UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Tia Blassingame, Ben Blount and Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty — members of Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective — will serve as the distinguished speakers for the Penn State University Libraries’ 2022 Charles W. Mann Jr. Lecture in the Book Arts from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, via Zoom.
During the virtual event, titled “Book Arts Advocacy: a Conversation with Members of the Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective,” Blassingame, Blount and Tamar will discuss their work, the collective, and the role of the book arts in expressing and amplifying calls for racial justice and social change. The event is free and open to all, but registration is required.
Founded in 2019 by Blassingame, a book artist and printmaker, the Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective brings scholars of Book History and Print Culture into conversation and collaboration with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) book artists, papermakers, curators, letterpress printers, and printmakers to build community and support systems.
“In bringing together three speakers from the Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective for a conversation, this year’s Mann Lecture is unlike any other,” said Jennifer Meehan, head of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. “This event provides a platform for convening a vital and timely conversation about the role of book arts in advocating for and advancing social and racial justice, and the role of libraries and special collections in supporting these efforts through collections, services and partnerships.”
About the speakers
Tia Blassingame is a book artist and printmaker exploring the intersection of race, history, and perception. Utilizing printmaking and book arts techniques, she renders racially-charged images, histories for a nuanced discussion on issues of race and racism. In 2019, she founded the Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective, which has over forty members. Blassingame is an assistant professor of art at Scripps College, where she teaches book arts and serves as the director of Scripps College Press.
Ben Blount is a Detroit-born artist, designer and letterpress printer who loves books, type, and putting ink on paper. He shares his passion for print and design teaching and speaking to students and educators around the country. His artists’ books and prints are included in numerous collections including the Newberry Library, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Blount prints and creates at MAKE, his storefront studio just north of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois.
Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty is the director of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives. She is a faculty member of the UCLA California Rare Book School. In addition to her extensive work with rare and distinctive collections, Evangelestia-Dougherty is a published author and public speaker who has presented nationally on topics of inclusivity and equity in bibliography, administration and primary-source literacy. She currently serves on the boards of Digital Scriptorium and the American Printing History Association.
About the Charles W. Mann Lecture
The Charles W. Mann Jr. Lecture in the Book Arts is named in honor of the first Dorothy Foehr Huck Chair for Special Collections in the University Libraries. This annual event, featuring scholars with academic research areas connected to the materials held in the Eberly Family Special Collections Library, is made possible by the Mary Louise Krumrine Endowment and the generous support it provides, and is sponsored by Penn State University Libraries. If you would like to learn more about this endowment, special programming at the University Libraries, or are interested in helping support events like this, please contact Bob Darrah, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, at rjd18@psu.edu.
Register here for "Book Arts Advocacy: A Conversation with Members of the Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective." For additional information about this event or the Mann Lecture in the Book Arts, please contact the Eberly Family Special Collections Library at spcollections@psu.edu or 814-865-1793.