January 2013 – Page 2 – Smithsonian Libraries and Archives / Unbound

The Fix – Bauhaus

January 11, 2013

Photo of Bauhaus book before treatment — Bauhaus catalog before treatment

The conservation lab received, from the American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library, a first edition of the first Bauhaus exhibition catalog: Staatliches Bauhaus, Weimar, 1919-1923. In addition to being a rare copy of this catalog, it is inscribed to the painter Werner Drewes by his Bauhaus teacher, Wassily Kandinsky.

The book was in disrepair with the covers detached. A spine “replacement” fashioned out of a piece of electrical tape had left tape residue on the Herbert Bayer designed cover. Additionally, the paper used for the catalog was highly acidic and discolored and the acidic clay coated plates were chipping.

Staff Spotlight: Professional Growth Through Mentorship

Trina Brown

January 9, 2013

3 Comments

Dave Opkins and Bianca Crowley, Smithsonian Libraries staff — Dave Opkins and Bianca Crowley

The Smithsonian Institution Mentorship Program is an annual 9-month program dedicated to “developing leaders throughout the Institution” through professional development in the areas of networking, interpersonal skills, coaching, and institutional engagement. This past year, 60 participants, consisting of 30 mentors and 30 “mentees,” were selected as a result of a competitive application process. In addition to a curriculum of monthly training courses, the program provided rare opportunities for behind-the-scenes tours and meetings with notable leaders across the Institution including Secretary Clough. Mentees worked with their mentors to achieve a set of personal goals through a variety of learning opportunities, thus each experience of the program was unique. Smithsonian Libraries was proud to have 2 mentees in the 2012 Mentorship program, Bianca Crowley and Dave Opkins. Below, each will describe their experiences working with their mentors and their key takeaways.

Lines and Lines and Points: Artists’ Books by Sol LeWitt

Anne Evenhaugen

January 7, 2013

2 Comments

Lines from Points to Points, Sol LeWitt (SAAM 1990.60.2)

Though American conceptual artist Sol LeWitt (1928-2007) worked in every media, he is known best for his wall drawings and series of investigations of lines, colors and shapes. If you have ever been to an exhibition of LeWitt’s wall drawings, you’ll agree there is a sense of awe (“How could someone draw so many tiny straight lines across that entire gallery?”) mixed with a sense of vertigo (“How could someone draw so many tiny straight lines across that entire gallery?”).

Twelfth Night Traditions: A Cake, a Bean, and a King

Alexia MacClain

January 4, 2013

7 Comments

Have you heard of a cake with a bean baked into it and the man who finds the bean becomes King for the night? That is just one tradition associated with Twelfth Night, but there are many more customs and traditions for this holiday. Several items mentioning Twelfth Night are located at the National Museum of American History Library, like the 1923 Dennison’s Christmas Book by Dennison Mfg. Co.

Rare Books and Journals on Aviation Now Digitized

Chris Cottrill

January 2, 2013

1 Comment

Rare Books and Journals on Aviation Now Digitized

In the early 20^th century, few things excited the public more than the development of mechanized flying machines. Whether aircraft or dirigible, these machines were documented in the specialized and popular literature of the day. The Smithsonian Libraries is committed to digitizing its special collection of rare books and journals on the invention and growth of aviation. Many of the tiles we’ve scanned and digitized to date are accessible through the Internet Archive.

Month: January 2013

The Fix – Bauhaus

Staff Spotlight: Professional Growth Through Mentorship

Lines and Lines and Points: Artists’ Books by Sol LeWitt

Twelfth Night Traditions: A Cake, a Bean, and a King

Rare Books and Journals on Aviation Now Digitized