“Marilyn Sward: Speaking in Paper.”

exhibit opening Wednesday, June 9, at 5 p.m.

Marilyn Sward was the founding director of the Columbia College Chicago Center for Book & Paper Arts. It was her commitment to paper and book arts that brought the Center into existence, and led it to its current location at 1104 S. Wabash Ave. 2nd floor. Marilyn was also an alum, and received her MA from Interdisciplinary Arts in 1987. But besides her connections to our department and the college, Marilyn was someone who contributed to the field of papermaking and book arts. She was the Chair of the Board of Directors of Hand Papermaking Magazine, was an active participant in Dard Hunter and the International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA). Paper Press, the organization she started with Linda Sorkin-Eisenberg (another alum) and Sherry Healy was THE Chicago place for paper artists for many years. Her work encompassed handmade paper, artist books, photography, and installation, all of which are reflected in the show. The exhibit, which features work from over three decades of artistic labor, was curated by a team that included Audrey Niffenegger, Pamela Paulsrud and Stephen DeSantis. We are in the midst of producing a catalog for the exhibit, which should be available in July.

Marilyn died of cancer in the summer of 2008, at the age of 67, after a long and difficult struggle. Those of us who knew her and worked with her wanted this exhibit to honor her memory, and the remarkable things she achieved as an artist. Marilyn was not content that people should master paper as a craft: she wanted it to speak to us, to inform our hearts and minds the way all good art should. We hope you will join us on June 9th, and see what she had to say. The exhibit will continue through August 21.