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“Reading the Object’ presents a comprehensive survey of Julie Chen’s artist books,” noted Johnston. “The committee was pleased with the inclusion of an essay by the artist herself in which she explains the concept of an artist’s book as a way to perceive and understand aesthetic ideas. By recording the artist’s account of her own work, ‘Reading the Object’ makes a substantial contribution to the understanding of Chen’s work and of artists’ books in general. The catalog also includes a catalogue of Chen’s artistic productions of over 30 years, and provides excellent photographs and descriptions of a variety of artists’ book formats. Diagrams and multiple images are used to convey the three-dimensionality, shape, color, and movement of Chen’s work, so as to document the experience of examining and using the books in person.”