The University of Iowa Libraries

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Finding Aid

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Scope and Contents

This collection contains materials relating to the University of Iowa Libraries' 2006 cARTalog exhibit. It is broken into two series. The first series contains the actual artifacts from the exhibit; the second contains supplementary materials, such as the administrative materials, correspondence, materials relating to the artists, correspondence, items having to do with the opening event, publicity and information regarding the web page associated with the project. There was also a mail art component and an elementary/high school component to the project. Material relating to these initiatives is included here as well. CDs and DVDs of the installations and the opening event are part of the collection.

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Historical Note

• When technology, with its online catalog, made catalog cards obsolete, University of Iowa librarians did not want to just throw away these cards, which had done such faithful duty in storing and retrieving information for generations of students, staff, and faculty, so they decided to open an exhibit of creations around old catalog cards. The project was announced in mid 2005. The kindergarten through 12th grade exhibit opened October 29, 2005. The general exhibit and mail art exhibit opened April 2006.

A festival of art, culture and a celebration of the Libraries, this opening event was the culmination of the cARTalog project and presented both the visual and performing art projects that grew from the retired catalog cards. The public non-juried art exhibition featured over 50 pieces that were submitted for the cARTalog general exhibition. Artists responded with a range of fascinating works including books, collage, clothing, sculpture and an installation piece by artist Robert Possehl that was suspended from the ceiling of the Main Library’s North Exhibition Hall.  The festival included the performing arts of Peter Balestrieri and his improvisation group, Din; a children's theatrical performance of "Laughter, Liberty, Library: A Card Catalogue Adventure" written by UI Student Justine Nakase; and Comedy Improv by Lightening in a Bottle.

• The cARTalog collection became a digital collection in the Iowa Digital Library in Fall of 2006.
  
  

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Related Materials

cARTalog online exhibit

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Box Contents List

The order of the following list is: Last name, First Name. Title. Type. Media. Number of cards used. Collaborators

Box 1

Series I: Artifacts

Bremer, Celeste. [Chest of drawers]

Carls, Beth. Everything Old. 3D. Book-paint, stamp, collage. 6

Harroff, William. Alexandria. 3D. Wood book with altered cards. 250. Charlotte Johnson

Hettig, Beverly B. Reality: A Catalog of Recent Events. 3D book with digital print on cards. 24

Johnson, Charlotte. What's What. 3D. Collaged book

Johnson, Charlotte. Alexandria. 3D. Wood book with altered cards. 250. William Harroff

Northwest Ohio Altered Artists. Our Favorite Literature. 3D. Altered book. 20

Russum Scott, Marlene. Charta Catalogus. 2D. Altered cards and bone. 55

Sauls, Shirley. Brilliant Idea/Light Bulb. 3D. Mixed media: sewing, stamping, collage. 35 -40

Waight, Gwen. The Fool of Quality. 3D. Mixed media collage

Weigle, Anastasia S. Understanding Children. 3D. Sculpture/assemblage, collage. 1

Weigle, Anastasia S. What Doth the Lord Require of Thee? 3D. Sculpture/assemblage, collage. 1

White, Jessica. Girl in Winter

Hibbert-Jones, Dee. The Who Series. 3D. Sculpture

Auburn University students

Box 2

Field. Susan. Whale Pillow. 3D. Woven pillow with cards. 5

Orgren, Sally. Card Weaving. 3D. Woven tie. 1

Orgren, Sally. Cards Woven into Tie. 3D. Card weaving book

Rice, Sammie. Untitled. 3D. Paper crown

Box 3

Cutler-Lake, Karina. I Scribbled and I Know Why: 1976-2006. 2D. Mixed media-painting with cards .1

Cutler-Lake, Karina. MLS to MFA. 2D. Mixed media-painting with cards. 2

Smith, David L. Nos. 12A, AP7A, 4A, 11A; brochure, bag of painted cards.

Stash, Jennifer. What Do You Say to a Hungry World? In Shadow. 2D. Painting. Valerie Johnson

Bouse, Amy. When the Light Is Out. 2D. Cards, pastel and thread. 8

David, Lucy. Sacred Songs. 3D. Coptic binding book. 40. 2 pieces

Jacobi, Kristin. Angleworms du Jour. 2D. Digital print and collage. 1

Knight, Susan. Zebra Mussel Explosion: Profound Change in US Water Systems. 3D. Altered card sculpture. 24

Nashelsky. Joan. Untitled. 2D. Collage. 12

Pape, Sky. The Thing Destroyed/The Thing Contained. 2D. Collage 14

Price, Gary H. Inline Catalog. 2D. Collage. 9

Price, Gary H. Gone to Bits. 2d. Deconstucted card with Hollerith punches

Torne, Gonzalo. Iraq Democratic Party. 2D. Collage-card and acrylic

Radical Militant Librarians

Box 4

Possehl, Robert. Relationship Requiem. (Oversize sketch from center case).

Box 5

Baker Muehl, Lois. Fruitful Learning. 2D  Collaged flag: felt, fake gold, cards, paper, lace and patch. 13

Falconer, M.D. 50 Cards in Mini Dress

Sauls, Shirley. Card Up My Sleeve. 3D. Mixed media: sewing, stamping, collage. 35-40

Hansen, Susan. M.C. Jacket

Barker, Joyce. Corsage

Box 6

Böhm, Benjamin. 17. Museum of Temporary Art

Canary-Lee, Beth. 2 Cards. 2D. Collage 1

Coralville Central Elementary

Dabrowski, Martin .150 Flowers For 150 Years of the University of Iowa Libraries. 3D. Book- collaged cards. 40

Freeman,Jane. Flipped Out & Superannuated. 3D. Altered flip book. 30

Frips. Bird. 3D. Artist book

Frips. In My Garden. 3D. Artist book

Germain, Erin. Digital Emerson. 2D. Digital print. 1

Knipe, Anne E. Untitled. Watercolor. 2

Lavadour, Roberta. Strictly Private. 3D. Book. 6

McGehee, Claudia. Men, Women and Books. 2D. Scratchboard collage with tea stain. 1

Miller, Liz Lynn. Haiku Issue. 2D. Altered cards. 7

Taylor, Darrell. Laminated Collage Cards. 2D. Laminated collaged cards. 27

Williams, Michel. Shelter: Some Memories. 3D. Book. 6

Wood, Reid. Bab(b)el-On Iowa. 3D. Book. 22

Scanlin, Mim Galub. Quotes About Books

New Roads High School. Assorted Cards.

Box 7

Coates, Louise. Girders. 3D. Pop up book. 6

Dianora, Mare. Message in a Bottle. 3D. Mixed media sculpture: card, bottle, map, cork. 1

Gunnip, Laura. All, Extraodinary, Scenic, Society. 3D. Book. 12

Marsh, Mary V. The Endless Story. 3D. Accordian book. 16

Mitchell, Kathy. Untitled. 3D. Resin and wood? sculpture with cards. 12

Wolfersberger, Nicole. Stencilled Playing Cards. 12

Box 8

Falconer, M.D. Drawings - Rotterdam

Falconer, M.D. 4 Cards in Dancing Shoes

Falconer, M.D. L'Esprit D'Adventure

Falconer ,M.D. Sketchbook with Buttonhole Stitched Spine

Falconer, M.D. Sketchbook with Bound Edge Covers

Falconer, M.D. Story of Civilization

Box 9

Stash, Jennifer. What Do You Want for $1.98? 2D. Text. Valerie Johnson

Stash, Jennifer. Patron. 2D. Text. Valerie Johnson

Galloway, Gregory. Set of 21 Collages. 2D. set of 21 collages. 30

Smith, David L. "The Thin Lines Tilt Downwards. . .", "The Stores Are All Closed Up. . .", "The Parking Ramp of My Mind. . .", "Catch Me If You Can. . ."

Series II:Supplementary Materials

Administrative

Artists

Box 10

Correspondence

Inception of the program. Photos of people taking cards out of the catalog to be used in their projects. On paper and CD

K-12 component

Mail art component. Paper and CD

Mini video tape of exhibit, showing the opening event and a pan of the exhibit

Opening event

Gadney's movie

Guest book

Images. On paper and CD

Laughter, Liberty, Library. Play performed at opening event.

Images

Script

Program

Other related projects

Publicity (The logo stamp is in box 9.)

Web page