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About Books

A special exhibit of art books graces a local gallery.

FRANK PROVENZANO SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

I

n Franz Kafka's futuristic have assembled a range of self-
short story, "A Hunger Artist," bound and traditional books for
one of the last remaining free the May 5 through June 10 show.
thinkers is literally on display The exhibit includes Dick
for the masses to observe close Cruger's clever wooden installa-
up. A bit eccentric? Maybe. But tion of Uncle Sam; a violin that
it's enough to make one pause opens up to become a book —
and think about what's being ne- complete with accompanying au-
glected in our modern-age rush dio; a plexiglass encased tale by
to become more high-tech effi- novelist Jane Smiley; a book
cient.
shaped as a plank with hiero-
So, when Arnold and Karen glyphics to be deciphered by an
Klein, of the Arnold Klein Gallery attached dictionary; and a book
in Royal Oak, decided on their with pages wrought from cast

is also a renowned expert on the
works of American painter
Winslow Homer.
But Mr. Klein is hardly a tra-
ditionalist when it comes to his
pursuits as a collector. He has a
comprehensive collection of
records, books and memorabilia
on the Beatles, Bob Dylan and El-
ton John. He also finds time to
collect the works of women poets,
especially Edna St. Vincent Mil-
lay, Sara Teasdale and Elinor
Wylie.

Artistic Expressions

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725 S. Adams • Suite 22 • Birmingham

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(810) 644 • 8349

Offerings in the "About Books" exhibit.

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most recent exhibit, "About
Books," the inevitable question
was: "What about books?" Today,
there are more books published
than ever. But the Kleins believe
that while there are plenty of
books for mass consumption, few-
er books are appreciated for their
originality, and, of course, their
eccentricity.
"I've always loved the physical
aspects of a book," said Ms. Klein,
a fine artist who works primari-
ly with watercolors and color pen-
cil. She created a book that is
included in the exhibit. "There's
something special in holding a
book, its feel, the design, the
type."
With 30 artists and more than
60 books in the exhibit, the Kleins

iron with quotes from Baizac.
More traditional items include
the collected photographic works
of Doug Aiken, former chair of the
Center for Creative Studies pho-
tography department, and pho-
tographer Larry Stark's book on
ice fishing.
The exhibit also includes sev-
eral noteworthy collectibles, in-
cluding original books by Diderot,
a limited edition by Francisco
Clemente and a few well-pre-
served 19th century catalogs and
lithographs.
Mr. Klein, a former assistant
curator of prints in the graphic
arts department at the Detroit
Institute of Arts, is considered a
foremost expert in 19th- and
20th-century original prints. He

Last fall, the Kleins ap-
proached a select group of artists
and asked them to come up with
a book for a May/June exhibit.
Right up until the exhibit was be-
ing installed earlier this week,
the newly created books of art
were arriving at the gallery.
When asked what was so special
about the incoming books, Ms.
Klein said: "It's like trying to ex-
plain why you fall in love with
someone. It's just the immedia-
cy. You know it when you see it."
Admittedly, the exhibit is not
a "big money maker," said Mr.
Klein. But, he said, it's an oppor-
tunity to display the collected
works of "some of the most
unique and nonderivative" local
artists.

(