By Caleb Bressler

If you like art and books, then perhaps you should stop by the “50 Books/50 Covers” exhibit in the Ganser Library’s Gallery, just off the library’s main lobby. The exhibit, which opened April 1, has a number of book jackets on display, showcasing “book art” in various styles. While there are various forms of design, some interesting, while others are bland, there are enough books covers that everyone could surely find something interesting.
Before taking on this article, I had never heard of “50 Books/50 Covers.” However, after I went to the exhibit, and did some research, I discovered it was an interesting contest.
“50 Books/50 Covers,” is held by the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). According to their website, “50 Books/50 Covers” is a “competition [to] exemplify the best current work in book and book cover design as chosen by a distinguished jury of design peers.” The “contest,” which has been around for nearly a century, is highly respected. Books submitted are judged on various features contributing to the overall artistic architecture of the book. These features, according to the website, encompass “…concept, innovation and visual elements such as typography, illustration and/or information design…” The books also must fit into one of AIGA’s classifications of a particular kind of book, such as a reference book or regular literature (which would include fictional books such as “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” as well as non-fiction such as “Up from Slavery”) to be judged.
And if you win, you naturally have bragging rights.
Stepping into the library’s gallery, with its walls overlaid in gray carpet, to see the exhibit, I was almost alone. Only three other people inhabited the gallery at the time, so it was quiet. Hanging on the wall near the entrance were two, large informational frames which gave some facts about “50 Books/50 Covers.”
Other sections of wall throughout the room were colored with book jackets, some intriguing, some boring, and some simply ugly. Naturally, much of it depends on the viewer’s style, although I did spend some of the time wondering why some of the books had been picked.
The first few that I saw were less than impressive, with bizarre designs and swirling with colors. However, there were some that were quiet interesting. One of these was “Bent Fork-A Wolf at the Table” by Augusten Burroughs. The picture on the book is best described by using an excerpt from an article by Janet Maslin of the “The New York Times” with a “…demonic-looking red fork, its tines bent like evil claws, seeming to point menacingly at some hapless victim.”
Fortunately, most of the covers were not as dark as this. Another interesting book jacket was “Translucent {Tree}” by Nobuko Takagi. The cover depicts a pinecone with pine needles spread out behind it like a fan on an attractive tan background.
“The Way Through Doors” by Jesse Ball illustrated a perfect example of the “creativity” that AIGA also seeks in choosing winners. The book jacket gives the impression of a succession of doorways, with the title arranged so that the bottom half of the title’s letters run down the top of the jacket, while the top half of the letters run up the bottom of the jacket.
Another cover that fit into the creative category was devoid of pictures. Instead, it was full of printed dialogue. It almost gave the impression of looking at the first page of a book missing the original cover and cover pages. It definitely was unique.
The exhibit will be running until May 16, offering plenty of time for students to visit. If you are looking for something to do on a rainy day, “50 Books/50 Covers” may be an interesting excursion. Regardless if you stay for a few minutes-which you will if you’re like me and practically speed-walk through museums-or an hour, “50 Books/50 Covers” is something worth checking out.