Roberta Lavadour lives and works at the foothills of the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon. She made her first book in 1982 but it wasn’t until 1997 that two landmark events occurred: She got a studio of her own, and was introduced to Julie Chen, Kathy Kuehn and Barb Tetenbaum at the Whitman College Summer Book Arts program. Learning that the art pieces she had been experimenting with were actually part of a recognized medium called “book arts” was like putting fire to dry grass. Her work is fueled by her rampant curiosity and explores everything from found objects and thrift store finds to personal family history and current events. She has been recognized with awards at several exhibit venues and received an Oregon Arts Commission/National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowship in 2001. Her work resides in many public and private collections around the world. She publishes her artist’s books under the Mission Creek Press imprint, missioncreekpress.com.
Ms Lavadour’s work is part of The Guild of Book Workers 100th Anniversary Exhibition on view at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts February 9-March 18, highlighting the recent works of many of the best bookbinders and book artists in America. Featured books include those with traditional bindings and historic structures, as well as pop-ups and other playful books forms, and even purely sculptural works. Leather bindings stand alongside works fashioned from aluminum and the text and imagery are produced by both ancient and modern printmaking methods. In addition, the content ranges from literature, political viewpoints, and personal histories, to the sensual experience of reading a book.
Public Opening and Keynote Lecture
Friday, February 9, 7-9 pm
Keynote speaker Karen Hanmer, book artist and exhibition curator, will discuss book arts.