Making arrangements

Akron Stacks Nina Katchadourian

I thoroughly enjoy the idea of a collection having a literal as well as representational narrative. Nina Katchadourian's Sorted Books project allows us to experience libraries as a new resource.

"The Akron Art Museum in Akron, OH commissioned a book sorting project in 2001, based on the holdings of the museum's own research library. Their book collection had extensive materials and catalogs from various contemporary art exhibtions, as well as many large-format, hardback monographs. There was a special section on the business and fundraising side of museum administration. The books from the library did not circulate to the general public, and the library itself was so separate from the main exhibition areas that most visitors had no idea there was a library there at all. When the sorting project was complete, thirteen book clusters were brought to the gift shop located behind the front desk and integrated into the displays."

I chose the above image as a shout out to Brian Ulrich the intrepid Juror for our CoPA 1st Annual Juried Exhibition opening a week from Friday, July 27. He received his BFA from the University of Akron and interned at the Akron Art Museum .