Production Narrative

by K. Shewmaker

JAB20 contains the announcement from Brad Freeman: JAB will cease as a periodical after this current issue. However, JABBooks will continue to publish artist books – the next will be Nether Wallop due for publication in 2004. The decision to quit publishing JAB was difficult and long and I remain somewhat conflicted. We’ve had an unexpectedly good ten-year run of twenty issues on what started out to be a one-shot deal. At first the purpose of JAB was to serve as a vent to get somethings off my chest. It seemed there were some rather uninteresting or contrived books getting a lot of attention and I wanted to feature work by serious artists who were making books in a rigourous and sustained manner. (Statement continues, for full text see JAB20 pp. 1-2.) The film for JAB20 was imageset through a production grant at the Institute for Electronic Arts at Alfred University, NY. JAB20 was printed at the Borowsky Center for Publication Arts at the University of the Arts. The cover was designed by Ruth Laxson and printed in 175 lpi duotone at Nexus Press, Atlanta. All design and offset printing was done by BF. The paper is Opus Dull at approximately 500 copies. JAB was founded in 1994 in order to encourage lively and serious debate about artists' books. Our mission is to develop the field of artists' books by means of critical discourse and creative exploration of the intersections of book arts, artists' books, poetry, photography, experimental literature, and other book related creative endeavors. As a forum for the study of artists' books, JAB publishes articles, reviews of artists' books and exhibitions, and commentary on conferences as well as other book arts-related activities. JAB also documents current activity through interviews with artists, showcases creative work in the form of artists' statements and artist-designed pages, inserts, and covers.

Critical Analysis

by K. Shewmaker

Design Features

typographic: Overall, the text is presented in a two-column format with traditional use of font size and weight to call attention to particular passages within the articles.

imagery: Features images of and from several books discussed (see related works).

graphical: Traditional two column format with illustrations and illustrative photos.

JAB20: The Journal of Artists' Books

Agents

Brad Freeman

type: initiating

role:
artist
author
binder
designer
photographer
printer
publisher

nationality:
born: United States

location:

dates:
birth: 1951-01-23

Brad Freeman

type: initiating

role:
author “Last JAB, Book of Ruth, MCBA/Bolger Concept to Print Residency,”
designer
printer
publisher

Ruth Laxson

type: other

role:
artist front and back interior and exterior covers

Johanna Drucker

type: other

role:
author “Thinking about Ten Years of JAB.”

Mary Jo Pauly

type: other

role:
author “A Centering, of Sorts: The Evolving Idea of Minnesota Center for Book Arts.”

Betty Bright

type: other

role:
author “Alter – Aesthetics.”

Susan Viguers

type: other

role:
author “In the Context of Reading.”

Publication Information

edition type: editioned

publisher: JAB

place: Nexus Press, Atlanta, GA

dates:
publication: 2003-00-00 Fall 2003

edition size: approximately 500

Measurements

horizontal: 8.5 inches closed

vertical: 11 inches closed

Production Information

production means:
offset (local)

binding: saddle stitching (AAT)

media:
ink (local)

Appearance

general description: Pamphlet with offset printed pages and letterpress printed cover(s). The paper is Opus Dull.

format: pamphlet (AAT)

cover: The interior and exterior front and back covers were designed by Ruth Laxson and are collaged sketches including abstracted human figures, handwritten text, reptiles, insects, and musical notations.

color: yes The segment, “JAB Covers, 1994-2003” is printed in color.

Content

pagination: paginated 40 pages

numbered?: unnumbered

signed?: unsigned

Colophon

The film for JAB20 was imageset through a production grant at the Institute for Elextronic Arts at Alfred University, NY. Special thanks to Jeseph Scheer, Jesse Schiffrin, Pere Bode, Joome and Mark Klingensmith at IEA. JAB20 was printed at the Borowsky Center for Publication Arts at the University of the Arts, Philadelphia. Special thanks to Lori Spencer and Patty Smith at UArts. The cover was designed by Ruth Laxson and printed in 175 lpi duotone at Nexus Press, Atlanta. All design and offset printing was by BF. The Paper is Opus Dull at approximately 500 copies. All JABs are copyrighted and may not be copied, excerpted, reprinted, etc., except by permission from the publisher (apologies to Guy Debord).