Bibliographic Performances & Surrogate Readings (out now, advanced copy pictured above and below), writing, 2024, softcover book, The Everyday Press. Design by Margherita Sabbioneda; printing by Tallinna Raamatutrükikoda. 353 pages, 5.25 × 7.75 inches.
Bibliographic Performances & Surrogate Readings delves into the imaginative realm of books and libraries and the interpretive structures of subject bibliographies. It is the first monograph of its kind to historicize, theorize, and survey two decades of what the author refers to as contemporary visual bibliography or experimental subject bibliography—artistic and poetic projects that explore artifactual, intellectual, spatial, and design possibilities. Ranging from artists’ books and web databases to stack interventions and reading room installations, Bibliographic Performances & Surrogate Readings reviews over fifty compelling visio-bibliographic examples created by diverse, international cultural workers.
REVIEWS: "An anthology of idiosyncratic bibliographies seems, at first glance, unlikely to have much appeal for any non-specialist reader. The very word “bibliography” has a soporific effect … some of us might already be asleep trying to figure out how a book about lists of books could be interesting. But Janelle Rebel’s volume is a treasure trove of interesting ideas and projects that makes for completely absorbing reading. . . . These are collections found in the wild, far from the rule-governed shelves that follow Library of Congress subject headings."
—Johanna Drucker, "Bibliographic Performances & Surrogate Readings," JD: ABCs (Substack), August 23, 2024.
“Rebel provides ample evidence that there is indeed a bibliographic turn in art. Her study is therefore a valuable map of this new artistic territory. . . . ”
—Levi Sherman, "Bibliographic Performances & Surrogate Readings," Artists' Book Reviews, February 24, 2025.
"This compendium spans two decades (2000–2020) of groundbreaking work at the intersection of books, art, and publishing. It’s a curated archive of projects that redefine what a book can be—artist books, experimental catalogues, interdisciplinary practices, and more. Think of it as a field guide to the outer edges of bibliographic creativity."
—Errant Press, "Index card #0061 Books about books," Errant Press newsletter, April 8, 2025.
