News Release

SAN FRANCISCO - On Wednesday, April 23, 2003, renowned book artist Claire Van Vliet will present an illustrated talk, "Form Follows Content," about the ways in which innovative book structures can be inspired by text. Co-sponsored by the Book Arts and Special Collections Center of the San Francisco Public Library and the San Francisco Center for the Book, the free event will begin at 4:00 p.m. in the Koret Auditorium of the San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin Street, Civic Center.

As proprietor of the acclaimed Janus Press, Ms. Van Vliet is noted for creating innovative, uniquely handmade, experimental, limited editions of contemporary poetry, literary classics and fine books of art. Since founding the Janus Press in 1955, she has created about 100 books, pamphlets, and broadsides. She has published mainly first editions of poetry, but has also illustrated several of Franz Kafka's works. She is well-known for her pioneering work in the use of colored paper pulps for book illustration. Several of her books are housed in the Book Arts and Special Collections Center, located on the 6th floor of the San Francisco Main Library. 

Ms. Van Vliet received her bachelor's degree from San Diego State University and her master of fine arts degree from Claremont Graduate School. She has been an artist-in-residence and lecturer throughout the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and New Zealand. A native of Ottawa, Canada, she has lived in the United States since 1947, currently residing in Newark, Vermont.

This event, sponsored by the Marjorie G. and Carl W. Stern Book Arts and Special Collections Center of the San Francisco Public Library, is free and open to the public.

For more information, please call 415.557.4560.