Sheila Hicks (Part One):The World's Most Beautiful Book

Early in 2010, my studiomate brought a book into the studio and left it on his desk. OK I admit it, when he's not there, I read his books. But Dan doesn't mind. I couldn't stop reaching for Sheila Hicks, Weaving as a Metaphor. Though I had NEVER before heard of this woman artist (now 73 years old), I was in love with her work of small weavings and the book that was designed by Dutch designer Irma Boom.

The thing is, this book has a very white and beautifully textured cover. What would I tell Dan if my coffee or paint prints landed on the cover? There would be no hiding it. I finally ordered a copy for myself. I'm a book user, though I try to take care of them— I'm not going to go nuts if  it gets a little used. But what could be more ridiculous than me in my studio slurping my coffee over a white book.

My very own Hicks book...

This book feels good, it's a nice and not standard size. It's got presence. The imagery is vibrant. The photos of Hicks' weaving are perfect. The paper and typography are lovely. I was new to Sheila Hicks' work and her sense of color and balance are wonderful. Not only that, but in my "outside the studio" world, I design science textbooks. And I do love books. 

the title page typography

some examples of the work as I thumb through

Here's a photo from a design site stepinsidedesign.com showing the book and interior together.

It turns out that this book WAS actually voted The Most Beautiful Book In the World at the Leipzig Book Fair in 2006. Here is a video interview with the designer Irma Boom.

Irma Boom on 'The Most Beautiful Book in the World' from on Vimeo.

Stay tuned for Part 2: my take on the Hicks Retrospective Show at Addison Gallery Museum of Art.

[for anyone interested in purchasing the book, here's the info]

editor: Nina Stritzler-Levine
text: Arthur C. Danto, Joan Simon

designer: Irma Boom

publisher: Yale University Press

publication date: August 2006

isbn: 9780300116854

This book has been published as the catalogue

of the exibition'Sheila Hicks: Weaving as Metaphor'

at The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in

the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture, 2006.