T-burg artist awarded ‘Best of Show’ at Rochester Exhibit

Barbara Page, a Trumansburg artist, has been named Best of Show at the 11th Annual International Juried Exhibit “Art of the Book and Paper.” The event took place earlier this fall at the Central Library of Rochester’s Anthony Mascioli Gallery.

The one-of-a-kind exhibit celebrated an avid reader’s life and the books enjoyed along the way.

Page’s display, “Book Marks: An Artist’s Card Catalog,” featured a card catalog filled with miniature artworks on repurposed library checkout cards, which Page began illustrating in 2008 as a way to remember the books she had read.

The Trumansburg artist would turn a 3-by-5-inch card into a work of art with visual references to the book she had just finished reading. At the top of each card, Page listed the title of the book and the author.

The piece includes over 700 cards for the books Page has read over the years and has been exhibited at the Center for Book Arts in New York City and other public libraries.

Page, a Virginia Center for the Creative Arts fellow, has previously been recognized for her work, as Ithaca’s Museum of the Earth was designed around her series of over 500 paintings depicting the history of life on Earth. “Rock of Ages, Sands of Time,” published by the University of Chicago Press, contains color plates of the project.

The artist said her reading tastes range from graphic novels to science, history and the arts.

“I enjoy literature that takes me to an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar cast of characters,” Page said. “Some of my favorite books include ‘A Gentleman [in] Moscow’ by Amor Towles and ‘The Path Between the Seas’ by David McCullough. I only occasionally read mysteries and science fiction.”

Page didn’t even consider participating in the exhibit at the Rochester Central Library until two friends suggested that she enter the Art of the Book juried competition.

“As I am only a novice in the world of book arts; it seemed beyond my scope, not to mention its unusual format,” Page said. “I was honored that the two-drawer library case with its 700 illustrated library cards that form the framework for my recently published book, ‘Book Marks: An Artist’s Card Catalog,’ was accepted. The book was also on display.”

Page’s exhibit was immersive, as a copy of “Book Marks” was placed on a lectern as part of the exhibit, and visitors could page through the hundreds of illustrations.

“When an artist’s book is placed behind glass, it is generally impossible to get a sense of its entire content,” she said. “Some readers have told me they are using my book as a source for reading material or the cards remind them of their response to reading particular books at a particular time in their lives.”

Page shared that winning “Best of Show” left her completely astounded.

“There were many exquisite works in the show from around the world, and receiving the award was such a shock I didn’t feel like I deserved it,” she said. “Perhaps the fact that ‘Book Marks’ is a novel project, no pun intended, executed over a long period of time, was a factor.”

Page began drawing before she realized the breadth of the arts world, which happened on her first visit to a museum at the age of 12.

“I was surprised to learn that paintings didn’t have to be realistic, that they could be conveyors of emotional content or pure color,” Page said. “It didn’t occur to me, as a young mother, to pursue a career until after I had a transforming experience. Learning to pilot an airplane gave me sufficient confidence to explore a visual means of self-expression.”

Page, who has an art studio in Trumansburg, finds that the local community is enthusiastic about the arts and said she has many like-minded neighbors.

“The Trumansburg Conservatory of [Fine] Arts presents numerous musical events and also some outstanding art exhibits, as well as providing dance, art and music lessons. Pop-up shows also take place at a second floor gallery on Main Street,” Page said. “Many members of the community are volunteers and/or steadfast patrons of the Ulysses Philomathic Library and its many programs. There are numerous artists, writers and musicians who live within a few blocks of my house.”

Page’s exhibit highlights the tangibleness of a reader’s life at a time when digital media is on the rise and many people prefer to read books on devices. She acknowledges her concern about the potential decline of traditional printed books but also sees the advantages.

“I think the pervasiveness of social media is a major deterrent to attentive reading, but then listening to audiobooks on long trips is really a pleasure,” she said. “I get tired of hours spent on screens and much prefer turning the pages of a book. The consolidation of publishers in the search for profits is also a concern.”

As she looks ahead to the upcoming new year, Page said she plans to continue illustrating cards for books as she finishes reading them, posting them to her Instagram page, @page_art_studio.

“Some exhibits and talks about ‘Book Marks’ are scheduled for spring 2023. I am working on various paintings and a collage series in progress,” Page shared. “Now that winter has arrived, it’s time to work in the studio without the distractions of gardening or a bike ride under sunny skies.”

Trumansburg Connection appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com.