Research Catalog

Title

Reginald Walker collection.

Author

Walker, Reginald

Publication

1977-1989.

Supplementary Content

Finding aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

0.88 linear feet (3 boxes)

Summary

• This collection consists of the personal papers and artwork of Reginald Walker, known for artists' books constructed using ancient techniques and decorated with various alphabets and symbols.
• Reginald Walker was known for his artists’ books; he used ancient bookmaking techniques, symbols, and alphabets to create unique and contemporary books. There is scant information available on Reginald Walker, but according to one of his own astrological drawings, he was born on June 13, 1946, in Chicago. According to his resume, his earliest education, from 1966-1971, was devoted to the study of "reliure d’art"(bookbinding) with Gerard Charriere at the Newberry Library of Chicago. He also spent a year at Loop College in Chicago, from 1966-1967, and a year at DePaul University, from 1968-1969. From 1974-1978, he studied in New York at Manhattan Community College, the Center for Book Arts, and the School of Visual Arts. Walker’s work and exhibition history are mostly derived from his papers as well. In 1971, Walker worked in Special Collections at the New York Public Library, where he inventoried and catalogued rare books and works on paper; this position possibly helped to inform his work. In 1978, he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Master Craftsmen Educational grant through the Center for Book Arts. This grant allowed him to research ancient Coptic book forms for his artwork. Around the same time, one of his pieces, "Spaces", was included in an exhibition at the Grolier Club. Beginning around 1980, in order to pursue his artwork, he mainly supported himself as a computer technician in various temporary positions. His Coptic book, "Modern Relics", completed using the research he obtained from the NEA grant, was included in the "Dialects" exhibition at Franklin Furnace Gallery in 1980. Walker’s work was purchased by the Ruth and Marvin Sackner Archive of Concrete and Visual Poetry in 1983 and 1985. In 1983-1984, his work was included in the 4th Annual Book Show at Kathryn Markel Gallery and the Footworks exhibition at Public Image Gallery. "The Magical Properties of Sunflowers", a work which used Coptic binding, acrylics, colored pencil, stencils, rubber, and brass stamps, was included in the exhibition, "The First Decade: Center for Book Arts", held at the New York Public Library in 1984. This work is also featured in the exhibition catalog of the same name. The Spencer Collection of the New York Public Library purchased his work, "Mumbo Jumbo", in 1985. Also in 1985, he participated in exhibitions at the Hand In Hand Galleries and the Center for Book Arts. Additionally, he created sketchbooks for other artists such as Brice Marden, James Brown, and Huck Snyder. His work was exhibited at additional galleries such as Gallery Nature Morte and Civilian Warfare Studio. Walker died in the late 1980s. He remains an elusive figure. The scarce information available mainly comes from this collection and Vince Aletti, who donated this collection and let Walker live in his guest room in the East Village for a brief time in the mid-1970s. Peter Hujar, a photographer who also lived in the area, often photographed his friends and neighbors, one of whom was Reggie Walker.
• This collection includes a few personal papers and artwork of Reginald Walker, a book artist. It is arranged into three series; the first series, Biographical and correspondence, contains material such as his resume, artist’s statement, and personal and professional correspondence. The second series, Printed matter, consists of press and publicity related to Walker’s exhibitions and research material, such as copies of articles and book chapters. The third and largest series, Artwork, is comprised mostly of mock-ups, sketches, and renderings of his books, plus explanations of decorative elements and the books’ construction.

Subjects

• Artists' books
• Runes
• Book artists
• Historical linguistics
• Alchemy
• Symbolism in art
• Coptic language
• Artists, Black > New York (State) > New York
• African American artists
• Hujar, Peter, 1934-1987
• Aletti, Vince

Genre/Form

Artists' books.

Source (note)

• Gift of Vince Aletti, 2017.

Call Number

Sc MG 945

OCLC

1123216081

Author

Walker, Reginald, creator.

Title

Reginald Walker collection.

Production

1977-1989.

Type of Content

text

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

sheet

Location of Other Archival Materials

Materials Separated from the Resource: Transferred to the Art and Artifacts Division: oversized drawings and artist books (all untitled). Transferred to the Photographs and Prints Division: 4 slide sheets of artist's work.

Source

Gift of Vince Aletti, 2017.

Connect to:

Finding aid

Research Call Number

Sc MG 945