September 3, 2024 - September 30, 2024

The Blue Hill Public Library will present Artist Books, an exhibit by Orland artist Kristy Cunnane on display in the library’s Howard Room Glass Cases from through November 30. The public is invited to a reception for the show on Wednesday, September 18, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Kristy Cunnane is a long-time teacher and artist living in the woods of Orland, Maine. She is a painter and printmaker and has been a maker of artist books for over twenty years.  Over the last two years Kristy has been working with a letterpress to create editions of some of her books.

Kristy’s adventure with artist books began about 25 years ago when she took an adult ed class with Stonington artist Anne-Claude Cotty, with whom she studied for many years before forming another spin-off book arts group that has met regularly since. Her personal exploration also led her to take numerous book arts classes at Haystack, University of Southern Maine, and Penland School of Craft.

According to Kristy, “The form of artist books is widely varied and infinitely intriguing to me. I love the challenge of combining form and content. I also love the idea of art that is held, opened or layered with text and image–endless possibilities on so many levels!” She explains, “I paint, write and create prints regularly.  My primary areas of focus the last two years have been printmaking and developing nature journals. This work is then explored and expanded into book form.”

She says that the artist books she makes are mostly one-of-a-kind handmade books, often based on the natural world, which she is very connected to.  Currently she is also working on bringing letterpress work and printmaking into her books.

Kristy is a member of Pickwick Independent Press in Portland, Maine, teaches book arts part time and runs a monthly art subscription. She is dedicated to affordable and accessible art. To this end she has been making small art zines for about 8 years, sending them out along with prints to monthly subscribers. She also teaches book arts, running workshops locally and offering classes through Rockland Adult Ed.

The exhibit is available for viewing in the library’s Roland Howard Meeting Room, subject to the meeting schedule.