The magic of books is undeniable. We flip their pages to unlock new adventures, new truths and new possibilities. The best books challenge our preconceived notions and open our minds. They build worlds—some resembling our own and some we’ve yet to discover. This summer, Mingei International Museum will explore the connections between VOLUMINOUS ART – Treasures from San Diego’s University Libraries and the wonder, intrigue and challenges of all things literary, from comic books to libraries to indie book shops.

Deepen your own relationship to books by hearing from local players in the literary scene reflect on their fields. Come early for a complimentary happy hour at 5pm, with beer, wine and snacks. The program will begin at 6pm, seating is limited.

July 13: Write Out Loud

Members of Write Out Loud San Diego will bring to life many works on display during one of their signature Story Concerts. Works include Poe’s The Raven, Melville’s Moby Dick, Dr. Seuss’ The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins and many more.

July 20: The Business of Books

Seth Marko, owner of Book Catapult in South Park, will moderate a discussion among local bookshop owners on the role of their shops in the community, how reading has changed in the age of digitization, and how they stay relevant in the face of online book delivery services.

July 27: Just My Type

Presented in partnership with AIGA, San Diego State University’s Professor Emerita Susan Merritt will focus on high points in the evolution of type among the historical volumes in VOLUMINOUS ART – Treasures from San Diego’s University Libraries, as well as highlight some of the inventive typographic musings among the artists’ books.

August 3: Ask a Librarian

Mingei’s Library, Archives and Digitization Manager, Kristi Ehrig-Burgess, will moderate a discussion with staff from the Special Collections Libraries from all three universities: Lynda Claassen, Director and Chief Curator of the Mandeville Special Collections Library at UCSD; Diane Maher, Head of Archives, Special Collections, and Digital Initiatives at the Copley Library at the University of San Diego; and Anna Culbertson, Assistant Head of Special Collections & University Archives at San Diego State University. Participants will discuss what it’s like to work in such a unique field, the importance of preserving priceless literature, and how they share resources within the community.

August 10: Beyond the Gutter

Join Adam Smith, Director of the upcoming Comic-Con Museum; Patrick Yurick of makingcomics.com; Robert Scott, owner and operator of Comikaze in Liberty Station; and Lorelei Bunjes, Vice President of Digital Services at IDW Publishing, as they discuss the influence of comic books, their role in popular culture, and their own professional practice within the field.