 2003 under the direction of the San Antonio architects Lake/Flato. Abundant Texas light reflects architecturally the two-fold vision of the Ransom Center.

The mission of the Center encourages discovery, inspires creativity, and advances understanding of the humanities for a broad and diverse audience through the preservation and sharing of its extraordinary collections.

Enjoy an insider's glimpse into the Ransom Center. This 10-minute video provides a broad overview of collections, scholarship, conservation, exhibitions, and programs. Curators, students, members, and conservators discuss their work and how the Center shares and celebrates the creative process.

I received a wonderful Texan welcome by Olivia Primanis, Senior Conservator for the Ransom Center. Olivia was approachable and a gentle soul.

Olivia directed me to visit the artists’ books repository part of the Art Collection. To get access to the artists’ books one can open a research “Aeon" account then go to the reading room and page your chosen artists’ books for an original research or specialized study.

The Harry Ransom Website Collections page

© 2017 Olivia Primanis, a sample of the Book Arts database with thumbnail images online

It was a pleasure to do a “show and tell” session by sharing my process and books with Olivia and her co-workers; Ellen Cunningham, Associate Director for Preservation and Conservation, Dana Kull, a volunteer, Kimberly Kwan an intern for the paper lab, and Mary Baughman from the Austin Book Arts Center who also joined us.

After a wonderful hour, Olivia invited me to join her for French lunch. Olivia and other colleagues meet every Tuesday for lunch and speak only French for an hour. I did not realize I would speak French in Austin!

Cela était chouette d'être demandée !

Merci, Olivia pour une visite fantastique ! À la prochaine.

Welcome Bienvenue

Hello, my name is Louise Levergneux, I’m a book maker. This blog is where I share and reflect on the approaches and structures used in my creative process, artists' books, photography. and more...

Your comments and stories are welcome.

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