introduction

Over the last two decades, there have been a number of essays and, ironically, books—that predict the demise of traditional books in the wake of digital media. Defining the term “book” loosely, as a vehicle for visual or verbal content that is organized into “sections,” this intensive ten‐day workshop will challenge overly simplistic, even fatalistic, ideas about the demise of physical books by stressing instead the ways novel renditions of physical and digital and hybrid “books” carry meaning. The objective is to encourage participants to explore unconventional forms that books may take and to create an artwork/designed object that challenges ideas of what books can be.

The 10-day intensive workshop will be organized by Leslie Atzmon and Ryan Molloy, and led by Ediwin Jager and Danielle Aubert. While the instructors will guide the direction of and lead discussions at the workshop, participants will be asked to contribute their particular knowledge and skill sets and contribute to the topic through presentations of their ideas and their creative work or research. The workshop is open to students, educators, and professionals from all disciplines.

This Open Book workshop is an offshoot of the “Open Book” experimental book exhibition that was held in Eastern Michigan University’s University Gallery from April 3 to June 15, 2010. http://openbookexhibit.com.