Rare book collector lends Vig铆a collection to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for Cuban art exhibit
One of 71 artists鈥� books created by the Cuban publishing house, Ediciones Vig铆a, on display at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Ottenheimer Library March 14 to April 19. In 1998, Bill Fisher visited the, also known as the MARCO, with his brother and grandmother during a trip to Mexico. At the art museum鈥檚 gift shop, Fisher spotted something that took his breath away.聽鈥淚 found these incredibly beautiful books about which I knew nothing,鈥� said Fisher, a San Antonio-based tax lawyer and rare book collector. 鈥淚 clearly recall a magazine of poems and stories for children, made in the shape of a house with a chimney, cellophane windows, and other charming details. The books have such a sense of joy and whimsy that I bought them all on sight. Then I asked to speak to the buyer to learn more.鈥�He discovered that the works were created by the Cuban publishing cooperative,under the artistic direction of Rolando Est茅vez and Alfredo Zald铆var. Founded in 1985, artisans in Matanzas, Cuba, created handmade books using collaged, repurposed materials. 聽According to an,Ediciones Vig铆a originally served as a meeting place for artists and writers to discuss their work. They began creating artistic fliers to advertise their meetings. This eventually grew into an independent publishing house that creates handmade interactive works of book art that are internationally renown.鈥淓diciones Vig铆a creates community in Cuba,鈥� Fisher said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a cooperative where people come together to create and publish these books, providing lots of job opportunities. Then there is the community of authors and artists who contribute works to those books. Then there is the fan network of Vig铆a 鈥� librarians, collectors, and readers who love the books and the context from which they come.鈥�Fisher lent 71 of his prized Vig铆a books for a Cuban art exhibit at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. 鈥淏inding Communities: Cuba鈥檚 Ediciones Vig铆a and the Art of the Book and Entrepreneurism,鈥� will be displayed in 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Ottenheimer Library from March 14 to April 19.The exhibit鈥檚 opening reception on Tuesday, March 14, will feature a talk by Fisher, where he will discuss some of his favorite pieces in the exhibit and his nearly 20-year search for Vig铆a books. The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 4:30 p.m. in Ottenheimer Library Room 535.Since that fateful day nearly 20 years ago, Fisher has collected more than 500 Vig铆a books. Through his search, he has met scholars, librarians, and other collectors who appreciate the artistry of the Vig铆a books.鈥淲hen I show people the Vig铆a books, their eyes light up,鈥� Fisher said. 鈥淭hey can spend all evening asking questions and handling them. It鈥檚 exceedingly engaging.鈥�He met Dr. Erin Finzer, chair of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Department of World Languages, in 2012, when they were both making presentations on the Vig铆a books at a conference at the University of Missouri.Fisher鈥檚 favorite books in the exhibit are 鈥淭estamento del pez鈥� (The Fish鈥檚 Testament), written by Cuban Poet Gast贸n Baquero, which is in the shape of a cigar box, and the first publication of the script for the famous Cuban movie 鈥�Fresa y chocolate鈥� (Strawberry and Chocolate), which he sought for years before plucking it from the shelves of a bookstore in Mexico City.
Bill Fisher’s book 鈥淭estamento del pez鈥� (The Fish鈥檚 Testament) written by Cuban Poet Gast贸n Baquero, Photo by Carly Machen/糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Communications.
