Past Exhibitions

Beyond the Text: Artists’ Books in the Sheridan Libraries

May 10, 2018 to June 1, 2018

Just what are artists’ books? There’s no one answer. They can be unique or produced as multiples; they can look like books or something else entirely; and they may or may not contain text. Though there is no one definition of an artist’s book, the contemporary genre emerged in Europe and the Unites States in the 1960’s, leading to galleries, workshops, and academic programs that center on book arts.

Like all works of art, artists’ books can challenge, provoke, or be enjoyed purely for their beauty. Eight works by artists Barbara Beisinghoff, Maureen Cummins, Gloria Helfgott, Paul Johnson, Betty Sweren, and the collective Ediciones Vigia—all drawn from the Special Collections department of the Sheridan Libraries—showcase the diverse ways book artists interpret the possibilities of the book as object.

Special Collections Reading Room, Brody Learning Commons M-level

The Spirit of ’68

May 25, 2018 to September 7, 2018

1968 was marked by war and protest, tragedy and revolution—a year around which a whole era of political turmoil, cultural change, and social unrest turned. This exhibition examines some of the many explosive events of 1968 and the period around this pivotal year. The photographs, posters, pamphlets, books, film footage, and archival documents on display focus on the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the “Holy Week Uprisings” that followed in Baltimore; student activism on the Johns Hopkins campus; Vietnam War propaganda and protest; the “Mai 1968” unrest in France; the Black Power and Black Arts movements; and the emergence of what would become known as Gay Liberation.

Milton S. Eisenhower Library, M-level and Brody Learning Commons, B-level

Kimberly Hall: THE CURSE OF DIMENSIONALITY

April 9, 2018 to May 19, 2018

The Sheridan Libraries are pleased to host an exhibition of the work of Kimberly Hall (MICA Faculty, Illustration Practice M.F.A.) from her time as the 2017 Artist-in-Residence with the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute (HEMI). Many artists rely on the occurrence of chance and mistake to help propel their work into new areas, and while that open-minded approach is sometimes elusive, it is often exciting. For this residency, Kimberly Hall of Nottene design studio explored the work of Dr. Lori Graham-Brady and her students, who also work with chance in their research of randomness in the behavior of non-homogenous materials, such as concrete and ceramics. Through Hall’s conversations with this group, she was impressed with the ways the scientists described their process and felt it was deeply connected to the struggle of the human condition and making sense of the world. Hall has created a scratch-off wallpaper and transparent fabrics that aim to illustrate the practice of research and highlight the connection between discovery and meaning.

Milton S. Eisenhower Library, Q-level

Happy Birthday Frederick Douglass!

February 15, 2018 to March 2, 2018

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland, around 1818; the exact date of his birth was unknown to him, but he chose to mark it on February 14. He spent time in Baltimore as a boy and teen-ager and it was from Baltimore that he made his escape to the North. He became a key figure in the abolitionist struggle, writing his memoirs, publishing newspapers, and making speeches in support of freedom for Black Americans-as well as other civil rights causes.

This exhibit features first editions of some of his many publications, drawn from Sheridan Libraries' collections, in celebration of his 200th birthday.

Special Collections Reading Room, Brody Learning Commons M-level

American Selfie

February 6, 2018 to May 11, 2018

How did Black Americans take "selfies" in the early twentieth century? This exhibit, curated by juniors Monika Borkovic and Lorna Henson, draws from their work in a recent Museums & Society class to explore intriguing examples of postcard portraits from the Sheridan Libraries' African American Real Photo Postcard Collection. Visitors can also take their own "historic selfies." Extended through May 11, 2018.

Brody Learning Commons, B-level

Freedom Papers: Black Assertions from the Archives

November 6, 2017 to February 28, 2018

This exhibition weaves together five distinct freedom stories to illustrate the many ways that Black people have transcended the limitations that oppression would otherwise impose, revealing to themselves and others an autonomy of their own making. The items on display include less-known African American materials held by the Department of Special Collections and Archives at the Sheridan Libraries, including an 1886 account of the Amistad trial; a 1937 souvenir program from Josephine Baker; a photograph taken in 1930 of Black Gold Star mothers; and the personal letters and photographs of African American soldiers who served in World War II. These once-hidden items are paired with one-of-a-kind book art pieces created by Baltimore artist Martha Edgerton.

Organized by the Johns Hopkins Black Faculty and Staff Association and the Center for Africana Studies.

Milton S. Eisenhower Library, M-Level
3400 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218

Bibliomania: 150 Years of Collecting Rare Books at the George Peabody Library

September 21, 2017 to January 31, 2018

Over the past 150 years the George Peabody Library has captured, through its rare book and manuscript collections, America’s deepest desires and vaulting ambitions to bring the history of the world and ideas to the City of Baltimore. This exhibition presents many of the richest and rarest fruits of George Peabody’s early intellectual and bibliophilic aspirations, from the collection the library opened with in 1866 to the massive cast-iron expansion in 1878, which transformed the library into the glorious “Cathedral of Books” that it continues as today.

The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated scholarly catalogue featuring essays by Earle Havens, Christopher Geekie, and Neil Weijer. It is available for purchase through the Homewood Museum gift shop by calling 410-516-5589.

George Peabody Library
17 E Mt Vernon Pl
Baltimore, MD 21202

Lost & Found in the Funhouse: The John Barth Collection

October 12, 2015 to February 28, 2016

This exhibition celebrated the American writer John Barth, known for his masterful literary experiments. Barth’s novels and stories are full of surprises, partly because of his inventive story-telling techniques; the exhibition evoked that playful spirit in its design. You can get a glimpse of Barth’s “workshop” in the online exhibition.

George Peabody Library
17 East Mt. Vernon Place
Baltimore MD 21202

Hopkins and the Great War

September 1, 2016 to January 16, 2016

This multi-campus exhibition explored the impact of World War I on the Johns Hopkins community, including members of the Homewood campus, the hospital and School of Medicine, and the School of Nursing. By looking at the lives of students, faculty, and patrons, we can understand the complex and far-reaching ways the Hopkins community both contributed to and was affected by this devastating global conflict.

George Peabody Library
17 E Mt Vernon Pl
Baltimore, MD 21202

The Enigmatic Edgar A. Poe in Baltimore & Beyond: Selections from the Susan Jaffe Tane Collection

October 4, 2016 to February 5, 2017

This exhibition of books and objects associated with Edgar Allan Poe, highlighting his innovations and breadth as a writer, included the exceptionally rare publication Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827) and a lock of Poe’s hair. Edgar Allan Poe in 20 Objects, an illustrated book of essays about Poe’s life and work featuring items from the Susan Jaffe Tane Collection, is available for purchase at the Peabody Library and through Amazon.

George Peabody Library
17 E Mt Vernon Pl
Baltimore, MD 21202