Saturday, January 10, 2009

Vanitas/Libellum at 2008 Editions/Artists' Book Fair, NYC, October 31-November 2, 2008



Official publicity reads, "Founded in 1998 by Susan Inglett of I.C. Editions and Brooke Alexander Editions, the Fair has grown in size and stature to become a showcase for contemporary publishers and dealers presenting the latest in prints, multiples and artists' books free to the public. Today, located in The Tunnel, the Fair fills an entire New York City block, running from 11th Avenue to the West Side Highway. The Tunnel generously accommodates sixty-three of the most exciting international exibitors and hundreds of artists representing New York, Los Angeles, Johannesburg, Amsterdam, London, Paris and points in between."



We were at one of the tables when you first entered the fair, along with Tod Lippy and his estimable Esopus magazine; Peter Nesbett and Shelly Bancroft of Art On Paper, who were in charge of organizing the public discussions during the fair; Brooklyn Artists' Alliance; and The Drawing Center. Further in were the booths of printers and publishers: Steve Clay of Granary Books, Brand X with prints by James Siena, Harlan & Weaver, Dieu Donné Papermill, Editions Fawbush, Forth Estate, Tamarind Institute, etc. Terrific works by Philip Taaffe, George Herms, Bruce Conner, and many more.


Erica Svec, Zach Wollard & William Cassius stopped by!

The Art On Paper talks featured Richard Tuttle, Anne McKeown, Lesley Dill, James Siena and Marjorie Welish (speaking about their new Granary collaboration, Oaths? Questions?), Jill Magid, The Thing Quarterly, and WallpaperLAB.

http://www.eabfair.com/

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Vanitas/Libellum to Small Publishers Fair, London, October 24-25, 2008



Vanitas magazine & Libellum books was in London for Small Publishers Fair 24th & 25th October. http://www.rgap.co.uk/spf.php The fair took place at the Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London. This international fair celebrates books by contemporary artists, poets, writers, composers, book designers, and their publishers, together with a program of readings and talks. With more than 50 publishers taking part there were thousands of books and other editions to browse! The building itself has an interesting history: http://www.conwayhall.org.uk/conwayhallhistory.htm



The readings in the Brockway Room at Conway Hall were vibrant, including Kyle Schlesinger of featured Cuneiform Press and Charles Alexander of CHAX Press; the launch of The Reality Street Book of Sonnets, with readings by Tim Atkins, Chris McCabe, Alan Halsey, Elizabeth James, Geraldine Monk, Simon Smith, and many more; David Annwn and Martin Corless-Smith; and Vincent Katz reading his poem 'Barge' from a collaborative book with Jim Dine.


Alan Halsey, Geraldine Monk, and Vincent Katz
outside the Columbia Hotel, London, October 24, 2008

There were lots of great books and publishers at the fair. I most enjoyed meeting Charles Boyle, of CB Editions, who was parked next to me and was an excellent companion over the two days of working the books. CB's website is: www.cbeditions.com. As well as being a father of twins, Charles is remarkable for his own poetry, which I love, and for his achievement in fiction. He self-published a novel under the pseudonym of a woman, got great reviews for it and calls to enter it in a prize for women's fictions, at which point he finally revealed himself. 24 for 3 by Jennie Walker won the 2008 McKitterick Prize (for a first novel by a writer aged over 40), and is now published by Bloomsbury. Yay, Charles!