Traveling Exhibit HORIZON to Open 11/7 at Loyola University New Orleans

At a time when the prevalence of bookstores is declining and the popularity of e-books is steadily increasing, a new art exhibit opening at Loyola University New Orleans honors the legacy of the book workers' craft. "Horizon," a nationally touring exhibit presented by the Guild of Book Workers, features 53 works celebrating leading examples of book arts today.

An opening reception is set for Thursday, Nov. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Collins C. Diboll Art Gallery, located on the fourth floor of the J. Edgar and Louise S. Monroe Library.

The exhibition focuses on the horizon as its theme. Whether by contemplating the apparent horizon, personal horizons or the horizon of the book as a physical object, the exhibitors created works that demonstrate conceptual integrity and the strength of a practice in craftsmanship. As more and more people consider the materiality of the book and its presence as a physical object, "Horizon" showcases the many handcrafts of the book form.

Founded in 1906, the current Guild of Book Workers has more than 900 members and is the only national organization dedicated to all of the book arts, including bookbinding, conservation, printing, papermaking, calligraphy, marbling and artists' books.

"Horizon" first opened at the Margaret I. King Special Collections Library at the University of Kentucky in Lexington in May 2012 and is on tour in the U.S. through March 2014.