Five BAG Members have artist’s books in “Not on Your Teacher’s Reading List,” an exhibit at the Sue and Eugene Mercy Jr. Gallery of the Loomis Chaffee School, a college preparatory educational institution in Windsor, Connecticut. The exhibit runs through October 24, 2026, and was curated by Chris Perry. The five BAG members are Alicia Bailey, Deanna Joy Hallmark, Geri Michelli, Kim Burkholder, and Marilyn Bennett.
Left to right: Work by Alicia Bailey, Deanna Joy Hallmark, Geri Michelli, Kim Burkholder, and Marilyn Bennett. Click any image to enlarge.
Chris says, “This exhibition of 74 works presents a review of contemporary book art, a genre not familiar to many. The work ranges from the traditional hand-bound book to books made with natural elements, from existing books that have been altered to works that may not even look like books, and from books that work like traditional books to books that stack, hang, unfold, or are fixed in place.
“These are not on your teacher’s reading list. And how could they be? Books made of bark, and leaves, and twigs, and even poison ivy! Books that aren’t sewn together, or even glued. Books that stack, are held together with brass rings, have acorn caps as covers. Books that hang on the wall. Books that fold into small shapes. Books that unfold to cover a wall or fill a shelf. Books that hold things within them. Books that are repurposed, or altered by cutting and folding. And even books that have pages that turn and images to look at and words to read.
“All worthy of being assigned reading, just in different forms, with different ways of imparting information, ideas, experiences, and leaving the reader with new ways of looking at books. And maybe they will be assigned now.”
You can view the catalog here and find more information here.