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  • Lecture

Art and Action in Movable Books and Paper: from the Collection of Ellen G. K. Rubin

To celebrate the opening of two new exhibitions, Ellen G. K. Rubin, better known as “The Popuplady” for her amazing collection of pop-up and movable books, will give a talk drawing on her forty years of collecting.

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September 12, 2024, 4:00pm - 8:00pm
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Kislak Center Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, 6th Floor, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center
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Open to the Public
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Hosted by: Kislak Center

Illustration of an open book with "the pop-up lady" written as if it's rising above the page

Join us for an opening celebration for two new fall exhibitions in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center: The Movement of Books (Goldstein Gallery) and Material World (Main Lobby and Kamin Gallery).

To celebrate these exhibitions, curators will lead guided tours and Ellen G. K. Rubin, better known as “The Popuplady” for her amazing collection of pop-up and movable books, will give a talk drawing on her forty years of collecting. Rubin's talk will include a brief history of movable paper and will highlight special objects from her collection while reflecting on works used in the two Penn Libraries exhibitions.

Schedule

4:00pm: Curator-led exhibition tours (meet at the registration table in front of the Orrery Pavilion)

5:30pm: Talk by Ellen G. K. Rubin

Both exhibitions will be open for guests to view throughout the event. A pop-up display of items from Rubin's collection will be on view in the Lea Library following the presentation.

About the speaker

Ellen G. K. Rubin, a.k.a. “The Popuplady,” stewards a collection of over 9,000 pop-up and movable books and over 2,000 pieces of related ephemera, sharing her knowledge and expertise through numerous exhibitions, lectures, interviews, media appearances, and publications. Visit her website for more information on her life in pop-ups.

Image credit: Paul O. Zelinsky, logo for Ellen G. K. Rubin, a.k.a. the Popuplady