Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution
16-18 Queen Square,
Bath,
UK
October 28th - November 2nd 2002
Private View: Monday 28th October 7 - 10 p.m.
Click to view a gallery of images
This diverse exhibition of contemporary book-based art, a genre which does not always get much exposure, aims to look at how artists can utilise and explore the boundaries of the book format to create intimate and inventive works of art, whether taking a familiar readable shape or more sculptural mixed-media pieces which overturn bookish conventions.
The artists involved are at various stages of their careers, but all dedicated makers of unique and limited edition artists' books, employing between them a wide range of approaches, techniques, and content. Materials used include clay, acrylic, old annuals and found objects, as well as more traditional inks and papers. There are sculptural books, books you can play as a game, books in boxes, books you cannot open, books that stretch or fold out, and ones made from smaller interlocking pieces.
On Friday 1st November Tom Sowden will be running a workshop in basic bookbinding techniques. Tickets are limited to 15.
The exhibition is supported by Gemini Publications of Bath, and The Old School Press.
Beyond the Page: Organiser's introduction
The motivation for this exhibition began with a unit on a course I'm currently studying in Arts Venue Management, and has grown beyond the initial ideas. Originally it was to have been held in a library and remind people that books can be other than the ones they saw on the shelves around them; it became necessary to change venue, so I looked for somewhere else which might have some relevance to book art.
The BRLSI has a collection of 8000 old and rare books, and they carry out conservation work on these - quite a nice contrast to the contemporary nature of the work in the exhibition, some of which does also have a paradoxical sense of history about it. The venue is not a standard 'white cube' gallery space, which in some ways better suits the intimate nature of book art. The eight artists exhibiting employ a wide variety of materials, techniques and approaches, and whilst the content of their work is also quite disparate, they all have in common a questioning of the usual perceptions of the term 'book', combined with stringent levels of craftsmanship. I hesitate to try to theorise about the work or how it will all work together, as many people reading this will know far more about book arts than I do, being at the start of what looks like being a long-term interest.
I would like to mention that the exhibition is being kindly sponsored by The Old School Press and Gemini Publications Ltd of Bath, both of whom will have publications and promotional material on display. Gemini are showing their new book on Troika ceramics, along with some pieces of the pottery itself, and Old School Press will be showing two limited edition artists' books. For information about the companies please visit their websites:
http://www.bookbasket.co.uk/
http://www.the-old-school.demon.co.uk/
For further details please contact the organiser, Karen MacDonald, on:
tel: (01225) 429998
e-mail: mailto:karenlisamacd@hotmail.com
Please do not address enquiries to the B.R.L.S.I.
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