The most ambitious and diverse survey of the book arts published to date, Book Art Object 2 serves as a record of the third biennial Codex Book Fair and Symposium, "The Fate of the Art," held in Berkeley, California in 2011. The event showcased contemporary artist books, and fine press and fine art editions produced by the world's most esteemed printers, designers, book artists, and artisans.

In addition to showcasing 300 projects by 140 artists/printers, Book Art Object 2 also presents a selection of the papers delivered at the 2009 and 2011 symposium lectures:

Paul van Capelleveen, The National Library of the Netherlands: Changing Books: Art and the Contemporary Dutch Private Press Book

Richard Ovenden, Keeper of Special Collections and Associate Director, Bodleian Library, Oxford: Book Arts in the 21st Century Research Library

Juan Nicanor Pascoe, Proprietor, Taller Martin Pescador, Michoacán: Fine Printing in Mexico: Taller Martin Pescador, Michoacán

Antoine Coron, Head of Special Collections, Bibliothèque Nationale de France: Publishing Artists' Books in France Today

Ron King, artist, History and Collaboration: Circle Press

Also presented are 'dispatches' from renowned artists, printers, and curators including Johannes Strugalla and Ulrike Stoltz of Germany; Jason Dewinetz of Canada; Des Cowley of New Zealand; Sarah Bodmen and Tom Sowden of United Kingdom; and Sandro Berra of Italy.

Peter Rutledge Koch, Director of the CODEX International Book Fair and Symposium, founded the CODEX Foundation in 2005 to preserve and promote the arts of the book. From 1991 to 2011 he taught the history of the book as a work of art at University of California, Berkeley. His books and artworks have been the subject of major solo exhibitions at The New York Public Library, The San Francisco Public Library, The Widener Library at Harvard University, The Yellowstone Art Museum, and The University of Montana Art Museum.David Jury is the author of several books, including Graphic Design Before Graphic Designers, Letterpress: The Allure of the Handmade, and What is Typography? From 1996 to 2006 he was the editor of the award-winning TypoGraphic, the journal of the International Society of Typographic Designers.