Ground Floor Gallery

May 19 — July 31, 2010

Bound for Success:
Designer Bookbinders International Bookbinding Competition

Curated by Lester Capon and Peter Jones

The Grolier Club in May welcomes an exhibition of the work of some of the best bookbinders worldwide. "Bound for Success" features 117 superb bindings that were judged the best out of 240 entries in the 2009 international bookbinding competition, organized by Designer Bookbinders in conjunction with the Bodleian Library, Oxford University. Binders representing 21 countries offer highly creative and surprisingly diverse interpretations on the theme of "water."

Each competition entrant received a specially commissioned book entitled Water, an anthology of poems in several languages with images that complement the poems. Produced by the Incline Press of Oldham, England, in a limited edition, the book was planned to give binders maximum flexibility with design and structure. The bindings on display show remarkable ingenuity, technical skill and sophistication in the way binders have responded to the theme of water, and viewing the range of cultural and geographical differences makes this exhibition a fascinating overview of the work of contemporary designer binders in the 21st century.

The bindings were first exhibited at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, as part of their Summer exhibition “An Artful Craft: Historic Bookbindings from the Broxbourne Library and other Collections.” The first prize was awarded to Alain Taral of France, and the second prize was won by Jenni Grey of the UK. Both prizes were given by Mark Getty in honor of his father Sir Paul Getty (1932-2003).

In his Foreword to the accompanying exhibition catalogue, Mark Getty says: "My father began collecting bookbindings while he was still a young man. I am therefore delighted to have had the opportunity to sponsor this competition and in particular to have sponsored the top prizes in honour of my father. The Sir Paul Getty Bodleian Bookbinding Prize recognises the best current bookbinding in the world, and it is fitting that the Bodleian Library and the Library at Wormsley should add these two prize books to their collections, and that the name of Getty should continue to be associated with the most creative work in one of the most compelling fields of contemporary art and craft."

The US Tour of "Bound for Success" is sponsored by Bonhams Auction House together with the Friends of Designer Bookbinders. Designer Bookbinders is one of the foremost societies devoted to the craft of fine bookbinding. Founded over fifty years ago it has, by means of exhibitions and publications, helped to establish the reputation of British bookbinding worldwide. Its membership includes some of the most highly regarded makers in the fields of fine bookbinding, book arts and artists’ books, each with a passion for presenting the bound text as a unique art object. For further information, visit the Society website: www.designerbookbinders.org.uk.

Catalogue: An accompanying catalogue for the Designer Bookbinders International Competition 2009 is available to purchase: Bound for Success: Catalogue for Designer Bookbinders International Competition 2009 by Jeanette Koch (editor), hardcover, 144 pp, ISBN: 978-1851243525.

LOCATION AND TIMES: "Bound for Success" will be on exhibition at the Grolier Club from May 19 – July 31, 2010, Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, with the exception of May 31 and July 3, when the Club is closed.