What you want on your bookshelf is the entire Drawing Papers series from The Drawing Center in SoHo, New York. Bookmobile has been printing their art exhibition catalogs since 2008, and we look forward to opening every interior file to check out the fantastic artwork. The first issue we printed was #79 Rirkrit Riravanija: Demonstration Drawings, and we just printed #119 Xanti Schawinsky: Head Drawings and Faces of War. Their books stand out! According to The Drawing Center’s Mission Statement,
The Drawing Center is the only fine arts institution in the U.S. to focus solely on the exhibition of drawings, both historical and contemporary. It was established in 1977 by curator Martha Beck (1938-2014) to provide opportunities for emerging and under-recognized artists; to demonstrate the significance and diversity of drawings throughout history; and to stimulate public dialogue on issues of art and culture.
The Drawing Center’s Drawing Papers series is a perfect example of how art book printing and short-run digital printing make an excellent match. Bookmobile’s print quality is superb, and our prices are affordable. For an example, see #115 Len Lye: Motion Sketch, featured above and in our Gallery. Visitors to The Drawing Center have an economical art book to buy on site, and, if they’re like me, they feel happily compelled to start collecting the whole series. Books retail anywhere from $15.00 to $25.00, depending on the amount of color and page count. The books look very nice all lined up on your shelf.
Bookmobile works closely with Joanna and Peter Ahlberg of the design studio AHL&CO on each print run. Joanna and Peter start by uploading sample PDF files to our FTP site, we print out the pages on the stock and from the printers we’ll use for the final run, and we send them off to AHL&CO. Peter then adjusts the color as needed before sending in final files. When Joanna and Peter receive the full set of proofs, the color is already adjusted as needed (and usually few changes are needed). Each issue coincides with a new exhibition opening, and Bookmobile can turn the books around in under two weeks to meet every deadline.
All of The Drawing Center’s interiors print on Bookmobile’s 80-lb. white uncoated stock, which is a great look for color interiors. Some interiors print entirely in color, a few black ink only, and still others black with color inserts. All books are 6″ x 9″, with covers on 12-pt. C1S with matte lay-flat lamination. The series has a very cohesive look, so again, you may want to consider buying every one and lining them all up flush on your bookshelf. Make that bookshelves, if you can get your hands on all 119 issues. Bookmobile archives all files, so issues can be reprinted as needed. Bookmobile’s short runs improve The Drawing Center’s cash flow, saves on storage space, and gives the bookstore the opportunity to control and manage the inventory and reprints.
Want to start your collection? My favorite issues are: #81 Greta Magnusson Grossman: Furniture and Lighting, #86 Unica Zürn: Dark Spring, #88 Iannis Xenakis: Composer, Architect, Visionary, #91 Dorothea Tanning: Early Designs for the Stage, #117 Small, then the recent #118 Thread Lines.
Do take a look at the artwork featured in Thread Lines. The exhibit opens today!
Interested in what Bookmobile can print for your museum or gallery? Contact me!