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Volume CXXXIII, Number 12 |
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Artist's books shown
JULIA GUERRERO REED
STAFF WRITER
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| One of the late Martha A. Hall's artist's books from the traveling exhibition "Holding In, Holding On," now on display in Hawthorne-Longfellow. (Hans Law, Bowdoin Orient) |
Currently exhibited on the second floor of Hawthorne-Longfellow Library is a unique traveling exhibit of hand-crafted books by the late artist, Martha A. Hall, entitled "Holding In, Holding On." Hall was a native of New Hampshire residing on Orr's Island and passed away in December 2003 from breast cancer, with which she had been struggling for 11 years. The cancer influenced all of her work, and her artistic books served as creative therapy as well as an outlet for her emotions during her difficult struggle.
Hand-crafted artist's books, in which the form of the book itself is the art, began as an anti-establishment movement in the 19th century. They are characterized by unusual bindings, covers, types of paper, and text. Hall was a leading artist in the field. The collection is made up of books on loan from other colleges' collections and the Hall family.
One of the most moving books is one entitled "Tattoo," in which Hall compares the scars of radiation treatment with tattoos and questions whether the results are worth the pain. In other books she conveys her anxiety in waiting to hear test results, a sense of fear, and wonder about whether or not she will leave a legacy and how people will remember her. In terms of form, one of the most interesting books is one in which the pages are actually medical appointment cards. The pages fold out of a box accordion-style, and give a sense of a life folding out before one's very eyes.
In an introduction written to a photo collection of her work, Hall describes what creating these books mean to her in the following poem: "The process of making books has been a powerful part of my healing. / Some of the books have a life of their own it seems; / pushing me to communicate a strong message. / They are a way to share my emotions with my family. / They are a way to educate others about cancer. / They are a way to touch the hearts of people. / They are a way to effect change in the medical profession. / They are a way I can have a voice in the world. / They are about making choices. / They are about living."
This exhibit is on a tour that includes Smith College, Wellesley, and Yale and will remain at Bowdoin until March 31. On display in conjunction with the Hall exhibit is a display of Bowdoin's artist's books, "Artist's Books from the Collections."
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