The University Libraries' Annual Charles W. Mann Jr. Lecture in the Book Arts*

You are invited to watch and listen to the recorded Mann Lecture event with three distinguished members of the Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective. Tia Blassingame, Ben Blount, and Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty will talk about the collective, their work, and the role of the book arts in expressing and amplifying calls for racial justice and social change.

Founded in 2019, by book artist and printmaker Tia Blassingame, the Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective brings scholars of book history and print culture into conversation and collaboration with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) book artists, papermakers, curators, letterpress printers, and printmakers to build community and support systems.

Speaker Bios:
--> Tia Blassingame is a book artist and printmaker exploring the intersection of race, history, and perception. Utilizing printmaking and book arts techniques, she renders racially-charged images, histories for a nuanced discussion on issues of race and racism.

--> Ben Blount is a Detroit born artist, designer and letterpress printer who loves books, type, and putting ink on paper. He is best known for work that explores questions of race, identity and the stories we tell ourselves about living in America.

--> Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty is the director of the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives where she oversees 22 library branches and reading rooms located in multiple cities. She is an author and speaker on topics related to inclusivity and equity in bibliography, administration, and primary-source literacy.

* The Charles W. Mann Jr. Lecture in the Book Arts is made possible by the Mary Louise Krumrine Endowment and the generous support it provides. To learn more about this endowment, special programming at the University Libraries, or how to help support events like this, please contact Bob Darrah, Director of Development, [email protected]