Book Arts Fair Video!

Friend of the DC arts scene, Philippa Hughes, has made a nice plug for the BAF on her popular website The Pink Line Project.

See BAF Steering Committee Chair and Pyramid's Artistic Director Gretchen Schermerhorn discuss the upcoming action with Philippa, while Executive Director, Jose Dominguez, sets the context nicely.

Exhibitor Profile: Abecedarian Gallery

A chat with gallery owner Alicia Bailey of Abecedarian Gallery in Denver, CO.

Kelly: What's the story on Abecedarian Gallery...how long have you been around, what's your niche or specialty, and anything else you'd like us to know?

Alicia: Abecedarian Gallery opened in November 2007. The first location was a small room in the back of a building that housed several other galleries and artists' studios. In July of 2008 Abecedarian moved to a larger store front in the 910 Arts Building, a green-built complex designed and built as a creative community center. The gallery has two exhibition spaces. The smaller of the two is the Reading Room where artists' books are always on view. The larger space hosts rotating exhibitions that, while not specifically artists' books, have qualities of sequence, narrative or interactivity that are somehow related to artists' books.

Kelly: Can you give us an example of the kinds of things going on at Abecedarian this fall - perhaps things you're particularly excited about?

Alicia: Currently on view in the main gallery is a solo exhibition by a Denver area artist Mia Semingson. The exhibit includes 366 photographs taken by Mia during a year-long project, presented in 12 accordion fold books, each book presenting a month of photographs. Also on display are larger prints from the series. In the Reading Room is Photo Book Works, an international exhibition of artists' books with photography as a primary element (excluding SPODS) that was juried by Mia. Images of work from current and past shows are available both as print documents and via link from the gallery website. Coming up in January is the student/emerging artist grant exhibition. Abecedarian has been setting aside funds for this award for several months. I hope the gallery is able to continue offering similar opportunities to student/emerging artists. The decision to continue will be determined by the level of interest in the award and my success in securing funds for it in future.

Kelly: What's the Denver art scene like and where do you see your gallery in it?

Alicia: Denver has a flourishing arts scene particularly in the performative (theater and music) arts. The Art District of Santa Fe, has been identified as one of the busiest and well-attended of the 450+ grass-roots districts in the nation. This means that Abecedarian has opportunity to increase exposure to a wide audience of gallery visitors, many of whom are unfamiliar with the artists' book genre. This part of the country is attractive to many because of the recreation opportunities so in Denver cultural aspects aren't as well-regarded as in other cities of similar size. I don't view this as a negative. The result is that I put more energy towards education and community service than I might were Abecedarian located in another city. As the only gallery in the area with an emphasis on artists' books, the gallery functions as an unofficial center for resource sharing, education and opportunity in the book arts.

Kelly: What are you working on in your own art these days?

Alicia: I have three student interns right now, and we mostly work on the design and production of limited editions. Hot off the press is Theia Mania - a multi-piece collaborative project that includes a sound element. More than twenty other individuals helped me with this project. I continue with my ongoing project Lovely and Amazing, which is a mixed-media series including books, boxes and three-dimensional collage inspired by and fabricated from an inherited archive of biological specimens, handwritten documents, drawings and photographs.

Kelly: What are you looking forward to seeing or doing at the Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair?
Alicia: Although it looks like an exciting schedule of presentations and workshops, I'll be spending my time there showing off the treasures from Abecedarian that I have selected for the fair. I will be bringing prints and books from several artists whose work I represent including Alice Austin, Emily Martin, Shu-Ju Wang, Tonia Bonnell, Johanna Mueller, Pati Scoby, Heidi Zednik and Jill Bergman.

Exhibitor Spotlight: Vamp and Tramp Booksellers

A look behind the scenes with Bill and Vicky Stewart, proprietors of Vamp & Tramp, Booksellers.

Kelly: What’s the story on Vamp & Tramp...what do you do, how long have you been around, what’s your niche or specialty, and anything else you’d like us to know?

Vamp & Tramp: We began Vamp & Tramp, Booksellers, LLC in 1995, selling modern firsts, mainly 20th-century literary and mystery first editions. This was in the early days of internet bookselling. We had a by-appointment site, which no one visited, and tried every way we could think of to sell books – none very successful. Three or four years later, I stumbled across Ron King's Circle Press edition of Antony & Cleopatra, and was hooked. We began carrying more and more contemporary fine press and artists' books. At about that time, we opened an open shop in Birmingham, with modern firsts, artists' books, fine press books, children's books, Alabama history books – anything we could think of to sell and pay the monthly rent. In December 2003, we had run out of money to lose, and were presented with a chance to acquire Califia Books.

Vicky and I decided to put our time, energy, and resources into what really excited us – contemporary fine press and artists' books. In 6 weeks we closed our open shop, divested ourselves of 4,500 more or less rare books and art works (by the end, we were half art gallery and half book gallery), and took to the road. The acquisition of Califia meant mostly contacts with many new (to us) book artists and access to some hitherto unplumbed institutional buyers. And because of the nature of the books – the physical aspects being so central – we decided that the only way to do this successfully and in a way ethically would be to take the books to the potential customers. Besides, the road trip aspect was fun, or seemed as if it would be fun. So while we did is a sense acquire Califia, we incorporated parts, namely artist and customer contacts, into what we were already doing. What really changed for us was the chance to devote ourselves full time to driving the books across the country.

Kelly: What do you look for in an artist’s work when you’re considering representing them for consignment?

Vamp & Tramp: Our first criteria tends to be what we refer to the as the WOW factor. The not-so-cute names is a distillation of what Bill was feeling when he saw that first Ron King book – wow, wow, wow, just wow. It’s an excitement, an electricity, a visceral sense of contact and connection. This doesn’t necessarily mean a big wow. There are all kinds of wows. Both of us don’t have to experience the wow connection with the book but at least one of us. Next we have to believe we can place it with a collection. Sometimes we are very attracted to a work but realize that we are probably not going to be able to place it. Although nominally we represent fine press and artists’ books, the majority of our placements are based on subject content. We place far more books because of their content than because of anything else.

Kelly: Is there anything in particular that an artist can do to help you be in a position to better sell or offer their work?

Vamp & Tramp: An artist should have not only a general artist statement but a statement about the specific work. A back-story is always helpful – why the work came about, how it developed. It doesn’t have to be pages and pages; just something that will better help us and the collector to understand more about the book. These stories help immeasurably in helping others connect with the work, and open the door to possible purchase. For us, it helps if the back-stories are written. The older we get the harder it is to remember all of the details.

Kelly: Can you give us an example of the kinds of things going on with Vamp & Tramp this fall – perhaps things you’re particularly excited about?

Vamp & Tramp: Our fall travel schedule is usually busy and this year more so. We’ll be on the road almost continuously from Labor Day until Thanksgiving: we’ll be across the US to San Diego, up the coast to Seattle, back to Birmingham, to Toronto, and then to the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states (on the trip that will bring us to Pyramid Atlantic). One of the fun things we get to do is spread the word about book arts and artists’ books. This comes in the form of presentations as well as new exhibition and book fair venues. In October we will be participating in a book fair in Toronto. While this is an antiquarian book fair we hope to make contact with collectors and collections that we can introduce them to the work of the artists we represent. This is our first foray into Canada so we are really looking forward to going across the border.

Kelly: What are you looking forward to seeing or doing at the Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair?

Vamp & Tramp: We always look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. Feeling the energy of the artists always reinvigorates us.

Exhibitor Spotlight: Sarah Nicholls and The Center for Book Arts

Kelly: What is the Center for the Book Arts...and what is your role there?

Sarah Nicholls: The Center for Book Arts is a hybrid gallery/studio/hub of artistic and social activity. We were the first non-profit in the nation specifically devoted to book arts. We’re dedicated to encouraging contemporary interpretations of the book as an art object, as well as reinvigorating traditional artistic practices of bookmaking. What that means is we mount exhibitions, teach classes, offer lectures and talks, host poetry readings, and publish chapbook and exhibition catalogs, as well as offer scholarship and residency opportunities for artists and writers to expand their knowledge of the book as an art object.

I’m the Programs Manager, and I organize a workshop schedule of over 150 courses yearly in bookbinding, printmaking, letterpress and artists books. I develop our schedule of artist talks, poetry readings, professional development programs for artists, and panel discussions, as well as oversee our artist residency programs, scholarship programs, and annual poetry publications. I’ve collaborated with other organizations, such as the Drawing Center, CUNY, NYPL, Printed Matter and the Museum of Arts and Design, to present programs and events around New York City. I run the studio programs, maintain equipment, manage our studio volunteers and interns, and provide and/or arrange for technical support for our artists in residence.

Kelly: Can you give us an example of the kinds of things going on at The Center this fall – perhaps things you’re particularly excited about?

Sarah: Today we’re finishing up installing the three fall exhibitions, which open on Wednesday September 22nd: Ear to the Page, organized by James Hoff and Alan Licht, which is a show highlighting the interaction between audio recordings and books. There’s also a Featured Artist Project by Catya Plate called Clothespin Tarot, as well as an installation of recent works by renowned book artist Barbara Tetenbaum, who will be speaking later in November, as well as teaching a GREAT artist books class that begins with the relationship between music and the visual arts. She’s going to be here November 19-21.

I’m also really looking forward to Find a Collaborator! – a visual artists and writers mixer on October 6th; artists and writers are invited to come in and hear about the collaboration between Wennie Huang, former CBA resident, and Ed Go, poet and book arts student, bring in some examples of their own work, and then participate in a few simple exercises designed to help them find a potential collaborator for their own projects. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Kelly: What are you working on in your own art these days?

Sarah: I just finished carving blocks for two prints published by Cannonball Press. Who do great things! And I was really excited to be able to do that. I’m aiming to publish an Informational Pamphlet on Weasels on their Habits this fall, as part of an occasional pamphlet series. And I have an idea for a lino cut animation, called Hot Doug’s Sausage Superstore. That’s as far as that idea has gone so far.

Kelly: What can you tell us about those index cards? They’re quite compelling.

Sarah: The index cards, oh my. Well, most of my artwork uses found text. I collect my text on index cards, and photograph the really nice ones, mainly out of an obsessive need to document. The texts are works in progress and the photographs are evidence of that process. The ones that stick end up being set in lead type, and I think a lot about the difference in how a text sounds between when it’s scrawled on an index card and when it’s set in type and printed. Right now I’m collecting a lot of text on weasels, and on eating.

Kelly: What are you looking forward to seeing or doing at the Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair?

Sarah: I’m excited to see new work by old friends. I’m excited to get out of the city. I’m excited to see people I haven’t seen in a while. It’s always a great event.

Find Sarah at The Center for Book Arts, her website, and at the Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair in November!

Exhibitor Spotlight: Sarah Bryant of Big Jump Press

Kieu: I know you've recently finished a new artist's book. Can you tell us a little about it? Will we see it at the Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair?

Sarah: I began the design for Biography a year and a half ago after making a few prints about the periodic table. I wanted to create a book that explored the role of these chemical elements as both the discrete ingredients in our bodies, and the visual system way we’ve chosen to simplify and codify the world around us. The book introduces the table in an early spread with the elements present in the human body printed in specific colors. These colors identify the same elements throughout the book in a series of diagrams illustrating the chemical composition of the crust of the earth, sea water, and a variety of weapons, medicines, and man-made building materials.

I’m in the process of binding the book now and I’ll have several copies of it with me at the fair.

Kieu: You do a lot of letterpress printing in your work. What do you enjoy about letterpress printing?

Sarah: Letterpress has a lot to offer for me. It allows me to be in control of the process, and offers me a chance to experiment with varying methods of image production. It is ideal for editioning, which is critical. The traditional connection to publishing is also important to me. My books often draw from reference materials and educational printed matter, and I like that the process is related to the theme of the works.

Kieu: Can you share with us three books (artist's books, literature, etc.) that have influenced or inspired you in some way?

Sarah: Reference material of all kinds has always held a special place for me. In addition to my encyclopedias and old science books I collect Baedecker travel guides from the late 19th-early 20th century. These books were mass-produced with such sweet attention to details (half inch fold-outs to include certain elements in maps, for example) despite added costs. I enjoy reading the out of date information; which steam ship to take, how to pack, local customs, etc. I love this once useful set of information. I have a great Northern Germany guide from the 1920’s with descriptions of Dresden before the firebombing.

In Artist’s Book Land, Barb Tetenbaum’s Gymnopaedia #4 is a winner with me. And I’ll just admit right now that I love Watership Down.

Kieu: What do you look forward to doing or seeing at the Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair?

Sarah: Without a doubt I am most looking forward to seeing the other tables at the fair! It is such a luxury to be able to wander around a room and see what other artists and publishers are doing, to handle their books and talk to them (the people, not the books). I will be sharing a table with Jessica Peterson (of Paper Souvenir), a great friend who lives a thousand miles away, and we will probably spend a lot of the day laughing.

Kieu: And for the random question of the day -- I think all of us have very diverse interests. If you could have another career in addition to being an artist, what would you choose?

Sarah: I enjoy teaching books, so maybe I’d teach something else? God knows. Fireman?

Sarah's websites:

http://bigjumppress.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/bigjumppress

Libros de Artista: An Interview with Carla Nicolas

We are delighted that Carla Nicolás, Pyramid Artist-in-residence during the the month of November, will be presenting a lecture titled Flipbooks: Back to Front, at the Book Arts Fair. I asked her some questions regarding her present work, upcoming projects, and what she is looking forward to at the Book Arts Fair.


Gretchen: What are you working on currently?
Carla: I’ve finished ‘Derelict’ recently, an unreadable book-sculpture. This book is like a drift boat: the content is a sea of paper making with aeronautical tables, the welded structure cover represents the upper works (part of the boat out of water) and his light’s the lighthouse wich will take to solid ground. The light is a very important part of this work.

Gretchen: What are you most interested in exploring in your upcoming projects? What will you work on during your residency at Pyramid?

Carla: I’m interested in letterpress woodblock printing (I don’t have the possibility in the city where I live) and I want to work about the unique book concept with sculptural forms.

Gretchen: If you could have dinner with three artists, living or deceased, who would you choose?

Carla: I’d choose have dinner with Käthe Kollwitz, Charles René Mackintosh and Edgar Degas. (it’s a great and very dificult question… maybe tomorrow I’d choose other artists like Warhol, Dalí, Tàpies... but this is the answer for today).

Gretchen: What are you looking forward to doing or seeing at the Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair?

Carla: I hope to learn watching the works of the artists invited and his creative process, find new concepts, materials and other processing around book arts. In short, I hope to find quality artist’s works and interact with them. This is a great opportunity to learn and nurture the intellect and creativity.

Early Bird Registration

"Nest Soho-2" by Leilei Guo

Registration is now open for the Book Arts Fair and Conference! Sign up from now until September 15 for the early bird special to the Book (R)evolution. There is an entire menu of choices so there is sure to be something to fit your schedule. The best deal, of course, is to get a pass for the whole shebang, and honestly, why wouldn't you want to? And, students, we have a special rate for you too!

We have been working nonstop adding more exciting events to the three-day program--much faster than we can update the website! But don't worry, all the details are coming soon! We are now adding the names of fair exhibitors, and information on demonstrations and exhibitions will follow. That's right--exhibitions with an 's'!

Just yesterday one of our fair coordinators Lindsay asked (half-jokingly) if she could register for the fair too. But that is how all of us feel--we want to go to everything too! We are buzzing with energy and excitement here and looking forward to bringing you a great weekend of events.

Can't wait? Register here.

"Floating Palace" by Paul Johnson

The Big Read

Pyramid Atlantic will be a participant of the Big Read this fall, an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment, and each community event lasts approximately one month. For the Maryland/DC Metro area, that means September 25-November 14!

Together with the Writer's Center in Bethesda, Pyramid Atlantic will be highlighting the work and life of Edgar Allan Poe, and the Book Arts Fair is honored to present the keynote speaker Harry Lee Poe, otherwise known as Hal Poe. On the last day of the fair, November 7, Hal Poe will present his lecture titled "Edgar Allan Poe and the Mystery of the Universe."

Check out the description on the website, plus information on our other speakers. It's a great line-up!

New Lecture Added!

"Fiber, Paper, Book" will be presented by Ann Kalmbach, Founder and Executive Director of Women's Studio Workshop, and Terez Iacovino, former intern and current AmeriCorps Papermaking Program Coordinator for Women's Studio Workshop.

Details forthcoming on the PABAF website!

Call for Exhibitors- Deadline Extended!

To all of you who have been asking--yes, you can still apply! Today was our deadline for fair exhibitor applications, but due to the amount of interest, we have decided to extend the deadline to the end of the month. Mark the new deadline: July 30th!

Applications are being accepted through Zapplication. For more details about the fair and application process, check out the Book Arts Fair website.

Proceed and Be Bold!

Starring Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. The story of one man's discovery of letterpress printing and how it became his "voice." Amos Kennedy loves to challenge conventions, and he does it with wit and humor--and of course, a printing press. He believes in making art accessible, and his work is an excellent example of the democratic multiple--art objects that are produced and distributed as widely and inexpensively as possible.

I first met Amos at the Hybrid Book Conference in Philadelphia last year. He was a very engaging and entertaining speaker, and those qualities also shine in Proceed and Be Bold!

Come watch it at the PABAF!



Speaking of the democratic multiple, Tony White will be discussing this topic in his lecture titled "The (R)evolution of the Democratic Multiple: Post-Millennial Artist Published Multiples." Details here.

And the speakers are... (drum roll, please!)

Abecedarian Explorations in Book Arts
By Peter Bushell
Associate Professor of Graphic Design, School of Art, Illinois State University

Animated Pages: The Virtual (R)evolution of the Book
By Deborah Cornell
Chair of Printmaking, School of Visual Arts, Boston University

Chasing Commies:
Printing, Teaching and Collaboration in Havana and Hanoi
By Steven Daiber
Proprietor of Red Trillium Press

Introduction to Books and Activities of Guild Members
By Guild of Book Workers, Potomac Chapter

The (R)evolution of the Democratic Multiple:
Post-Millennial Artist Published Multiples
By Tony White
Head of the Fine Arts Library, Indiana University Bloomington
& Field Editor for Artist’s Books and Books for Artists, CAA.Reviews

TBA
By Harry Lee Poe
Charles Colson Professor of Faith and Culture, Union University
& President of the Board of Directors, Edgar Allan Poe Museum

More details coming soon!

Between the Folds

People are often surprised that I had wanted to be a scientist when I was a kid. They don't expect that from an artist. However, many artists I know find science to be a source of inspiration and material for their work. And some of us work scientifically, that's to say, methodically with a great use of mathematical and analytical thinking.

Some people may think art and science are at opposite ends of the spectrum, but I think they make great dancing partners. Between the Folds, which will be screened at the PABAF, is a great example of this. It is about the art of science and the science of art--as demonstrated through the versatility of origami.

Here's a sneak peek!

Who Does She Think She Is?

PABAF will be screening four provocative and inspiring films on November 6-7. One of them is Who Does She Think She Is? which I saw a few weeks ago at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA. It was one of the features of the Female Shorts Film and Video Showcase.

The film is about women who have chosen to follow their passion for creating, including the challenges, consequences, and sacrifices. It mainly follows the lives of five women who are both mothers and artists, but it also discusses the challenges facing women artists in the art world. Not surprisingly, the Guerrilla Girls make an appearance here with a message from Frida and Kathe.

If you missed the Torpedo Factory screening--don't worry! We're bringing it back to the DC metro area this fall. Join us for all the great events at the Book Arts Fair!

Introducing the Jurors

I'm very excited to announce the jurors for this year's Book Arts Fair: Katherine Blood, Curator of Prints at the Library of Congress; Helen Frederick, Director Emeritus of Pyramid Atlantic and Professor of the School of Art at George Mason University; and Robert Tillman, Printmaker and Founder of Printeresting.org. Each of them will be presenting an award for excellence at the fair. It's a great honor to have them on the jury panel, and I can't wait to see their selections!

Interested in exhibiting at the fair? We are currently accepting applications! You can check the fair website for details or apply now at Zapplication.

We're looking forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces as well as new ones! And, of course, all the fantastic art everyone has to share!

Pyramid Atlantic Book Arts Fair Venue

The venue for our upcoming Book Arts Fair event in November is coming along beautifully. It will be so exciting to be in a brand new space, that is accessible, edgy and spacious. Scheduled to be finished in July, the building is close to Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, shops, restaurants, hotels, the American Film Institute and the Metro. There is also FREE parking on the weekends-yay for free parking!