Please join us for a launch of four artist books of a unique collaboration between four North American artists and four librarians at the Fisher Library.
Theorema Editions, the newest imprint of Toronto-based non-profit publisher Public Access (est. 1986), is pleased to announce the imminent release of ARCANA: Volume One. Propelled by the vital process of collaboration, Theorema Editions is the brainchild of artist and founding PUBLIC editor Christine Davis.
Four books were created through these collaborations:
WAABAZII—Maria Hupfield (Wasauksing First Nation) and Canadiana Librarian Grant Hurley explore
Anishinaabeg iconography of the swan (waabazii), its (mis)treatment in colonial text and image, and new futures
for swannish memory in the library.
Scribbles, Comments, and Codes: The Marginalia of Marshall McLuhan—Thyrza Nichols Goodeve and Special
Collections and Outreach Librarian John Shoesmith dive into the prophetic value of note-giving and taking in
Marshall McLuhan’s personal library of 4,500 books.
Álvaro Retana: The Most Beautiful Writer in the World—Jarrett Earnest and Rare Books and Special Collections
department head David Fernández recoup the neglected brilliance of one of Spanish Literature’s preeminent
gay authors of erotic fiction.
Snakes in the Library—Diane Borsato teamed up with History of Science and Medicine Librarian Alexandra K.
Carter to create a visual map that reveals how serpents permeate our past.
Launch details:
Friday October 24th, 6–7pm
Location: Thomas Fisher Rare Books Library, 120 St. George St.
Remarks and discussion at 6:30, with project creators and select participating artists.
This launch is free and open to the public.
Also on view that evening
The Canadian debut of The Elements (Knowledge of Life) by Christine Davis, a unique 144-page artist’s book that literally and figurtively unfolds across disciplines, geographies, and histories. Employing precision collage and layering techniques on an original 1847 edition of Euclid’s foundational geometric treatise by Oliver Byrne, which uses colour to explain mathematical concepts, Davis places the revolutionary impact of the printing press in dialogue with today’s algorithmic transformation of knowledge. Installed like an extended chromosome, the 90 ft. artist’s book will be on view in its entirety within the library seminar room.