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Booked Solid

A A A Comments By Michael Paglia Thursday, Jul 15 2010

Abecedarian Gallery — the name means learning or teaching at a primary level — is an unusual art resource in Denver in that its specialty is artist-made books. The space, founded and directed by Denver artist Alicia Bailey, is in the 910Arts complex, a creative center in the heart of the Santa Fe Art District that houses studios and galleries. The gallery is currently hosting two exhibits: In the main space is Works From Wood, and in the reading room is Interior Markings.

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“There are very few spaces devoted to artist books worldwide, and our reading room is unique, since all the books are available for viewing,” Bailey says. “Typically, artist books are in cases and cannot be looked at in the interactive way that they should be.” At Abecedarian, however, viewers can pick them up and flip through them. Works from Wood features artist books and prints done in one of a number of methods in which wood is a key element, including woodcuts, woodblock prints and wood engravings.

For Interior Markings, Bailey has invited more than a dozen artists from across the country — with one from Italy — all of whom make artist books in various methods, from old-fashioned letter-press procedures to newfangled digital techniques. “One of the things that’s wonderful about these books, and artist books in general, is that there’s such a rich array of artwork in such a compact package,” says Bailey, who has included her own work in both shows.

The exhibits continue through August 7 at Abecedarian, 910 Santa Fe Drive. To get the skinny, call Bailey at 720-282-4052 or visit www.abecedariangallery.com.
July 2-Aug. 7, 2010

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