Remember Me: American Carved Stone Books from the Ian Berke Collection, curated by Mindell Dubansky, is a fascinating exploration of the realm where book-like objects and folk art intersect. San Francisco collector Ian Berke began collecting these intriguing artifacts during a chance encounter at an antique show in New England in 2007. Fascinated by a small, white marble book bearing the inscription "Remembr the Maine," Berke's interest was piqued, leading him down a path of discovery that ultimately resulted in amassing a collection of over 500 of these unique pieces over seventeen years.
The exhibition at San Francisco Center for the Book (SFCB) invites viewers to explore a selection of intricately carved books from Berke’s collection. These objects are more than mere curiosities; they are tangible expressions of emotion, whether friendship, love, devotion, or commemoration of significant events. From the delicate intricacies of the carvings to heartfelt inscriptions etched upon their surfaces, the works offer a window into a bygone era, where craftsmanship and sentimentality converged in remarkable ways.
Remember Me: American Carved Stone Books from the Ian Berke Collection illuminates the cultural and historical contexts in which these objects were created, encouraging gallery visitors to reflect on the enduring power of material objects to convey and preserve the intangible aspects of human experience.
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(above photos: Matthew Sutter, San Francisco)
ABOUT THE CURATOR:
As an artist, conservator, librarian and collector, Mindell Dubansky has been affected by the power of the book as an object and the ways in which others have created book-shaped objects and integrated them into their lives. Mindell is Museum Librarian for Preservation at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she has worked for over forty years. During that time, Mindell has authored several monographs on book and paper arts, including Pattern and Flow: A Golden Age of American Decorated Paper (New York: Thomas J. Watson Library, 2023) and Blooks: The Art of Books That Aren't (New York: Mindell Dubansky, 2016). She has recently initiated the Blook Institute, a series of activities designed to promote the study of book-like objects in relationship to book history, material culture, the book arts, and other fine and applied arts.
Mindell’s respect for the extraordinary collection Ian Berke compiled, as well as her desire to honor him and to share the collection with the book arts community, was the impetus for this exhibition. Long time acquaintances, Mindell and Ian bonded through their interest in antiquarian stone books, along with collectors Lynn and Bruce Heckman. She has recently initiated the Blook Institute, a series of activities designed to promote the study of book-like objects in relationship to book history, material culture, the book arts, and other fine and applied arts.