A Letter from Our Founder

Proposed facade of Artists Book House. © Eifler & Associates

Dear Friends,

I sometimes wish that Artists Book House was small and cuddly, with silky warm fur, twitching whiskers, and beseeching eyes, because if ABH was a cute little mammal we probably would have found a nice home for it much sooner. Since ABH happens to be a book and paper center, it took us a while to find a suitable location. After a couple false starts, we eventually Goldilocksed our way to something that is just right: 4207 West Irving Park Road, in Chicago. 

Our new home is a single-story, 4,400 square foot, 1917 double storefront, with large front windows, a beautiful (though beleaguered) pressed tin ceiling, and concrete floors upon which to park all our heavy cutters, vats, presses, and type. We’ve been working with Eifler & Associates, our architects, and Kastenholz Construction Services, our project managers, to make the most of every inch.

If ABH was the Velveteen Rabbit, the big question would be: When will we be Real? What people actually ask us is: When will you be Open? We hosted an Open House and are already offering workshops in our pre-renovation digs. But in order to become Real/Open we must raise the funds to pay for the walls, paper studio floor drains, ventilation, climate control, plumbing, library shelving, ADA accommodations, lighting, furnishings, etcetera.

We are excited to begin turning our building into our forever home. Please imagine ABH turning its darling little face to yours, batting its long eyelashes flirtatiously, and imploring you to give generously to this year’s ABH Annual Campaign, so we can finally be Real.

Thank you,

Audrey Niffenegger
Founder, Board Member
Artists Book House