Each year San Francisco Center for the Book invites three artists to produce an artist book edition of a specific size (4 inches x 4 inches). SFCB provides access to our studio space, technical support, and a stipend to each artist to help realize their Small Plates edition.

Since the program's inception in 2008, artists have produced 48 editions, all of which represent hard work, immense creativity, and unique vision in the realm of artists’ books. View past Small Plates editions and artists.

Artists will be on hand to discuss the process of creating their edition; light refreshments will be served. During this event, all Small Plates editions (past and present) will be available for the discounted price of 3 books for $100.00. Once this event ends, Small Plates volumes are available for $44.00 each at SFCB or via our website.

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2023’s Small Plates imprint artists are: 

Luz Marina Ruiz: 

Luz Marina Ruiz is best known for her ability to transform 2D prints into sculptural artists’ books and installations with themes relating to water/boats. Her works are visual journeys, not literal representations of water. Instead, they remind us of our planet's fragility, essential connection, and dependence on water for survival.

Luz Marina was born in Cali, Colombia. She immigrated with her family at an early age to New York. She studied printmaking, painting, and drawing at the University of California at Berkeley, where she received a BA, MA, and MFA. After graduate school, she pursued a career in teaching and has taught design, drawing, painting, and printmaking at various Bay Area colleges including Mills College, the Academy of Art University, Diablo Valley College, and City College San Francisco.  She designed and implemented a printmaking program at Diablo Valley College. Currently, she teaches in the Print Media program at CCA.

IG: @lapis_lazuli_editions :: www.luzmarinaruiz.com

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Gino Robair: As a composer and visual artist, Gino Robair explores how scores with nonrepresentational imagery influence improvised performances in music, dance, and theatre. He is currently working towards a PhD at the University of California, Davis, developing performative approaches to papermaking and letterpress printing.

IG: @ginorobair :: FB: Facebook.com/gino.robair

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Vivian Sming (she/they) is an artist-publisher who experiments with books as art, discourse, exhibition, and archive. Since 2017, Sming has published a wide range of artists’ books through their studio Sming Sming Books. They work in close collaboration with artists whose works and ideas inform design, material, and printing choices. Sming is committed to promoting critical discourse, advancing cultural equity, and creating alternative sites of knowledge production through publications and public programs.

IG: @smingsmingbooks

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(Small Plates 2023 in progress, top to bottom: Gino Robair, Luz Marina Ruiz, Vivian Sming)

San Francisco Center for the Book would like to thank the Feigenbaum Nii Foundation for their ongoing support of the Small Plates Program. View past Small Plates editions.