by Jon Lackman | 24 May 2010 | Books
Pace Gallery president Marc Glimcher has founded Artifex Press, “the first publishing company dedicated to the creation of comprehensive, publicly accessible, online catalogues raisonnés”:
Artifex Press has been named publisher of the digital catalogues raisonnés of the estates of Sol LeWitt and Agnes Martin along with contemporary artists Chuck Close, John Chamberlain, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. The catalogues of twenty-five other artists and estates are slated to follow … Artifex Press ensures that each catalogue raisonné will be regularly maintained and, therefore, accurate and current … In addition, Artifex Press will make issues integral to artist intent – including the understanding, exhibition, installation, site-specificity, and conservation of contemporary works of art – a central focus of its digital catalogues raisonnés.
Its first catalogue is due out this fall. You can view online two symposia it sponsored: “Best of Intentions: Artists Speak on Preserving Artists’ Intent” and “Can History Repeat Itself? Reenactments and the Preservation of Performance Art.”
By the way, Artifex is hiring an assistant editor, who “will work on researching and compiling information for a few specific catalogue projects, as well as various activities pertaining to the startup publisher, from organizing public symposiums to performing administrative tasks.” Apply to [email protected], subject line: Artifex Press.
Please let me know when the catalog of Sol Lewitt is available. Will it be available free on the web?
According to the New York Times, “The public will at a later date be able to access each catalogue raisonné for a fee. ‘I don’t know what it will cost,” Mr. Glimcher said. “Probably a few hundred dollars a year.’ ”