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Amichai Windows poster

For the best visuals of several spreads of The Amichai Windows, plus our artist statement, please take a look at the feature by the College Book Art Association.

Each poem must be opened like a window. We made a special, two minute video to give a sense of what it’s like to open and be immersed in the opening poem, “Eternal Window.”

Lastly, we have crafted a short, eight minute video to convey a sense of the overall design and conception of the work.

Or listen and watch a one-hour webinar at the Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life.

The Amichai Windows, a limited edition artist book of Yehuda Amichai poems, opens a window onto love, war, being Jewish in the 20th century and life in Israel.

 

Each poem is wrapped and folded in an individual, handmade paper triptych and collected in an enclosure resembling a Jerusalem window.

Eternal Window with lace covering

“. . . a towering achievement in American arts and letters . . .” Aharon Yermiyahu Taub in his American Jewish Libraries News Review.

 

“A visual and tactile feast—not only does one become immersed in the words and images but one must reveal and discover the poems, too . . . a marvelous experience and a must for fine artist book collectors.” Andi Arnovitz, American Israeli printmaker, book artist and multi-media artist

 

“An exquisite presentation of 18 Amichai poems lovingly crafted . . .” Robert Alter, Hebrew literary translator and critic

 

“A national treasure.” Micha Bar-Am, award-winning  Magnum and New York Times photographer

 

“I am still in awe of the entire production. I continue to look at each poem, one by one, studying the images, with great admiration for the entire creative process.” Gary Rendsburg, the Blanche and Irving Laurie Professor of Jewish History, Rutgers University

 

One of 18 spreads of "The Amichai Windows"

One of 18 spreads of “The Amichai Windows”

When one opens each triptych, one discovers a different world within. This artist book incorporates replicas of some of Amichai’s original, handwritten poems as well as collaged images of Jewish history and life have been culled from archives around the world. A special introduction has been written by Hebrew literary critic and translator, Professor Robert Alter.

 

One of the great modern Hebrew poets, Amichai sang of the everyday experiences of private individuals caught in the middle of war and historical events. His poems have been translated into more than 30 languages.

Rick Black  with Helen Frederick and Judy Brodsky at the opening of his artist book exhibition at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center.

Rick Black with Helen Frederick and Judy Brodsky at the opening of his artist book exhibition at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center.

In the works for 10 years, this artist book has been issued in a limited edition of 18 copies. All of the poems have been letterpressed and blind embossments have been hidden in the design. Gold leaf has been used to highlight some of the poems and design elements. Special papercuts have been done by Debra Band.

Part of a Jerusalem papercut by Debra Band

Part of a Jerusalem papercut by Debra Band made especially for this work. The picture postcard of Talpiyot, a Jerusalem neighborhood, was found at the Library of Congress.

This  artist book is still available for purchase; discount is available for institutions. A few select individual spreads are also still available in our store.

To schedule Rick Black for a virtual program, please contact him directly via email or phone on our contact page.

UPCOMING EVENTS

To discuss the possibility of doing a program, contact Rick at: rick at amichaiwindows dot com

RECENT EXHIBITIONS & PROGRAMS

April 2024 – We had a booth for the first time at the ARLIS North America art librarian conference. More than 400 librarians from the U.S. and abroad came together in Pittsburgh. It was great to hear the keynote of installation artist Ann Hamilton, go to sessions on artist books and get some wonderful feedback on our work — and perhaps a new home or two for The Amichai Windows.

December 2023 – We attended the “Book, Paper, Scissors” artist book fair at the Free Library of Philadelphia, where we shared our work with librarians, private collectors and the public.

March – July 2023 – A traveling show of artist books , sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Guild of  Book Workers, included the first spread – “Eternal Window” – from The Amichai Windows. The tour went to Utah, Wyoming and Colorado.

Aug. – Nov 2021 – An international juried artist book show in Santa Fe, NM, featured the work of 75 top book artists, including The Amichai Windows. Many of the works in the show, which was titled “Unseen,” can still be seen on the gallery’s website.

Oct. 2021 – We were glad to participate in Oak Knoll Fest XXI, a virtual artist book fest and  symposium and artist book festival. Lots of book artists and presses gather online rather than as usual in New Castle, Delaware.

May 2021 – A few poetic spreads of The Amichai Windows were part of an international Jewish art exhibition, “Jewish Authenticity and Identity,” at Adas Israel congregation in Washington, DC.  The show, which was curated by Prof. Ori Soltes, remains viewable virtually.

March 2021 – RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NEW  BRUNSWICK, NJ A webinar on The Amichai Windows took place on Sunday, March 7, in conversation with Rutgers Jewish Studies Prof. Gary A. Rendsburg, who helped with the translation. The event was sponsored by the Bildner Center for the Study of Jewish Life.

January 2021 – A special zoom session, The Amichai Windows: A Poetic Work of Art, was held on January 6, 2021. Sponsored by Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia, it included an interview with Rick Black as well as readings of Amichai’s poems and comments.

September-October 2020 – Rick was the featured artist of the College Book Art Association in September-October 2020. You can see many of the spreads of this work there as well as an artist statement.

NY Fine Book FairMANHATTAN FINE PRESS BOOK FAIR, Saturday, March 7, 2020. As part of New York’s Rare Book Week, we had a booth here just as the corona virus was beginning to make its impact. Even so, top book artists and presses come from around the country to showcase their work.  To learn about this year’s exhibitors, take a look at the webpage of the Fine Press Book Association.

DC-ALT, ASSOCIATION OF LITERARY TRANSLATORS, WASHINGTON, DC, Sunday, Feb 9, 2020. Rick enjoyed sharing The Amichai Windows with a small group of literary translators. He gave them a small sample of the visuals and then delved into some of the translation issues that he faced. Aside from the intricacies of translating from Hebrew to English, he also sought out the original drafts of Amichai’s poems at Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.

INTERSECTIONS, CBAA CONFERENCE, NEW ORLEANS, LA, Jan 2 – 4, 2020. We had a wonderful time meeting other book artists, getting ideas for future projects and how to engage the public in book arts in New Orleans. We also were able to squeeze in a visit to the New Orleans Jazz Museum down by the waterfront and really savored the food.

HIGHLAND PARK CONSERVATIVE  TEMPLE, HIGHLAND PARK, NJ, Sunday, May 19, 2019. Book artist Rick Black gave a talk and slide show at the Highland Park Conservative Temple in Highland Park, NJ. He and Shula Minsky read poems in Hebrew and English, and then Rick discussed his connection with Yehuda Amichai and the making of The Amichai Windows.

Part of a Jerusalem papercut by Debra BandEntitled The Amichai Windows: A Morning of Poetry and Art,” the program was free for synagogue members. For more information, please click on the following link: Rick Black Talk May 19,2019

MANHATTAN FINE PRESS BOOK FAIR, Saturday, March 9, 2019. As part of New York’s Rare Book Week, the fair  showcased top presses from around the world. It was held at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer, 869 Lexington Ave. at 66th Street. You can learn more about the sponsor, the Fine Press Book Association, here.

BOOKLYN ARTISTS’ BOOK FAIR, Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10. The fair featured some of the top book artists from around the country, including Colette Fu, Robin Price, Maria Pisano and many others. You can take a look at some of the work here.

Yehuda Amichai program at Yale UniversityBEINECKE RARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY, YALE UNIVERSITY, NEW HAVEN, CT – An exhibition and talk by book artist Rick Black was held at the Beinecke on Tuesday, October 30. Joining him for the program, Windows in the Poetry of Yehuda Amichai, were Yale professors Shiri Goren and Katie Trumpener as well as Amichai translator Barbara Harshav. To see pictures of the event, please check out our blog post here.

Tmol Shilshom Book LaunchTMOL SHILSHOM, JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – A special book launch party of The Amichai Windows was held on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at this literary landmark cafe where Yehuda Amichai used to hang out. Book artist Rick Black was joined by Hana Amichai and Prof. Ariel Hirschfeld of the Hebrew Literature department of Hebrew University, who spoke about Amichai’s ouevre and the visual arts in poetry. Please check out the photos on our blog here.

PYRAMID ATLANTIC BOOK ARTS FAIR – We had a booth at the 14th biennial book arts fair and conference, the preeminent book arts event on the east coast. The art center address is Pyramid Atlantic, 4318 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, MD. For more information please call Pyramid Atlantic at: 301.608.9101 or take a look at their website.

Amichai Windows flyer - Pyramid AtlanticPYRAMID ATLANTIC ART CENTER, MARYLAND – A special book launch and exhibition took place on Sunday, February 18, at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Hyattsville, MD. As part of the afternoon, Rick gave an artist’s talk that was followed by a panel discussion  with two honored guests: Helen Frederick, artist, national and international art curator, educator, arts advocate and founder of Pyramid Atlantic Art Center; and Judith K. Brodsky, artist, printmaker and founder of the Brodsky Paper Center at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

You can see photos from the exhibition here.

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