Yale Library is presenting 'Unfolding Events: Exploring Past and Present in Artists’ Books,' an exhibition at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library through March 1. Curated by Jessica Pigza and Bill Landis, the show draws from the Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library and Beinecke collections, featuring works that explore marginalized communities and personal responses to contemporary life. Highlights include Clarissa Sligh's accordion-style book 'What’s Happening With Momma?' (1988) and Tia Blassingame's '’Pause' (2024), which addresses Black women's experiences with menopause.
The exhibition matters because it raises awareness among Yale students and faculty that the university's rich artists' book collections are available for teaching and research. By pairing contemporary artists' books with historical primary sources, the show demonstrates how book arts can make archival materials more approachable, especially for undergraduates, while preserving personal and communal histories. It also highlights the local connection of New Haven-born artists and the collaborative nature of artists' book production.