The Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection is part of the John M Flaxman Library and one of SAIC's Special Collections. It currently houses well over 4,000 artists' books, multiples, video and audio recordings, periodicals, digital works, reference books, ephemera, exhibition catalogs as works of art, and examples of other experimental art practices, all created over the last four decades by artists of local, national, and international significance. Renowned and unique in its vast scope and easily accessible for students and the general public alike, this collection is housed in its own study room on the fifth floor of the School's Sharp Building. Walk-in visitors are welcome. Some books in the Joan Flasch collection are categorized "Restricted Access" due to the condition or rarity of the item. To view these items please contact aboehm@saic.edu or call 312.899.7486 to arrange a viewing; prior notification of two working days is necessary.

You can search for reference books and exhibition catalogs housed within the artists' book collection using the John M. Flaxman Library's catalog. All material is non-circulating and may not be reproduced in any form or media.

Included into the Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection is a collection of approximately 600 zines, dating from the early 1970s to the present. Categories include punk and riot-grrl, 1990's perzines, comic book zines, 1980s underground art, mail art, collage, dada and fluxus inspired, Church of the Sub-Genius, and experimental/industrial/noise music and tape culture. Some highlights of the collection are the eclectic and unique zines that do not fit well in any of those categories. Some examples are: Beuys + Boyd (Zine 1.45) where artist Don Boyd examines his life trajectory and work compared to his idol Joseph Beuys; Lomakatsi (Zine 3.29) which covers food production, nutrition, capitalism, and radical politics, and Ddc#040.002 (Zine 1.97), the interpretation and commentary on library cataloging systems packaged in a recycled and cut leather envelope by artist/filmmaker Tentatively A. Convenience.

During the semester

Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m-7:30 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday, noon-3:00 p.m.

Closed on Saturday and Sunday during semester breaks.
Closed during all federal holidays and for SAIC critique week

check the Special Collections Calendar for up to date hours, closings, and special events

mailing address:
Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection
37 S. Wabash Avenue
Suite 508
Chicago, IL 60603 (map)

for general information and to schedule visits:
jfabc@saic.edu
312.899.7486

to contact Anne Dorothee (Doro) Boehme:
Special Collections Librarian
aboehme@saic.edu
312.899.5098