Bookings

March 13 – July 8, 2025    

This exhibition, whose title embraces the verb “to book,” reflects on the rich and multi-layered ways that books have been harnessed as art. The permanent collection of the North Dakota Museum of Art includes many artists’ books, from exquisitely printed books with text and image, to books used as sculptural objects to conjure and critique cultural associations of books (they are in a sense “books about books”).

Despite concerns that the book would vanish from society with the onslaught of digital media, it has proven to be a resilient medium that provides a unique site of collaboration between writers, artists, publishers, and readers as well as a cultural and sculptural form that inspires experimentation and play. Part of the book’s resiliency stems from its accessibility: unlike painting or sculpture, the fundamental nature and formal operations of a book are immediately familiar, audiences know how to turn the pages of a book, and most individuals have personal experiences of reading, or of handling, books. Books also play a role in shaping our shared cultural legacies. National and regional stories and legends, as well as foundational legal, historical, and religious texts, are embedded and distributed in book form. Our stories (fictional and non-fictional) and our codified rules of conduct reflect who we are as a culture or what we would like it to be.

Some of the works featured in the Bookings exhibition address the status of the book as a portable object that circulates in and through social spaces, in some cases, passing through the hands of many different readers and within different contexts. Books are collected, organized, and shared by individuals as well as by private and public institutions—the library serving as the most tangible manifestation of this phenomenon. Artists and writers have found in the library a potent metaphor that reflects our collective consciousness and shared histories; the exhibition includes several works that respond to this metaphor, especially the theme of libraries lost, destroyed, displaced, or damaged. With such tragedies, we are confronted with the loss of something more than physical objects or spaces.

About select artists

Barton Lidicé Beneš was a New York sculptor who worked with materials he called “artifacts of everyday life.” He used the mementos of childhood in his early work and later made sculptures from unconventional materials, including cremation ashes, shells, bodily fluids, currency, relics, celebrity artifacts, and found objects. He often blended political activism, visual poetry, and humorous puns to create provocative pieces that confronted current issues.

Mickey Smith (US/NZ) is a conceptual artist and photographer. For over two decades, her practice has been engaged with a longstanding inquiry into libraries, books and archives — in particular the social significance of their physical existence or disappearance. Her work is heavily research based and spans numerous disciplines, including image making, writing and video installation.

Micah Bloom received his Master of Fine Arts (Painting and Drawing – minor in Printmaking) from the University of Iowa. He makes art in many modes and media, and co-directs the printmaking-focused Flat Tail Press. Surrounded by creative minds, Micah and his wife, Sara, share four daughters and two sons, and they all love to make things.

Xu Bing is a renowned contemporary artist from China whose innovative and thought-provoking works have garnered international acclaim. With a profound exploration of language, culture, and the power of communication, Xu has made significant contributions to the art world through his unique artistic vision and unconventional techniques. Born and raised in China, Xu received a traditional education in Chinese calligraphy and painting. However, he soon developed a fascination with the possibilities of merging traditional Chinese art forms with contemporary artistic practices. This led him to experiment with new mediums and approaches, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.