Maureen's Printmaking Master Classes in Video

I’ve been a fan of Dot Krause and her work for years, and her recent incorporation into Facebook makes it a lot easier to keep tabs on her. It was there that I learned of her current residency at the Jaffe Center for Book Arts at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. From her ongoing reports from the Jaffe Center it seems that Dot is in her element there teaching some workshops and creating an artist’s book entitled “River of Grass.”

In one of her first posts she talks about the Center’s founder, Arthur Jaffe. Here’s what she has to say:

Since he was a child, Arthur Jaffe has loved books – books as aesthetic objects. Serving in the US Army in Europe in WWII he traded cigarettes for books and after being deactivated, he continued to search for interesting books as a member of the Israeli army. Returning home, his collection and his expertise continued to grow and he became one of the leading experts in artist’s books.

In 1998 Arthur and his wife, Mata, who died in 2001, made an initial donation of 2,800 books to FAU’s Wimberly Library. Since that time, with his continuing involvement as founder and curator of the Arthur and Mata Jaffe Center for Book Arts, the collection has grown to more than 12,000 items and the center has expanded to 4,800 square-feet. At 90, Arthur continues to be at the center every day, buying for the collection and sharing his enthusiasm.

Spending time with Arthur is one of the best perks of being at the JCBA!

This brief biography of an enthusiastic and loyal book lover, still active at the age of 90, moved me somehow. Then I remembered that I had some copies left of “Entredós,” a book of prints illustrating poems by contemporary Spanish poets, that I made in 2003. So I wrote Dot asking if she would be kind enough to present my book to The Jaffe if I sent it to her. She replied in the affirmative, I sent the book, it arrived intact, she presented it, it was accepted and I am delighted. For me it’s a privilege to participate in such an ambitious–and disinterested–book-art project.

It occurs to me that other artists might have books which they would like to donate. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

 
What’s a Gallinero? And why would you want to stay there?