Powers-Torrey gave a lecture when "The Art of the Book" opened. She outlined the history of book art, beginning with clay tablets in Egypt. Modern book art began in the 1960s, she said. Artists in the '60s saw books as a way to break out of the galleries and make art more democratic. (Ironically, it wasn't long before their limited edition books were in demand and became too expensive for the average person.)

Until quite recently, book art was an art form of the East Coast and the West Coast. Now book art seems to be converging in the middle of the country, Powers-Torrey says. The most exciting things are happening in Utah, she adds. And artists from every part of the state are represented in "The Art of the Book."

Sue Cotter, of Parowan, and Day Christensen, of Highland, each have their own presses. Powers-Torrey would call Day's book, in this exhibit, a classic example of fine press work. (The work is accompanied by hand-printed etchings.) Sue Cotter's work in this exhibit is an example of a book artist who uses letterpress.

A group called the Utah Calligraphic Artists collaborated on a mixed media book titled, "Yippie Yi Yi Ki Yi," which is also in this exhibit. Powers-Torrey would classify that book as an "artists' book." Then there is "The Book of Rust," by Randy Hankins. It is void of text or illustrations, though it does have pages, and Powers-Torrey would define it as a "book object." All three categories — book object, artist's book and fine press — come under the umbrella definition of book art, she explains.

As she began to pull together this exhibit, Powers-Torrey sent out a survey to book artists. She asked them if they considered themselves primarily artists or primarily book people. Eighty percent of those who answered said they were artists first, artists who just happened to discover the form of making books. Many of those who answered her survey said they would not classify a book as "book art" unless a substantial part of the book was handmade.

Some of the books in the "Counterform" and "The Art of the Book" exhibits are printed on handmade paper. All have been bound by hand.

As for Powers-Torrey, she was a book person and an artist all along. She majored in English and philosophy at Boston College, then came to the University of Utah in 1997 to get a master' in fine arts in photography. When she got here, she learned of a new program for bookmaking. She signed up for a class. She hasn't left the presses since.

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If you go . . .

What: "The Art of The Book," work by Utah artists

Where: The Gallery at Library Square, 210 E. 400 South, Level 4, Salt Lake City

When: Through July 16

How much: Free

Phone: 524-8200

Web: www.lib.utah.edu/rare

Also: "Counterform," works by University of Utah students, at the U's Marriott Library (fifth floor) through July 15

Phone: 581-6085

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E-mail: susan@desnews.com