Johanna Jackson

Bill Daniel

Justin James Reed

Wolfgang Buchta

Tia Blassingame

David Ferry

Ruth Lingen

Jonathan Romain

David Sandlin

Meredith Stern

Casey Tang

Allyson Mellberg Taylor

Jeremy Taylor

Christine Giard

Mark Cockram

Celine Lombardi

Biruta Auna

Ursula Mitra

Sonya Sheats

Gabrielle Fox

Coleen Curry

Kurt Allerslev

FLY

Ganzeer

Veronika Schaepers

Robbin Ami Silverberg

Dana F. Smith

Lmnopi

Mike Taylor

Seth Tobocman

Timothy Ely

Mark Wagner

Marshall Weber

Sam Winston

Harriet Bart

Candace Hicks

Maria Veronica San Martin

Chris Johanson

Booklyn, Inc. presents "Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted" in an edition of ten books featuring prints, drawings and photographs donated by Booklyn artists. The concept, page and book design were created by Booklyn’s directing curator, Marshall Weber.

In the spirit of Dada, Fluxus and Situationist assembling projects, this publication follows the protocols of Booklyn’s 2013 'Streetopia' limited edition assembling book. (This is not to be confused with the 2015 Booklyn 'Streetopia' trade book). Artists were asked to consider the title of the book and send ten pieces of artwork; a great creative blizzard of diverse approaches and media then descended upon Booklyn. We humbly thank all the incredibly generous artists and binders who made this project possible!

William S. Burroughs liked to paraphrase the Persian Isma'ili scholar and leader Hassan-i Sabbah who was said to have said "Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted." While it is doubtful that the deeply religious missionary said exactly that, there are a range of secular and theological meanings one can apply to the self-evident statement. Thus the perfect title for an assembling book based on the practices of concrete poetry and collage.

The donated artwork has been collaged, rubbed upon, painted, and integrated into a dynamic codex form by Weber. The rubbings are from bronze plaques on the New York Public Library's “Library Walk,” on 41st Street. Excerpts of texts from the plaques are used to form a cohesive poetic narrative that floats through the book.

Rare books curator (and Booklyn board member) Abby Schoolman has organized ten fine art binders to create innovative bindings that reflect the books' lush interiors, including: Biruta Auna, NYC; Uriel Cidor, NYC (5/10); Mark Cockram, London (1/10); Coleen Curry, Muir Beach; (8/10) Gabrielle Fox, Cincinnati (2/10); Celine Lombardi, NYC (3/10); Christine Giard, NYC (4/10); Ursula Mitra, NYC; and Sonya Sheats, Cambridge (MA).

The book is a fundraiser for Booklyn’s Artist Archive program, which helps late-career artists who have worked outside of the conventional art world with the distribution and preservation of their archives for public access.