MCBA Book Art Biennial Amplifies Individual and Collective Voice
MINNEAPOLIS - (June 26, 2017) - Join Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) for their 5th Book Art Biennial July 15-23, 2017 including workshops, lectures, and 7 exhibitions feature programming that encourages people of all disciplines and skill levels to amplify individual and collective voice through grassroots artistic practice. Enjoy two-day Pre-Biennial Workshops hosted by visiting national and international artists, from July 15-21, including: Alternative Printmaking with Rubber Stamps with Stephen Fowler (UK); Papermaking in the Islamic World with Radha Pandey (Ohio); Innovative Books from Head to Tail: Ideas-Content-Making with Angie Butler (UK); and Approachable Metalworking for Book Artists with Shanna Leino (Michigan).
This year’s MCBA Biennial Symposium, July 22-23, explores the broad definition of “book” in contemporary artistic practice, stimulating critical thinking and dialogue. Speakers include: Amos Paul Kennedy Jr., Detroit-based printer, Keynote Address; Simon Goode, Founder and Director of the London Centre for Book Arts Making Books; Karen Kunc, Artist, Educator, and Founder of Constellation Studios, The Constellation Metaphor; Steven Daiber, Proprietor of Red Trillium Press, Book Arts in Havana; Angie Butler, Artist and Scholar, University of the West of England, We Are What We Do; and Mary Hark, Professor in Design Studies at the University of Wisconsin Madison, Report from the Field: Papermaking as Community Catalyst. Medium to Message: Art As Culture-making/Public-making is presented by Sam Gould, Lacey Prpic Hedtke, and Regula Russelle; and finally an informal round table discussion where participants share practical techniques for teaching the book arts with special emphasis on social engagement, accessibility, and grassroots practice.
Seven stimulating exhibitions provide an engaging ambience for the 2017 MCBA Book Art Biennial, including: Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.’s Open Book Takeover, featuring 5,000 community-made prints; Heid Erdrich, guest curator, gathers Native American voices in (About that) Water is Life; Mary Bruno, Bruno Press, has enlisted the help of forty print makers from around the world to present End of Times 2: The Time is Now; Alyssa Baguss, environmental artist, presents Meander; Twin Cities Zine Fest hosts an interactive zine reading lounge Free for All, Stamp of Disapproval showcases counter-culture from MCBA’s Helmes and W. Gaglione Rubber Stamp Archive, and finally, Reader’s Art: Control/Alt/Shift, a juried exhibition of artists books exploring the politics of control and alternative methods of public discourse.
The Biennial culminates with the 2017 MCBA Prize Gala. Toast the best new artist books in the world on Saturday evening, July 22, 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm. Enjoy refreshments by Common Roots and live music by The King Baron Hot Club while mingling with artists, collectors, and special guests. The 2017 MCBA Prize competition includes work from over 100 entries representing 12 nations. Over $9,000 will be awarded. The finalists for the 2017 MCBA Prize include: Hannah Batsel (Chicago, IL) Maneater; Tim Hopkins (London, England) - The Book of Disquiet; Ellen Knudson (Gainesville, FL) Ingress/Egress; Nader Koochaki (Astigarreta, Spain) - Soineko Paisaia/Dorsal Landscape; and Ines von Ketelhodt (Flörsheim am Main, Germany) - Alpha Beta. The winner will be announced Saturday evening, July 22 at the 2017 MCBA Prize Gala.
The MCBA Prize is the first honor to celebrate the diversity of book art and recognize work from across the field and around the world. This year, the jury consisted of three distinguished leaders in the field of book arts. They were: Steven Daiber, book artist and proprietor of Red Trillium Press; Simon Goode, founder and executive director of London Center for Book Arts; and Karen Kunc, book artist and proprietor of Constellation Studios. The works of the five finalists and three special merit will be on view at Minnesota Center for Book Arts from July 20-23rd during the 2017 Book Art Biennial.
For more information about this event, contact Amanda Kaler, Development Director of Minnesota Center For Book Arts. To order tickets or be a sponsor, please visit BookArtBiennial.org. Additional information can be found at facebook.com/mnbookarts, twitter.com/mnbookarts, and instagram.com/mnbookarts.
The Minnesota Center for Book Arts #bookartbiennial
WHEN: July 15-23, 2017. Visit BookArtBiennial.org for specific dates/times for Workshops, Symposium, 7 Exhibits, and Gala.
WHERE: Minnesota Center for Book Arts, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Suite 100, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415
