Barbara Mortkowitz Curates Ido Agassi Exhibit

Book Art: Ido Agassi and Even Hoshen Press of Ra'anana, Israel

Exhibition at Graduate Theological Union through February 28, 2010

2400 Ridge Road, Berkeley, CA

Ido Agassi and Even Hoshen Press of Ra'anana, Israel are currently exhibiting their fine art books in the display cases at GTU.

Ido Agassi is a master bookbinder, printer and publisher, who in an age of mass production, has returned bookmaking to a genuine craft and fine art form. His handcrafted, limited and numbered editions transform classic and Hebrew literature into works of art.

From their letterpress and intaglio publishing house in Ra'anana, Ido and his father Uzi Agassi craft their fine art books, which have been purchased by libraries, museums, galleries and private collectors throughout the world.

Barbara Mortkowitz, curator of the exhibition says, "It's quite an honor to be able to exhibit the work of Ido Agassi and Even Hoshen Press at the Graduate Theological Union." Mortkowitz who first met Agassi at the Codez International Book Fair in 2007, has curated several shows of their work, most recently at the Mechanics Library in San Francisco as well as the Jewish Community Library.

GTU Hours:

Monday - Thursday: 8:30am - 9:00pm

Friday: 8:30pm - 5:00pm

Saturday: 11:00am - 6:00pm

Sunday: 1:00pm - 7:00pm

Marianne Lettieri & Barbara Mortkowitz in show together

Marianne Lettieri & Barbara Mortkowitz will exhibit their work in Bibliophoria at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts.

The show runs June 18 - July 26, 2009. Juried by Donna Seager, owner of the Donna Seager Gallery, the show features all kinds of artist books created in both traditional and non-traditional forms.

Gallery Hours:
Mon. - Fri. 10am - 5pm
Sat. & Sun. 1 - 4pm

6780 Depot Street
Sebastopol, CA
For more information visit www.sebarts.org.

Barbara Mortkowitz to exhibit work in Polyglot show

Polyglot: A book that contains the same text in more than one language.

Gualala Arts will present an exhibit titled "Polyglot: Expressive Media in Book Arts" from the opening June 13 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. through July 5 in the Jacob Foyer. This invitation-only exhibition of more than 50 books will feature contemporary works by artists using multiple media such as glass, fabrics, metals, wood and clay.

Artists' books are works of art realized in the form of a book. The book arts have a long history - from the first cave drawings, scrolls, illuminated manuscripts and letterpress printing, to more recent forms of visual expression and communication made possible by digital technology. Drawing on past traditions, but free to envision the future, the contemporary book artist uses a wide range of materials and techniques to express their concerns as artists and inhabitants of the 21st century.

Reception Saturday, June 13, 5:00pm - 7:00pm at the Gualala Arts Center. 46501 Gualala Road, Gualala, CA. Open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m. (707) 884-1138

Barbara Mortkowitz curating art exhibit at BJE Jewish Community Library

BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis Street, San Francisco, 415-567-3327 ext 703. All programs are free and open to the public; free parking available at the entrance on Pierce Street near Eddy. Visit http://www.bjesf.org/library.htm to access the complete calendar of events, resources for book clubs, and latest acquisitions.

Art Exhibit

Marking Time: Omer Calendars by Community Artists

Exhibit: March 1 - July 26, 2009

Artists' Reception: Sunday, March 8, 2 - 4 P.M.

Barbara Mortkowitz, Curator

Omer counters, or calendars, have been part of the tradition of hiddur mitzvah, or beautification of the commandment, for centuries. Modern examples demonstrate how a wide variety of contemporary materials and techniques can be used to create pieces which reflect both ancient and new ideas about time and spiritual values.

The Omer is the measure of grain which the Children of Israel were commanded to bring to the Temple from the second day of Passover until Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, a period lasting 49 days. The counting of these days is an important part of the commandment. Over time, tradition began to link this period with the transition from slavery to freedom, and it was considered a time of preparation for the receiving of the Torah as celebrated on Shavuot. Contemporary artists have incorporated all these ideas into their own personal expressions of the significance of counting the Omer.

Barbara Mortkowitz & Ido Agassi

Ido Agassi at work

Barbara Mortkowitz is currently involved with organizing events for Ido Agassi. Ido is a master bookbinder, printer and publisher who has returned bookmaking to a genuine craft and fine art form. Ido Agassi's handcrafted, limited and numbered editions transform classic and Hebrew literature into works of art. With use of distinctive typography, calligraphy, original prints, aquatints, and etchings, Ido Agassi employs a host of techniques to illuminate the texts on highest qualities of papers.

The pages are sewn by hand and encased in a variety of whimsical bindings, boxes, and slipcases to literally create worlds in miniature. For example, the story of David versus Goliath is bound by a leather slingshot (stone included) and the poem "Mein Blaus Klavier" ("My Blue Piano") written by Else Lasker-Schuler, is imprinted on the paper keys of a book-sized cloth grand piano.

My Blue Piano

David & Goliath

From their letterpress and intaglio publishing house in Ra'anana, Israel, Ido and his father Uzi Agassi meticulously craft their host of fine art books which are currently exhibited in libraries, museums, galleries and private collections around the world. Blending the arts of sculpture, graphic design, and bookbinding, the rare and inspired Agassi masterpieces will fascinate bibliophiles and arts lovers alike. For more information visit Even Hoshen Press.

Ido Agassi & Even Hoshen Press of Ra'anana, Israel will be presenting their handcrafted fine art books at the CODEX Book Fair, February 9-11 in the ASUC Pauley Ballroom on the U.C. Berkeley Campus.

For details, please visit: http://www.codexfoundation.org/

Deathfugue

Bejuquero

Currently on display in San Francisco : Fine Art Books from Israel

Read page 1 of this newsletter from the Mechanics' Institute Library

Currently on display at the Mechanics' Institute Library, are works of "book" art, handmade limited-edition books produced by Even Hoshen Press. These handcrafted, limited editions transform classic and contemporary Hebrew literature into works of art. Calligraphy, original etchings and prints illuminate texts on high quality papers which are sewn by hand and encased in whimsical bindings and boxes.

These books have never before been in the United States until Barbara Mortkowitz brought them for this rare exhibition. They are in the display cases on the second and third floors.

Mechanics' Institute Library
57 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-393-0101

Barbara Mortkowitz in 2 book art shows

Bay Area artist Barbara Mortkowitz is currently in 2 book art shows, with one of her art books in each show.

The first is BookWorks 2008 which runs until September 26 at the Downtown San Francisco Library. This is the 14th in a series of exhibitions with works by members of the Pacific Center for the Book Arts.

Ordinarily, one thinks of a book as a gathering of pages bound between two covers. But to others, a book can take many forms and become a work of art, and the pieces in this show represent a wide range of responses to this question. What you see here may surprise you and even challenge your definition of what constitutes a book. Traditional books, such as finely-printed books of poetry and other literature and books beautifully hand-bound in various materials, will of course be offered, and along with these will be innovative, and often whimsical, avant-garde artists’ books.

The second show is Sewn Pages - Woven Thoughts, which runs until September 26 at Commuknity in San Jose. For directions, please click here.

This exhibit features the fiber art books by members of the Bay Area Book Artists (BABA). BABA is a group of independent artists bound together by a passion for the book arts.

3 Linden Street Warehouse artists involved in book project

For generations women in the Bible have inspired movies, novels, sermons, and art. The new book, Women of the Bible: Mothers, Harlots, Wives and Queens, retells the stories of these female archetypes through creative explorations in art, prose and poetry. Three of our Linden Street Warehouse artists – Marianne Lettieri, Barbara Mortkowitz, and Joyce Savre, participated in the collaboration.

The book's original art and writing will be exhibited during the Menlo Park Connoisseur's Marketplace, July 19 and 20. To view some of the book's pages online, go to the direct link on Blurb.

New show curated by Barbara Mortkowitz

Opens in San Francisco this Sunday, April 13th

Community Artists Look at Israel

In this exhibit, community artists reflect on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. In their work, they express their hopes, their disappointments, and their wishes for the land and its people, and reflect on their relationship to them. Exhibit runs April 1 through July 31, all regular Library hours. Curated by Barbara Mortkowitz. FREE.


Soon we will post an interview with Barbara, revealing interesting tidbits about her role as a curator. Stay tuned!

Show curated by Barbara Mortkowitz

Barbara Mortkowitz has curated a show which is currently at the Jewish Community Library in San Francisco.

EXHIBIT
Even Hoshen Press: Fine Books from Israel
Exhibit: through March 16, 2008

Even Hoshen private press in Ra'anana, Israel represents a collaboration of father and son Uzi and Ido Agassi. Named after the twelve precious stones of Aaron's breastplate, the press produces books in limited editions, accompanied by original etchings, prints, or woodcuts, with special hand made bindings. Book artist and designer Ido Agassi will be present at the opening reception on January 13, giving an artist's talk at 3 pm. This exhibit represents the first time the press's work is being displayed in the United States.

Curated by Barbara Mortkowitz

Co-sponsored by The Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation and the Consulate General of Israel in San Francisco

Jewish Community Library: l835 Ellis St., San Francisco
415-567-3327

Barbara Mortkowitz

"House for a Book Worm"
Dimensions: 8" x 13.5" x 4.5"

Barbara Mortkowitz, Artist
Contact: Barbara711@comcast.net
Website: Artistic Designations