The New Jersey Book Arts Symposium

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The New Jersey Book Arts Symposium is an annual conference at Rutgers-Newark that presents contemporary artwork by living New Jersey book artists and artisans, and considers issues of current relevance to the practice and understanding of book art, as well as to the cultural perception and evolving definition of the notional book. The NJBAS has a distinctive focus on the work of artists and artisans with a relevant biographical connection to New Jersey, either through birth, residence, employment or education. The NJBAS surveys both traditional and non-traditional book arts, including typography, printing, bookbinding, paper-making, calligraphy, illustration and graphic design, as well as the production of artists' books, bookworks, book objects and book installation art.

Since its inception in 1995, every NJBAS conference has included several dependable components: presentations by New Jersey artists and artisans; a general topic chosen in advance [1]; an exhibition of objects contributed by the conference presenters (frequently with thematically related works by others, as well); the Book Artists' Jam: a program event in which all attendees can share and discuss their own creations in a market or bazaar-style atmosphere; academic presentations. Frequently NJBAS conferences also include a workshop or demonstration of specific skills and techniques. Some of these have been woodblock printing, rubberstamping, creating papercuts without knives or scissors, papermaking, collaborative bookmaking and Pronto Plate lithography.

Although academic presentations are a staple of The NJBAS, they do not fall into a predictable pattern, with respect to focus or format: Panel discussions, research papers, slide talks by historians, museum curators, arts administrators, librarians, collectors and others, as well as video documentaries have figured in The NJBAS history. Presentations are inter-disciplinary, with a focus generally falling on topics in art history/criticism, history of the book, printing and publishing and cultural studies.

As well as drawing on the expertise of Rutgers University faculty, staff, students, and alumni, the NJBAS highlights the creative work of the faculty and staff of the The Brodsky Center (formerly The Rutgers Center for Innovative Print and Paper). On occasion, nationally and internationally prominent book artists, writers and art institutions are invited to participate, when their expertise touches on the conference theme.