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post-CODEX I report

(BERKELEY, CA, January 21, 2008) —The first biennial CODEX International Book Fair, a benefit in support of the CODEX Foundation, showcased contemporary artist’s books, fine press and fine art editions produced by some of the world’s most esteemed presses, book artists, and artisans. The book fair gathered together book artists, presses, printers, publishers, bookbinders, papermakers, book arts organizations and libraries from around the world in the gracious and light filled Pauley Ballroom overlooking Sproul Plaza on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. The weather was brilliant sun and flowers were blooming. The book fair was open to the public on Wednesday, February 14, and Thursday, February 15, 2007, from 12 noon to 6 pm. Over 900 visitors came to the fair and more than a few vendors reported that they were overwhelmed by the response and sales were bountiful. Visitors too, were overwhelmed, some returning 2 or 3 times.... typically saying, “I had NO idea how rich and exciting this would be!”

Word on the floor of the fair was that we had produced a huge success... the thanks were unanimous and loud and the cry for another event was heard throughout. The directors of the Fair and Symposium aggressively advertised the events to the bibliophile community on an international scale and the result was that collectors came from afar to attend and to buy books! We were most gratified to hear that a few vendors claimed that this was the most successful book fair in their entire career.

The book fair raised over twenty-three thousand dollars for the Codex Foundation primarily due to the tremendous amount of organizing for the Fair by board members Peter and Susan and numerous volunteers. Private openings and cocktail parties were hosted in the Ballroom and in the magnificent redwood main hall of the Faculty Club.

The non-profit Codex Foundation was established in 2005 by Berkeley-based artist/printer/publisher Peter Rutledge Koch and other fine book printers, curators, and aficionados, with the express purpose to promote knowledge and appreciation of the book arts, and to organize a biennial international book fair and symposium in the San Francisco Bay Area.

It is fitting that such an international congress should gather in the Bay Area, which has long been a center for book artists, fine printers, and collectors. In an interview, Koch envisioned the book fair as “a gathering of presses from around the world in a city with a vital marketplace, a rich book arts tradition, and a very active arts and bibliophile community.”

The Codex Foundation’s educational commitment recognizes that: “The Art and Craft of the book depend upon the knowledge of traditional forms, design, and hand-manufacture; as well as familiarity with and a commitment to understanding the latest printing technologies, imaging sciences, contemporary arts, and design.” Indeed, the first CODEX International Book Fair provided an opportunity to meet and learn about some of the world’s finest private presses, book artists and artisans.

Concurrent with the Bookfair, curators, scholars, book artists, and collectors participated in the CODEX Symposium, The Fate of the Art: The Hand Printed Book in the 21st Century, with sessions held February 13-15 in the auditorium of the UC Berkeley Art Museum (Symposium sessions as well as the book fair were Sold Out).

Symposium speakers: Sarah Bodman from the Center for Fine Print Research at University of West England brought news from the UK, Dr. Stefan Soltek Director of the Klingspor Museum in Offenbach informed us of the work of a select group of book artists in Germany. Philipe Ehrenberg was charming and full of life bringing his own brand of fluxus and post-fluxus interventions from Brazil and Mexico, Robert Bringhurst, the Canadian philosopher/poet/typographer and intellectual content provocateur delivered a thoughtful and indeed beautiful presentation on the book, nature, and sacred geometry.

Book Arts programs in American colleges and universities were represented by librarians Ruth Rogers, Madelyn Garrett and Suzy Taraba from, respectively, Wellesley, University of Utah and Wesleyan. The theme was strategies to introduce and strengthen book arts studies in the academy.

Publishers Peter Koch and Carolee Campbell, and Duke Collier, collector, each gave their perspective on the “Fate of the Art” moderated by George Fletcher from the New York Public Library and Roberto Trujillo from Stanford University Library.

The CODEX book:

In 2008 the CODEX Foundation will publish book / art / object the comprehensive documentation of the CODEX 2007 events. The 394 page volume will include an introduction by the editor, David Jury (author/editor of a number of highly regarded books on the subject of the book arts), a foreword by Peter Koch (CODEX Foundation Director and a respected printer and publisher), the Symposium proceedings (keynote lectures), selected reports from around the world on the “State of the Art,” and a 128 pages of full color illustrations of books exhibited by the Codex book fair participants. The Artists and presses represented ranged from St. Petersburg, Russia across Europe to North, Central, and South America, across the Pacific to Australia and Japan. book / art / object will provide an in-depth snapshot of the state-of-the-art of the hand made book on a global scale never before presented. Publication in November 2008.

Planning is now underway for the second Biennial Bookfair and Symposium which will be held on the UC Campus in Berkeley from February 8 to 11, 2009. The theme for the 2009 CODEX Symposium is: