Newest Exhibition in the MCBA/Jerome Foundation Book Arts Fellowships Series Opens Nov. 3
The Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) is pleased to announce its upcoming exhibition, MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Fellowships Series XIV. On view from November 3, 2018 - January 27, 2019 in MCBA’s Main Gallery, this exhibition features exciting new work from this year’s MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Fellowship recipients: printmaker and book artist Cathy Ryan; artist Ioana Stoian; paper maker and social practice artist Peng Wu; and installation artist Jammo Xu. The opening reception for MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Fellowships Series XIV will take place on Friday, November 9 from 6-8pm. Both the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.
With generous funding from the Jerome Foundation and technical guidance from MCBA, the Fellowship recipients developed their independent projects throughout the previous year. Since 1985 the Jerome Foundation has helped emerging artists push the boundaries of contemporary book arts by supporting the creation of new book works. Under the previous thirteen series of fellowships and six series of mentorships, Minnesota artists of diverse disciplines—including printers, papermakers, binders, painters, sculptors, poets, photographers, choreographers, filmmakers and others—have created projects ranging from exquisitely crafted fine press volumes to documented performances to one-of-a-kind installations that “break the bindings” and redefine conventional notions of book form and content.
Cathy Ryan is a book artist and printmaker based in Minneapolis, MN. For the Fellowship, she produced Connections, a mixed media printed book installed as an abstract landscape, drawing on themes of nature, perspective, and connection. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art from San Francisco State University, and a post baccalaureate certificate in Print, Paper, Book from Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Her work is included in the 2012 Quarry publication 1000 Artist Books, and, in 2014, she was an artist-in-residence at the Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Red Wing, MN. She is a past recipient of the MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Fellowship in 2011-2012.
Ioana Stoian is a self-taught, British-born artist with a passion for paper. For her Fellowship project, she has created The A-Z of Motherhood, an edition of hand bound books containing 28 pages of custom-dyed handmade paper, juxtaposing specific words and colors to create an energetic harmony. Since 2006 Ioana has been experimenting with two of her main interests—paper folding and papermaking. Her works focus on the harmony between color, structure, and form. Ioana is the author of Origami for All and The Origami Garden, and she participated in the MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Mentorship program in 2014-2015.
Peng Wu and Jammo Xu’s installation, "Arriving Ashore", advocates for global awareness of the refugee crisis. The artists have been in close collaboration with UNITED for Intercultural Action—a European network against nationalism, racism, fascism and in support of migrants and refugees, which has worked in the past 15 years to document the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe. The artists use handmade paper and other sculptural materials to create an installation to commemorate the refugees who lost their lives in the forceful migration. Peng Wu is a sculptor and papermaker working in social practice and public art. Originally from China, he has been based in Minneapolis since 2011. Peng is a collaborating artist with the One World Many Papers project and has had two Northern Spark projects. He received his MFA in visual studies from Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He also has an MFA in product design and a bachelor’s degree in atmospheric physics. Minneapolis-based Jammo Xu is a visual storyteller who works with installation and public art. Also a native of China, Jammo received her MFA in visual studies from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. She also has a bachelor’s degree in animation.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts celebrates the book as a vibrant contemporary art form that takes many shapes. From the traditional crafts of papermaking, letterpress printing and hand bookbinding to experimental artmaking and self-publishing techniques, MCBA supports the limitless creative evolution of book arts through book arts workshops and programming for adults, youth, families, K-12 students and teachers. MCBA is located in the Open Book building in downtown Minneapolis, alongside partner organizations The Loft Literary Center and Milkweed Editions. To learn more, visit www.mnbookarts.org.
