Call for Entries

As part of Philagrafika 2010: the Graphic Unconscious, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Center for the Book, is issuing this call for entries for book artists to respond to selected works from the Athenaeum’s legacy research collection of architecture and design.

Athenaeum curators have chosen ten books from their collections that are available to view both on site and online. Artists residing in the United States are invited to submit proposals for a book that they will create in response to one of the selected books. The proposed books may be editioned or one-of-a-kind, artist books, book objects, altered books or zines. The proposal must be for newly created work, directly responding to a specific book from the Athenaeum collection.

Six of the proposals will be chosen, and these six artists will make their proposed books, which will be exhibited in the Athenaeum gallery in March and April during the Philagrafika 2010 festival. A generous grant from the Beneficia Foundation underwrites this competition and exhibition and will provide these six artists with a stipend of $500 to help offset the cost of the book production. The artists’ books will be exhibited along with their Athenaeum counterparts.

The Athenaeum books are available to view by appointment during regular Athenaeum hours (call 215-925-2688 for appointments), and online.  Athenaeum staff are available in person and at 215-925-2688 to consult with artists about the books to which they are responding.

There is no fee to submit a proposal for this competition. Proposals must include:

• Complete contact information for the artist, including email, phone number and mailing address. Website if applicable.

• Drawings and/or rough dummy of the proposed book, including estimated size and media. These materials must be original artwork, not digitized. Due to case size, final books should not exceed 30 inches in any dimension.

• Brief artist statement of 200 words or less describing how this book is a response to the particular book from the Athenaeum collection.

• 6-10 digital images that reflect the artist’s prior work (see details below)

• Resume focused on book arts experience.

Proposals will be judged based on quality of the proposed book, evidence that the proposed bookwork is a response to a specific Athenaeum book, and the quality of the artist’s prior work and experience. Proposals should be mailed or hand delivered to the Athenaeum, and received there by 5:00 PM, September 25, 2009. Online entries are not accepted. Artists will be informed whether or not their proposal has been accepted by October 3. The final bookwork must be received at the Athenaeum by February 1, 2010. The books created for the exhibit will be returned to the artists at the conclusion of the exhibit.

Relevant websites to investigate:
www.philaathenaeum.org
www.philadelphiacenterforthebook.org
www.philagrafika.org

Calendar:

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Attn: Sandra L. Tatman
219 S. 6th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3794

Details of Call:

Images of prior work: should be submitted on a CD in jpg format, approximately 1200 x 1800 pixels each, labeled with the first word of the title and whether full or detail, e.g. homebodyfull1.jpg or homebodydetail2.jpg. CDs should be labeled with the artist’s name and in a protective case. Resume and artist’s statement may be included on the CD, but should also be sent in hard copy.

Shipping: all shipping and shipping insurance costs for final artwork to and from the Athenaeum are the responsibility of the artists. If artists wish their proposals to be returned, the same applies. Proposals will be returned only at the artist’s request. Prepaid return postage and a pre-addressed mailing label should be included with the entry.

Contacts for questions: Sandra Tatman at the Athenaeum, sltatman@athenaonline.org or book@philadelphiacenterforthebook.org

Books

Alfred Godwin Co.  [Catalogue of Stained Glass]. (Philadelphia: Art for All Publishing Co., [ca. 1890]).	View (4MB)
Biddle, Owen. The Young Carpenter's Assistant: or, A System of Architecture, Adapted to the Style of Building in the United States. (Philadelphia, B. Johnson, 1805).	View Part 1 (32MB) View Part 2 (30MB)
Garnier, Charles. Le Nouvel Opéra de Paris. Vol. 1 (Paris: Ducher et Cie, 1876-1881).	View Part 1 (60MB) View Part 2 (50MB)
George D. Wetherill & Co.  Wetherill's Portfolio of Artistic Designs.  (Philadelphia: George D. Wetherill & Co., 1890).	View (29MB)
Linfoot, Benjamin.  Architectural Picture Making with Pen & Ink.  (Philadelphia: 1884).	View Part 1 (59MB) View Part 2 (59MB)
Meigs, Arthur I.  An American Country House:The Property of Arthur E. Newbold, Jr., Esq., Laverock, Pa.; Mellor, Meigs & Howe, Architects.  (New York: Architectural Book Publishing Co., 1925).	View Part 1 (65MB) View Part 2 (62MB) View Part 3 (53MB)
Merrells, Cross & Beardsley.  Wall Papers and Cretonnes.  (New Haven: Merrells, Cross & Beardsley, c1912).	View (6MB)
Petit, Victor. Maisons de Campagne des Environs de Paris: Choix des Plus Remarquables Maisons Bourgeoises Nouvellement Construites aux Alentours de Paris: avec Plans Dessinées d'après Nature. (Paris: Monrocq Frères, rue Suger, 3 éditeurs de l'école de dessin, du praticien industriel et du dessin linéaire industriel maison spéciale pour les publications relatives au dessin et a l'industrie, [between 1850 and 1859]).	View Part 1 (35MB) View Part 2 (36MB)
Riddell, John. Architectural Designs for Model Country Residences: Illustrated by Colored Drawings of Elevations and Ground Plans; Accompanied by General Descriptions and Estimates; Prepared Expressly for Persons Who Contemplate Building, and Artisans Throughout the United States. (Philadelphia: John Riddell; Lindsay & Blakiston, 1861).	View Part 1 (48MB) View Part 2 (47MB)
Sloan, Samuel. The Model Architect: A Series of Original Designs for Cottages, Villas, Suburban Residences, etc. Accompanied by Explanations, Specifications, Estimates, and Elaborate Details. Prepared Expressly for the Use of Projectors and Artisans Throughout the United States. 2 Vols. (Philadelphia: E.S. Jones & Co., c1852).	Vol 1 View Part 1 (52MB) View Part 2 (52MB) View Part 3 (49MB) View Part 4 (45MB) Vol 2 View Part 1 (46MB) View Part 2 (48MB) View Part 3 (48MB) View Part 4 (45MB)
Weidenmann, Jacob.  Beautifying Country Homes. A Handbook of Landscape Gardening. Illustrated by Plans of Places Already Improved.  (New York: O. Judd, [c1870]).	View Part 1 (41MB) View Part 2 (35MB)