February 10, 2017, Friday - Minnesota Book Artist Award Reception at MCBA

Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Location: Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave. S

Minnesota Book Artist Award Reception

Sponsored by Lerner Publishing Group, this annual award – presented by the Minnesota Book Awards and Minnesota Center for Book Arts – recognizes a Minnesota book artist or book artist collaborative group for excellence of a new artistic work.

McCarthy’s award-winning piece is a mobile display unit for 22 altered books selected from Little Free Libraries in the Twin Cities. Using various techniques – collage, rebinding, cutting, folding, tearing, gluing – the artist altered the books to create a collection in which throwaway items are reborn as a part of a larger library narrative. Each book includes a small pamphlet with a pin-pointed map and photos of the library structure and sponsoring house. The entire collection is housed in custom-built oak and pine display case with felt-lined drawers.

A retrospective exhibition celebrating McCarthy’s work will be on display January 20 – March 26, 2017 in the Cowles Literary Commons on the second floor of the Open Book building. A reception and artist presentation will take place Friday, February 10 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at MCBA. McCarthy will also receive special recognition and an award at the 29th annual Minnesota Book Awards Celebration on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the InterContinental Hotel in downtown Saint Paul.