For Immediate Release

Contacts: Kathy Barr, (415) 565-0545 ext 13

San Francisco, Calif.—July 17, 2006— The San Francisco Center for the Book hosts X Libris, the Center's Tenth Anniversary exhibition. The exhibit provides insight into the broad range of expression possible in book form. Highlights include the Hyakumanto Dharani, perhaps the world's first printed book, paste-ups for the first unexpurgated edition of Allen Ginsberg's Howl, now celebrating 50 years for setting the precedent for freedom of speech in literature, and the Center's first novel on a wall—A Guy, a Girl, a Landscape. The exhibition opens on Friday, July 28th in the Center's recently named Austin/Burch Gallery.

In addition, the showcase provides a view into the Center as the crossroads of activity, a meeting place for the Bay Area's burgeoning book arts community - and an inspiring look at the book's future relevance in the digital age.

In the Austin/Burch Gallery:

The X Libris displays include:

Hyakumanto Dharani: Perhaps the world's oldest printed book, the Hyakumanto Dharani is a scroll printed by order of the Empress Shotoku in Eighth Century Japan. The classic Buddhist text, the Great Dharani Sutra of the Spotless and Pure Light, was an offering of gratitude and prayer. Of the one million copies printed, only a few survive outside Japan.

Howl, the Unexpurgated Edition: A renowned poem that helped break down the barriers of literary censorship in 1956, Howl is represented in the gallery by the original paste-up layout forms. This year marks the 50th Anniversary celebration of Howl.

A Guy, a Girl, a Landscape— Novel on the Wall: A reprise of the Center's first exhibition, in 1996, where Melody Sumner's narrative-interpreted typographically by Kathleen Burch and visually by Michael Sumner—turned the Center's gallery into a book. This year's installation will transform the Center's library into a maze of word and image.

Bay Area Artists' Books: Examples of artwork that illustrate the great potential of a rapidly emerging genre in fine art, the artist's book.

For more information, please contact Kathy Barr at 415-565-0545 ext.13

For photos, please visit http://www.sfcb.org/html/pressphotos.html

About San Francisco Center for the Book

The San Francisco Center for the Book is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring and encouraging contemporary interpretations of the book as an art object, as well as preserving the traditional art of book-making. The center provides both a home for Bay Area book artists and a place where the wider community can discover book arts. Our scores of workshops foster learning at all levels: from introductory classes to year long courses, from traditional bookbinding to cutting-edge printing techniques to experimental book art forms. Plus, there's always an exhibition up at the Center, designed to inform and delight visitors. Free public programs abound, too, from poetry readings, to book signings to gallery talks. Visit our Website at www.sfcb.org.

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