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Liverpool Central Library to
host contemporary Book Art Fair
LIVERPOOL Central Library will host a
unique opportunity for visitors to meet artists who make 'book art'
and to buy
directly from them on 8 July and 9 July 2016.
Founded by former Chairman of the Bluecoat Simon Ryder, the fair is now in its
3rd year. Works for sale include cards and hand crafted notebooks; limited
editions of books of text and illustration; hand made papers; and unique book
sculptures. Prices range from around £5 into the hundreds.
The fair complements the Shakespeare Now! exhibition where over 40 international
artists are currently exhibiting a series of artists' books at Liverpool Central
Library to mark Shakespeare's 400th anniversary. The Fair takes place on the
opening weekend of Liverpool Biennial. The Fair will be publicised by the
Biennial to its press and VIP guests, as well as through Double Negative's
'Biennial Special' Culture Diary.
Intriguing work has travelled from Australia, Russia, Netherlands, Germany, USA
and Lithuania with materials including:- handmade paper, driftwood, pebbles,
textiles, cotton, seaglass and seaweed paper.
Printing techniques include:- ink jet, letter press, etching, wood engraving,
hand lettering and typing. The diversity of the work is exemplified by
non-traditional features including sound, binary code (derived from recording of
an actor reading Sonnet XVIII) and a book cast from glass.
In addition to the works in the display cabinets, there will be 1 large scale
site specific multi media work "Shakespeare's Sea" by Pat Hodson, Liz
Cashdan and Jess Rowland, incorporating two hung books, a projection, sound and
a poem.
Simon said:- "The idea for my first book art exhibition in 2014 came from
the realisation that not enough people know about artists' books, and I wanted
to try and expand the range and numbers of people involved, who might then be
interested in attending the Artists Book Fair I was organising. This was the
first time I'd taken on the role of 'curator,' it was a long process, exciting,
nerve wracking, and hugely enjoyable.
The response from artists to help me mark Shakespeare's anniversary with an
exhibition has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. I received nearly 100
submissions. It was a difficult process whittling the final entries down, but we
are delighted with how the exhibition has shaped up. Submissions ranged from editioned
books through unique book sculptures to a site specific book related multi media
installation."
David Stoker, Central Library and Archive Manager said:- "We are delighted
that the Artists' Book Exhibition and Fair will return to mark this significant
cultural anniversary. The work promises to provide a unique response to
commemorate 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare. The range of work
on display will be highly interesting, intriguing and imaginative and of a high
quality. It is very fitting that the fair should take place here and I am sure
that it will attract a lot of interest and build on the success of last year."
Simon continued:- "I established Liverpool Book Art because of my passion
for Artists' Books. I've been attending fairs and exhibitions dedicated to
artists' books across the UK for a number of years, discovering, exploring,
acquiring and getting engrossed in long conversations!"
Adding further to the visual spectacle of the exhibition will be 6 huge
Shakespeare figures made by students at Birmingham City University. The first
year students studying Design for Theatre, Performance and Events, handcrafted
the 6ft figures include Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Richard III, Caliban and
Julius Caesar from paper and cardboard.
More information about the exhibition at Liverpool Central Library, wunns until
31 July 2016, can be found
online.
Programme of Events
Entry is free to all the book art workshops, demonstrations and performances on
the following dates:-
►
Friday, 8 July 2016, from 11.00 to 18.00.
► Saturday, 9 July
2016, from 10.00 to 17.00.
Event listings are as follows for Saturday, 9 July 2016...
► 10.00 to 16.00 - Letterpress Demonstration (Ground floor)
Karen Edwards will show you how an Adana press works and answer your questions.
She invites you to print various Shakespeare themed postcards using hand set
lead type and other printing blocks on an Adana table top press, for you to take
away and keep.
► 10.00 to 12.30 - Shakespearean Themed Brooches.
Brooch making for adults and older children/teens (children must be supervised
and assisted by an adult). Make a brooch with local altered book artist Julie
Dodd inspired by Elizabethan ruffs, created from the works of Shakespeare.
► 13.00 to 13.30 - Sound Book Project (Hornby)
Join Amy Sterly and friends for a performance of the Sound Book Project; a
musical performance by artists and musicians using books as musical instruments!
► 14.00 to 16.30 - Book making.
Explore the possibilities of book art with local book artist Kate Bufton. In
this workshop she will show you how to transform the pages of old books. By
folding them you can create a variety of different shapes; a simple yet
effective use for an old book! Please note this workshop is for children only. |
