Do this: Art Book Swap at the Art Institute

By Steven Pate in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 8, 2010 8:40PM

If your coffee table needs some fresh reading material but your bank balance doesn't comply, head to the Art Institute of Chicago tomorrow for the inaugural Art Book Swap. Hand over any art books in good condition (monographs, artist's books, art history texts exhibition catalogs, etc.) and walk away with the same number of new-to-you books of the same sort.

A project of Regency Arts Press and the New Art Dealers Alliance in collaboration with the Art Institute of Chicago Library, this inaugural Chicago Art Book Swap follows successful versions in New York and LA. All unclaimed books will be donated to Urbana-Champaign Books to Prisoners for placement in Illinois prision libraries.

There are some minimal rules for eligibility: No fiction, children's books, nature books, reference books, magazines, auction catalogs or how-to books. Beyond that, you can bring in whatever art books you're ready to part with. Given how expensive art books can be, it's remarkable that the exchange rate of one-for-one means that you could bring in that clearance table Grant Wood book your aunt got you because you are "into art" and walk out with that $125 glossy monograph that's heavy enough to tie down the Goodyear Blimp.

As donations have been accepted all week and institutional donors will have already dropped off their wares, we would recommend getting there early for the best haul.

The Art Book Swap takes place Saturday, October 9, 12-5 p.m. in the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries Franke Reading Room at the Art Institute of Chicago. Enter through the Museum's Michigan Avenue entrance.