Radius Books was established in 2007 by David Chickey, publisher, editor, and book designer; Darius Himes, editor; David Skolkin, production; and Joanna Hurley, marketing and public relations.[2] The impetus to found a non-profit publisher arose, in part, from the issue of library budget cuts in the early 2000s, which adversely affected the sales of art books.[3]
Donation Program
Radius Books donates copies of every book published to school, public and university libraries, and arts organizations across the United States.[4] Currently, Radius serves 527 institutions and schools in all 50 US states, donating 300 to 400 copies of one book at a time. Since its founding, Radius founder and Creative Director David Chickey estimates that the non-profit has donated nearly 40,000 books, especially targeting rural and underserved libraries.[5]Ash Creek Elementary School District, Denver Public Library, New Mexico State University Library, and Memphis College of Art are a few of Radius Books' donation recipients.[6]
Titles
Radius Books published 4 titles in their first year. From 2008 to 2010, they doubled their production, publishing 8 titles. Since 2011, Radius has published 15 to 20 titles each year, ranging from monographs on historical and contemporary artists as well as featuring museum collections and exhibitions[7]
Awards
Since its founding, Radius Books has been recognized with multiple design and publishing awards. From 2010-2015, Radius was selected eight times for the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts)/The Design Observer Group '50 Books/ 50 Covers' competition, which is the longest running design competition in the United States. In 2010, Michael Light: LA Day/LA Night and David Taylor: Working the Line were recognized for their inventive cover designs.[8] In 2012, Fred Sandback, published in conjunction with David Zwirner Gallery, was an AIGA book selection.[citation needed]Janelle Lynch: Barcelona and Stephen Dupont: Piksa Niugini, both from 2013, garnered a cover selection and book selection, respectively.[citation needed] In 2014, Covert Operations Investigating the Known Unknowns and James Drake: 1242, both published in conjunction with Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego, were selected books.[citation needed]The Meadow, which debuted in 2015, was a noted book selection.[citation needed] The Independent Publisher Book Awards has also recognized Radius Books for excellence in publishing. In 2014, Mitakuye Oyasin, by Aaron Huey, won a gold medal in the photography division.[9] The following year, Julie Blackmon: Homegrown won a silver medal for photography.[10]American Alliance of Museums Publishing Publications Design Competition has recognized Radius Books for "superior execution and ingenuity in graphic design of museum publications" in 2013, 2014 and 2015.[11] The Publishers Association of the West has also recognized Radius Books with a book design award.[citation needed]International Center of Photography recognized Radius with an Infinity Award for best photographic book of the year.[citation needed] In 2014, Time listed three Radius Books in their Guide to the Best Fall Photobooks, including Julie Blackmon: Homegrown, Laura Letinsky: Ill Form and Full Void, and Michael Light: Lake Las Vegas/Black Mountain.[12] Kevin Bubriski's Nepal: 1975-2011 was recognized with a New England Book Show Award.[citation needed]
^Hayes, Tracy (12 March 2013). "Shelf Life: Radius Books". Neiman Marcus Daily. Archived from the original on 17 August 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
