Art + Books and Books + Art

Thanks to Matt Distel for writing this invitation to the upcoming Cincinnati Art Book Fair.

In 1904 the building, now known simply as The Carnegie, was opened to the public as a free community library for the people of Covington. It was a small piece of a nation-wide project and personal passion funded by Andrew Carnegie to build free community libraries throughout the country – a reasonably radical concept at the time. By the time the last library recognized as a Carnegie Library was constructed in 1929, 1,689 libraries had been built in 48 states (Alaska and, somehow, Delaware did not receive one of Carnegie’s gifts). The building on Scott Street remained the home of the Covington Public Library until the 1970s. It was one of only a small handful of Carnegie-funded libraries built with an auditorium for traveling authors and lecturers.

Folks primarily now know the site as the location of The Carnegie Galleries, Budig Theatre, and Farris Education Center if they still pass through the historic building. Even if you walk through the galleries that once housed the books and library staff unaware of its 70-year history serving the community as a free library, you cannot escape the feeling that the building used to be something different. Sharp eyes can find clues to the library it once was – there are ghostly traces throughout. My favorite memory that the library left behind is a subtle circular groove in the terrazzo floor that the circulation desk wore away which is best viewed from the balcony rotunda above.

This unique and specific history is what makes The Carnegie’s relationship with the Cincinnati Art Book Fair (CABF) so special. Though started in Cincinnati in 2017, CABF has called Covington its home since 2019 (with some COVID-based iterations notwithstanding) as The Carnegie has hosted each indoor edition of the fair from that time forward. This is a singular event in this region. The fair has grown every year in attendance, vendors, and reach. It is among the most anticipated art book fairs in the country and one of the largest outside of the coasts. This year we will welcome well over 50 vendors from 11 states. The vendors represent a compelling array of artists, independent publishers, comics/zine makers, rare book dealers, printmakers, and galleries.

This is an expansive definition of art books. The bulk of the vendors are exhibiting books made by artists – some hand-made, some self-published. But that is not all that you will find. This is a place to celebrate the printed word and image, the out-of-print books, books as objects of art, poetry, illustration, letterpress, photographic essays, posters, screen-printed editions, all manner of book-based ephemera, chapbooks and zines, and dozens of other wonderful things you will discover that I cannot predict. Beyond the browsing, CABF is an ideal opportunity to add to your art collection at very accessible prices.

The connection between art and books runs deep and wide. Artists have long used the book form as its own medium and even as a place to explore ideas outside of their standard art practice. The history of the artist book is a rich history in its own right. Hosting this event at The Carnegie feels like restoring a vital spirit back to the building – filling it just a bit with the original intention from 1904.

As the Kenton County Public Library’s Ann Schoenenberger states, "We are excited to support an event featuring books and artists. It is a chance to build on our shared mission to create accessible experiences and build community. I particularly love how the event highlights regional creators and presses. Their work reflects our unique culture of our place, and the fair allows you to see art you won't see anywhere else."

Matt Distel
Executive Director
The Carnegie