(Re)Imagining Health: Histories of the Body and Medicine

Throughout history, books have not only been a means of conveying medical information, but they have also served as artistic expressions of care and community building. This pop-up exhibit showcases rare archival materials that reflect how people have understood health, well-being, and medical knowledge through the medium of bookmaking. From medieval manuscripts to modern healthcare advocates, practitioners and patients alike have (re)imagined health on the page as a site of authority, resistance, intimacy, and experimentation.

As part of this event, participants will be invited to make their own zines in response to the exhibit’s themes. Drawing on reproduction images and prompts inspired by the archival materials, the zine-making workshop offers a creative space to explore personal narratives of health, reflect on historical representations, and contribute to a collective conversation about care in our own time.

Location: Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, Sixth floor