Richard Minsky
Encyclopedia
Richard P. Minsky is an American scholar of bookbinding
and a book artist. He is the founder of the Center for Book Arts
in New York City
.
at the age of 13 to replace rubber stamp
s he had been using. In 1968, he graduated cum laude in economics
from Brooklyn College
. Minsky was awarded a fellowship
at Brown University
, where he received his Master's degree in economics. He pursued a Ph.D. at The New School for Social Research, but left after two years to pursue bookbinding, art and music. He studied bookbinding in Providence, Rhode Island
with master bookbinder Daniel Gibson Knowlton
, whom he met at the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
at Brown University.
In 1974, Minsky founded the Center for Book Arts
in Manhattan
, the first organization of its kind in the United States dedicated to contemporary interpretations of the book as an art object while preserving traditional practices of the art of the book. In 1978, he was named a US/UK Bicentennial Fellow in Visual Art by the National Endowment for the Arts
and the British Council
. Minsky stated that he does not believe in talent and that he simply continues to become better at bookbinding through his persistence since his first "awful" attempts in 1968.
In 2004, Yale University Library
acquired Minsky's archive of published fine art editions and other works. The Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library at Yale University is hosting an exhibition of 50 years of Minsky's work from August to November 2010.
in Second Life
. On July 29, 2008, Minsky filed suit against Linden Lab
, the creator of Second Life, because one of its users infringed on his trademark registration of SLART.
In September 2008, Linden Lab responded by filing suit with the United States Patent and Trademark Office
in an attempt to cancel Minsky's trademark registration. On September 4, 2008, the U.S. District Court of Northern New York
granted Minsky a temporary restraining order barring the use of SLART by other Second Life users. The court order from federal judge Lawrence E. Kahn
documented Minsky's contention that the term SLART has multiple colloquial
or slang
meanings, "including a slut’s fart, a fart made while sleeping, and someone who is between a slut and a tart." In October 2008, the court granted a preliminary injunction
in Minsky's favor. On October 10, Linden Lab sought to terminate Minsky's Second Life account. On January 22, 2009. the case was settled out of court and the trademark filing was cancelled on April 7, 2009.
Bookbinding
Bookbinding is the process of physically assembling a book from a number of folded or unfolded sheets of paper or other material. It usually involves attaching covers to the resulting text-block.-Origins of the book:...
and a book artist. He is the founder of the Center for Book Arts
Center for Book Arts
The Center for Book Arts in New York City is the first organization of its kind in the United States dedicated to contemporary interpretations of the book as an art object while preserving traditional practices of the art of the book....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Background
In 1960, Minsky obtained his first printing pressPrinting press
A printing press is a device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a print medium , thereby transferring the ink...
at the age of 13 to replace rubber stamp
Rubber stamp
Rubber stamping, also called stamping, is a craft in which some type of ink made of dye or pigment is applied to an image or pattern that has been carved, molded, laser engraved or vulcanized, onto a sheet of rubber. The rubber is often mounted onto a more stable object such as a wood, brick or an...
s he had been using. In 1968, he graduated cum laude in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
from Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
. Minsky was awarded a fellowship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, where he received his Master's degree in economics. He pursued a Ph.D. at The New School for Social Research, but left after two years to pursue bookbinding, art and music. He studied bookbinding in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
with master bookbinder Daniel Gibson Knowlton
Daniel Gibson Knowlton
Daniel Gibson Knowlton was an American classicist bookbinder at Brown University. Knowlton is the nephew of illustrator Charles Dana Gibson and a descendant of Plymouth Colony governor William Bradford.-Biography:...
, whom he met at the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, nicknamed the "Rock", is the main library at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.The library was named after John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Class of 1897. The building was constructed between 1962 and 1964....
at Brown University.
In 1974, Minsky founded the Center for Book Arts
Center for Book Arts
The Center for Book Arts in New York City is the first organization of its kind in the United States dedicated to contemporary interpretations of the book as an art object while preserving traditional practices of the art of the book....
in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, the first organization of its kind in the United States dedicated to contemporary interpretations of the book as an art object while preserving traditional practices of the art of the book. In 1978, he was named a US/UK Bicentennial Fellow in Visual Art by the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
and the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
. Minsky stated that he does not believe in talent and that he simply continues to become better at bookbinding through his persistence since his first "awful" attempts in 1968.
In 2004, Yale University Library
Yale University Library
Yale University Library is the library system of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. It is the second-largest academic library in the North America, with approximately 12.5 million volumes housed in 20 buildings on campus...
acquired Minsky's archive of published fine art editions and other works. The Robert B. Haas Family Arts Library at Yale University is hosting an exhibition of 50 years of Minsky's work from August to November 2010.
SLART trademark dispute
In 2007, Minsky founded SLART, a journal about virtual artVirtual art
Virtual art is art practice using virtual reality, augmented reality or mixed reality as a medium in a digital environment..-Form:It can be considered a post-convergent art form, containing all previous media as subsets...
in Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
. On July 29, 2008, Minsky filed suit against Linden Lab
Linden Lab
Linden Research, Inc., d/b/a Linden Lab, is a privately held American Internet company that is best known as the creator of Second Life....
, the creator of Second Life, because one of its users infringed on his trademark registration of SLART.
In September 2008, Linden Lab responded by filing suit with the United States Patent and Trademark Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
in an attempt to cancel Minsky's trademark registration. On September 4, 2008, the U.S. District Court of Northern New York
United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Northern District of New York serves one of the 94 judicial districts in the United States and one of four in the state of New York. The U.S. Attorney for the district is Richard S. Hartunian...
granted Minsky a temporary restraining order barring the use of SLART by other Second Life users. The court order from federal judge Lawrence E. Kahn
Lawrence E. Kahn
Lawrence E. Kahn Lawrence E. Kahn Lawrence E. Kahn (b. 1937 in Troy, NY is a federal judge for the U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York. Judge Kahn attended Oxford University and graduated from Union College with an A.B. in 1959 and Harvard Law School with a J.D. in 1962. He was...
documented Minsky's contention that the term SLART has multiple colloquial
Colloquialism
A colloquialism is a word or phrase that is common in everyday, unconstrained conversation rather than in formal speech, academic writing, or paralinguistics. Dictionaries often display colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier...
or slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
meanings, "including a slut’s fart, a fart made while sleeping, and someone who is between a slut and a tart." In October 2008, the court granted a preliminary injunction
Preliminary injunction
A preliminary injunction, in equity, is an injunction entered by a court prior to a final determination of the merits of a legal case, in order to restrain a party from going forward with a course of conduct or compelling a party to continue with a course of conduct until the case has been decided...
in Minsky's favor. On October 10, Linden Lab sought to terminate Minsky's Second Life account. On January 22, 2009. the case was settled out of court and the trademark filing was cancelled on April 7, 2009.
External links
- The Book Art of Richard Minsky
- Richard Minsky at the Guild of BookworkersGuild of BookworkersFounded in 1906, the Guild of Book Workers is an organization registered in New York City which promotes the craft of bookbinding, conservation, and the Book Arts. Membership in the Guild is common, though not universal, among American bookbinders....
- Richard Minsky biography at Amazon.comAmazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
- SLART Magazine at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...