Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Building by the Book: Book Artists Respond to Architecture & Design

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Center for the Book, issued a call for book artists to respond to eleven selected works from the Athenaeum's legacy research collection of architecture and design. Artists submitted proposals for a book that they would create in response to one of the selected architecture and design books. Six proposals were chosen:

Aimee Denault, Philadelphia
Karen Hanmer, Glenview, IL
John Magnan, New Bedford, MA
Claire Owen, Philadelphia
Pia Pizzo, Long Beach, CA
Donald Rattner, New York, NY

The six chosen artists made books which are on exhibit, along with their Athenaeum counterparts, at the Athenaeum from Monday, March 1, 2010 until  Saturday, May 1, 2010, with a formal opening reception held on Friday, March 5, 2010 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

 A generous grant from the Beneficia Foundation underwrites this competition and exhibition.

About the Athenaeum

Established in 1814 as a subscription library, the Athenaeum is housed in a National Historic Landmark building completed in 1847. Today it is a special collections library which offers a free gallery, free tours of the building, and educational activities for adults and children. With its plain exterior and richly decorated interior spaces, the Athenaeum building has been hailed as an early example of the Italianate Revival Style in the United States. The Athenaeum houses a museum collection of fine and decorative arts, as well as a gallery for changing exhibitions.

Image: Photo courtesy of Tom Crane