Following on from our meeting on 7 November, we have now established the work which will go in to the Book Art Show at Phoenix Gallery, Brighton, so that is an exciting move forward in preparation for 15 May 2016. Thanks to everyone who responded to the initial email and then attended the meeting!
ALSO, ANNOUNCING
Drop in Workshop on 21 November making Dos a Dos books with Vanessa Marr. Lots more information on our Facebook page ... See you there!
Http://www.facebook.com/sussexbookartscollective
Friday, November 13, 2015
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Book Arts on Saturdays - Mariya Ustymenko
We had a wonderful Saturday morning on the 3rd October. First, Karin Mori from Phoenix Gallery (www.phoenixarts.org) came along and told us all about the Book Art Show called Press & Release 2016, Technology and the Evolution of the Artist's Book, curated by Maddy Rosenberg, which will involve Curious Projects, and Liberatura. The Sussex Book Arts Group has been also invited to take part in the activities associated with the show on the 15th of May 2016. There is a design team to be commissioned, who will work on creating an environment where the book art work chosen for the exhibition will be presented in an interesting way, and the show will seek to push the boundaries of the book as object. Sussex Book Arts Collective has been invited to create an event in one of the spaces available and we are at the planning stage. Ideas are being collected by Dorry so that they are gathered together for discussions. There will be a meeting on 7th November 2015 to decide more ....Mariya Ustymenko then presented a fascinating and interesting talk about her work Fear of Disappearance and how it all started. She had been developing the levels of her project since September 2014, taking a good 6 months to work through the ideas to the finished work, having initially applied for a residency with the bookRoom Press, UCA Farnham.
The work had 3 outcomes: a limited edition (40 hand-bound books with perspex and aluminium cover), a zine (ed. of 100, hand-sewn soft-cover pamphlets), and a concrete, perspex and steel sculpture (ed. of 3).
Mariya explained that she is a lens-based artist mainly, and is part of a photo collective group which provides peer support and mentorship. Her background includes a PhD in Literature which she achieved when living in Essex before moving to the London area.The contrast between the city and places by the sea had given her thoughts about the urban environment and how she might structure her book and sculpture taking on a subjective approach. This led her to use urban materials to convey her ideas, such as concrete, steel and aluminium, which these environments are filled with, and which gave her choices about ways of production not usually associated with books and photography.
The project also raised questions about her anxieties. In a rapidly changing environment, she considered whether the book could be viewed as architecture, especially looking at such areas of London as Whitechapel and Hackney Wick.
On the question of development of the electronic book market with its greater digitalisation in the 2000s, she felt that this was often more for mass market paperback readers, and the artists book was more sought after now as they are physically more attractive and show greater creativity.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Fear of Disappearance - Project Insights - New Season Meeting
Here's the latest greatest news for everyone -BOOK A REMINDER IN YOUR DIARY FOR SATURDAY 3rd OCTOBER 2015 AT 10.30 to 12.30-ish in the Green Room at the Phoenix Gallery, Waterloo Place, Brighton.
We kick off the New Season of the Sussex Book Art Collective with a presentation from one of our members, who has recently featured her work at the Whitechapel Gallery, London Book Art Fair. Mariya Ustymenko is a regular attendee at the SBAC meetings and many of you will already know her. She will share with us her insights into developing her mixed media project, from her earliest ideas and sketches to its final outcome. How exciting!
Find out all about this process, which led to her finished piece of work and get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how an accomplished artist brings about and shows a completed project. Mariya Ustymenko has been invited to talk about her sculptural photobook project, Fear of Disappearance.
She says of her work -
Fear of Disappearance is dedicated to the fast-changing landscape of London. Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, the project was developed under the guidance of the bookRoom, a research cluster based at the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, with focus on digital analogue and hybrid art book formats, and Akina Factory, a London-based photobook orientated laboratory.
Impressive isn't it! Don't miss it!
All welcome, from more experienced creatives to those of you who are just curious or are beginners. As you can tell from the description above, there will be lots to learn and see in our friendly and welcoming group session, and you can met other creatives, have a chat, have a cuppa. Come and join us ....
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Grand Finale before the Summer Break
What a varied and surprising morning we had at Saturday's meeting thanks to Ed Boxall and Kim Pace. It certainly was stimulating - and enthralled us all!
Firstly, Ed Boxall related how he had followed a Degree in Printmaking followed by an MA Illustration at Central St Martins (now University of the Arts, London). He sees all his work as a continuation of the art work he had been developing since he was about 14. His practice includes story telling in schools and festivals, often with his own poetry or as a performance, or both, and self-published books. After his MA - which saw him fascinated with 'incompleteness' in art, including ruins and derelict buildings - he then entered the world of commercial book publishing. However, he felt much like a small cog in a big wheel, part of a big machine, so he now concentrates on his one person book operation, as Ed Boxall.
Ed then treated us to a magical performance piece where he projected his beautiful images alongside eloquently communicating his poem, accompanied by a piece of music he had written.
After the performance, he explained that the hand-made and 'dream-like' quality is his aim, and that he uses monoprint, collage, pen and ink drawings and photocopies on to acetate to achieve this. The artwork is also published as a book. When he exhibited at the Quay Arts Centre on the Isle of Wight recently, they referred to him as a 'Multi-disciplinary Artist' and he rather likes how that description encapsulates his work.
We then moved on into the Phoenix Gallery to see Kim L Pace's exhibition of works on paper, inlcuding sequential drawings and watercolours, and two vitrines holding 3D physical characters. The 3D works are part of a larger collection of sculptures and had also featured in an animated film.
During her Talk, she explained that she usually works in Installation, and this collection was rather different, being (almost) solely paper-based work. The images combined the uncanny with humour and the mythical with references from contemporary culture: some have directly influenced her animations and 3D works, whilst others are independent works that are reminiscent of film stills or comic-book panels.
Kim talked about her interest in puppets and especially puppet theatre as a genre - indeed, the costumed and masked characters that filled the walls of the gallery had a distinct theatricality about them. Kim mentioned how puppets, often associated with children, can and have been used to make salient points in adult contexts, especially, for example, in repressive political regimes where they had been used to deliver powerful and subversive critiques about power.
She also spoke about ideas of anthropomorphism - for example, how monkeys had been used in art as far back as Medieval times, as a metaphor for humans. Her series 'Monkey Parade' - an exploration of gender masquerade - featured beautifully drawn hybrids combining monkey/tarsiers and women, and reminiscent of Hollywood starlets, in 1950's saccharine colours.
After returning from the Gallery to see Ed and Kim's books, we could see how they are both captivated by the process of drawing, and whilst Ed is interested in story-telling, Kim is interested in evoking narrative without telling specific stories.
A really inspiring session!
The Book Arts Collective is now on its Summer Break, so look forward to seeing everyone again on 3 October 2015, back at the Phoenix Gallery in Brighton. Have a good summer.
Firstly, Ed Boxall related how he had followed a Degree in Printmaking followed by an MA Illustration at Central St Martins (now University of the Arts, London). He sees all his work as a continuation of the art work he had been developing since he was about 14. His practice includes story telling in schools and festivals, often with his own poetry or as a performance, or both, and self-published books. After his MA - which saw him fascinated with 'incompleteness' in art, including ruins and derelict buildings - he then entered the world of commercial book publishing. However, he felt much like a small cog in a big wheel, part of a big machine, so he now concentrates on his one person book operation, as Ed Boxall.
 |
| A selection of Ed's books |
After the performance, he explained that the hand-made and 'dream-like' quality is his aim, and that he uses monoprint, collage, pen and ink drawings and photocopies on to acetate to achieve this. The artwork is also published as a book. When he exhibited at the Quay Arts Centre on the Isle of Wight recently, they referred to him as a 'Multi-disciplinary Artist' and he rather likes how that description encapsulates his work.
 |
| The acetate drawings used in the projection performance by Ed |
 |
| Ed's previous publications and a page spread from his sketchbook |
We then moved on into the Phoenix Gallery to see Kim L Pace's exhibition of works on paper, inlcuding sequential drawings and watercolours, and two vitrines holding 3D physical characters. The 3D works are part of a larger collection of sculptures and had also featured in an animated film.
 |
| Kim's work: detail of 'Marzipan Band - No.2 of 5', Ceramic. |
Kim talked about her interest in puppets and especially puppet theatre as a genre - indeed, the costumed and masked characters that filled the walls of the gallery had a distinct theatricality about them. Kim mentioned how puppets, often associated with children, can and have been used to make salient points in adult contexts, especially, for example, in repressive political regimes where they had been used to deliver powerful and subversive critiques about power.
 |
| Gallery talk - Kim L Pace's 'Works on Paper' |
 |
| Works on Paper - exhibition view |
A really inspiring session!
The Book Arts Collective is now on its Summer Break, so look forward to seeing everyone again on 3 October 2015, back at the Phoenix Gallery in Brighton. Have a good summer.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
EXCITING news
We will be meeting the usual place and usual time, Phoenix Gallery from 10.30 to 12.30, for what is sure to be a very splendid couple of hours. We will meet in the Green Room to hear all about Ed, and then move into the Gallery exhibition space for the Illustrated Talk by Kim. Both are experienced artists with a wealth of wonderful words to tell us all about their art practices.
Everyone is welcome and it will be a pleasure to see you all, whether you are experienced artists yourselves or are just curious and would like to know more. Just come along at 10.30 am and say hello.
 |
| Ed Boxall: Summer Wind, Island's Edge |
 |
| Kim L Pace: Strange Encounters (No.4) |
A MUST GO-TO MEETING! Ed Boxall & Kim L Pace on 13 June at 10.30 am
Ed Boxall
Ed Boxall is an artist, writer and printmaker.
In Ed’s work, warm, earthy images of family life mix with
magic and myth.
Many of his handmade prints capture moments from life:
children’s encounters with animals, walking on the beach, eating porridge and
peas. Other images have a more ambiguous poetry: people light fires in sea
shells and drift on empty seas.
His ‘Pearbox Books’ explore this world including ‘The
Rooftop Garden’, and his popular ‘Storm Tree Stories’.
“The Books have... an almost spiritual sense of connection
between people and places and the natural world” (Katriona Chapman)
Ed performs his stories with his own ‘magic lantern’ style
projections and giant pop-up paper cut out silhouettes, illuminated with fairy
lights.
“Beautifully, wonderfully, inspiringly tingle-making”
(feedback from a story telling session)
Ed graduated from St Martin’s College in 1999. He had
several books published by Walker books before independently establishing his
practice.
Kim L Pace
Following Ed, we will be visiting the Gallery where Kim L Pace has an exhibition event entitled 'Works on Paper' organised by Phoenix and Sussex Book Arts Collective. Kim will talk about her work in the gallery.
Initially known for her drawings, she currently also makes artists books, installations, and animated film.
Initially known for her drawings, she currently also makes artists books, installations, and animated film.
British Artist Kim L Pace conjures up beguiling figures that exist in their own unique worlds of curious carnivalesque rituals and relationships.
www.kimpace.co.uk
This session in the gallery is open to all, free of charge, and no booking is required. www.phoenixbrighton.org/exhibitions/
Her work has been commissioned and exhibited
internationally, including solo & group shows in the UK, USA, Ireland,
Australia, Japan, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy & Norway.
Kim's recent exhibitions/projects (2014-15) include:
Eastside Projects, Birmingham; The Hospital Club,
London; Royal Academy of Art, London; Arcadia_Missa, London;
Millennium Films, NYC; Enclave Gallery, London; Castlefield Gallery,
Manchester.
Her curatorial work includes international shows and
national touring exhibitions, with projects for Tate Britain
and the Hayward Gallery.
www.kimpace.co.uk
This session in the gallery is open to all, free of charge, and no booking is required. www.phoenixbrighton.org/exhibitions/
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Meeting, April 2015 - JoWonder (images coming soon!)
On a bright, cold morning we gathered for the April Book Arts
Collective meeting. Attendees include writers, artists and novices. Today’s guest speaker is JoWonder,
an animator, film maker and book artist.
Jo Wonder (Jo Woodward)
Jo began by playing her award winning stop frame animation The Brooch Pin and
the Sinful Clasp.
She then went on to discuss her triptychs; traditionally
portable altarpiece depticting religious scences, Jo’s large canvas triptych
resemble Mexican miracle paintings. Jo discussed the narrative content of her
triptych – they are picture stories that are transformative and Jo has used
feminist re- imaginings of fairy tales as the basis of her work.
Jo discussed a commission by the Wellcome collection to create
pictures using bacteria. This microbial art included a pre-raphelite rendition
of Ophelia that degraded over time, you can view further information on this on
youtube, the project is entitled 6 days Goodbye poems of Ophelia.
Jo shared examples of her book art including work inspired by
Bodhisattva and a new book Soup Bowl Stories.
Jo’s shared her advice/tips for completing Arts Council applications, including whether you may wish to employ an expert to help put the application together and examples from her own application.
British Women artists http://www.britishwomenartists.com/
This is a repository of women artists who are, comparatively, less represented in galleries and exhibitions. Artists submit their work and a few sentences about their work, there are astoundingly and wonderful array of fine art on the website, including short films. BWA welcomes book artists!
Jo’s shared her advice/tips for completing Arts Council applications, including whether you may wish to employ an expert to help put the application together and examples from her own application.
British Women artists http://www.britishwomenartists.com/
This is a repository of women artists who are, comparatively, less represented in galleries and exhibitions. Artists submit their work and a few sentences about their work, there are astoundingly and wonderful array of fine art on the website, including short films. BWA welcomes book artists!
One of our members, Jaquinta, londonbookworks.blogspot.co.uk,
also brought along a piece of work to show, which was housed in a small box and
contained sea-side sayings on lollipop sticks! Book Art, from an unusual angle, probably making it a
book-art-object …...
The June meeting sees us very lucky
indeed, when we welcome 2 talented guests, Ed Boxall, and Kim Pace. This is the last meeting before our
Summer Break, so make sure you book the
date and come along. Watch
for more detailed information to come.
Please let us know if you, or someone
you know, or know of, can come and join us later in the year as a guest, as
there are some spots available.
Suggestions please! Either
email Dorry, or if you belong through the Meetup Groups, send a message through
there.
Would you like your work included on the Sussex book arts
website?
If you would like your work uploaded then please contact Dorry direct.
Include the images and 1-2 sentences.
Include the images and 1-2 sentences.
Upcoming events
Takeover 2015, 9 May 2015, 47/49 Tanner Street, London
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