Working Visit 3: 29 February – 21 March

 

Turn The Page Artist's Book Fair Norwich 2016

Turn The Page Artist’s Book Fair Norwich 2016

 

I’ve been staying for a third working visit at my studio. The visit was special in a number of aspects:

It was lasting for the whole of three weeks.
I was to be printing the sonnet assigned to me for the #154sonnets effort of the Bodleian Library in Oxford (there will be a separate blog post covering this), and, last but not least:
I was to be staying on the 11th March. On this very day ten years ago we had to say farewell to our dog Tita. She was almost 14 years old by then. She was the master of the studio, printer’s dog and guardian of type while on transport in the van. What I was not aware of back then but have learned since: she scared the mice away.

 

Tita 1992 - 11 March 2006

Tita 1992 – 11 March 2006

Footprints of house mouse 2013

Footprints of house mouse 2013

I’ve had furry visitors ever since the summer of 2013. As far as I can say today it was three different species. The first to come, and fairly hard to catch, were house mice. They seemed to be all over the place, running over sheets hot off the press and leaving their footprints on the margins. There were three at the same time. It took me weeks to catch them and give them one by one a lift to a nice place far away from the studio’s doors.

House Mouse 2013

House Mouse 2013

 

In January 2014 a yellow-necked wood mouse somehow managed to come in. It was comparatively easy to catch. They don’t normally fancy living indoors.

Yellow-necked Wood Mouse 2014

Yellow-necked Wood Mouse 2014

 

Later that year shrews tried out the place. I got rid of them by the same procedure as before: catching them alive and giving them a lift to somewhere far enough away to prevent them from coming back in again.

Shrew 2014

Shrew 2014

 

I had traces of somebody living in one of the drawers when I was in the studio last December. I cleared all of it away. But when I came for this recent working visit, the traces had reappeard in the very same drawer. I put up the traps, but there was no catch over the whole long period I was staying. It appears there was nobody home anymore.

 

Nottuln February 2016

Nottuln February 2016

2016-02-15-nottuln-bird

Shortly before I left Nottuln a cold spell was rushing in and we had some snow. It gave the town a very special flair. The blackbirds on our balcony were not all too impressed. The day of my 500 kilometer journey to my studio was dry. But the next morning I woke up to a surrounding covered in white again. The view from my studio’s windows was stunning. All the machines of the ongoing building works were covered in snow as if halted by the weather.

Waeschenbeuren 6 March 2016

Waeschenbeuren 6 March 2016

There were three major tasks on my agenda: first and foremost I wanted to print Shakespeare’s sonnet 89 (stay tuned, there’ll be an extra post). Additionally I wanted to print a keepsake for the upcoming artist’s book fair in Norwich: Turn The Page on 24 + 25 June. It is the fair’s first jubilee: the fifth time the fair will be open in The Forum, right in the centre of Norwich. On this blog you can find a post on 2013’s ttpABF in the Fairs and Markets category.

 

Metal type for keepsake

Metal type for keepsake

 

Plus: I had to do more packing. There is still no new place found and no date for moving the studio can be set. But every time I am staying for a working visit, I need to get some sorting and packing done. By now boxes are piled up in many a corner. While sorting some long forgotten treasures emerge: this tin box, for example. It is a set for rubber stamping we were once given by our bookseller, who had used it for a long time herself.

phoenix-type

 

In the studio

In the studio

As I write this the sun prepares for setting, it is 6pm and the change to what is called summertime will be in a few days time. On our balcony the daffodils are at their best. During my absence the jackdaws have figured out how to get at the feedballs that are supposed to feed blue tits. They are clever black birds, they are.

 

See you there!

See you there!

As a reminder: Save the date! Come to Norwich on 24 + 25 June for the 5th Turn The Page Artist’s Book Fair. Get your copy of my keepsake there and see books, but not as you know them!

Relocation: February 2016

 

HH-2016-messe02

11. Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse, Hamburg-Barmbek, 2016

During my first attempt to pack up our stuff way back in April 2015 I had thought I could quite as well store away our winter clothes. By the time we’d need them, the container would be unpacked and we’d be reunited with all our belongings. Then I had second thoughts about this. I decided it would do no damage to have the woolen handknitted jumpers, the scarves, the thick jackets at hand. Expect the unexpected. A sudden arctic spell. You never knew.

bleikloetzle's krisenseiten at Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse, Hamburg-Barmbek 2016

bleikloetzle’s krisenseiten at Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse, Hamburg-Barmbek 2016

Now, almost 10 months later, the big container is still in storage with the movers. Everything neatly tucked away inside of it. Every now and then I feel I’d like to look up this or read that before realising that I can’t. The book I’d need is in storage. Being a bookish girl the books are the things I miss the most. Next to the books I miss our red sofa. It was lovely to snuggle into its corner with a book. Next to the books and the sofa I miss my studio, my presses, my type – which of course have not fitted into the storage container, but have had to stay put in the old place. And I miss at times the odd pot I liked to cook a stew in. But, honestly, you can improvise on that. Since I moved in with my husband here in this small flat we’ve had baked beans and apple pies and flapjacks and all sorts of things all homemade. But, without the big casserole there is no way we could have cock-a-leekie. And the casserole sits deep in the storage container.

Anna Käse at Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse, 2016

Anna Käse at Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse, 2016

 

Simone Jänke at Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse, 2016

Simone Jänke at Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse, 2016

Winter has been comparatively mild so far. We did have some dusting of snow. We did have icy roads with rain freezing onto the surface in a blink. There have been good reasons for wearing the handknitted woollen jumpers, though. My journey to the artist’s book fair in Hamburg was good and safe. No delays. The fair was lovely as it always is. But there have been sad moments, of course. Only weeks prior to the fair Heinz Stefan Bartkowiak had died.

Heinz Stefan and Wibke Bartkowiak at Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse, Hamburg 2013

Heinz Stefan and Wibke Bartkowiak at Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse, Hamburg 2013

He and his wife Wibke had been ever so dedicated to the world and folks of book arts for decades. They had been publishing „Bartkowiak’s Forum Bookart“ for a long time. It was a year book with essays, portraits of artists and studios and a catalgue listing new and backlist books in the world of book arts and fine press printing. The pair gathered a group of like minded friends and volunteers, all of them joining into the association „BuchDruckKunst e.V.“. Thus forming a strong basis for activities, one of them the „Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse“ at the Museum der Arbeit in Hamburg-Barmbek.

Widukind-Presse at Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse 2016

Widukind-Presse at Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse 2016

At first the fair in Hamburg used to be every other year. Since 2013 the fair is held every year. There are two in-depth essays on the fair and the venue here on this blog dating from 2013. This year’s fair, once more, was very nice. So we are all looking forward to the fair in 2017.

Wibke Bartkowiak and Tita da Rego Silva

Wibke Bartkowiak and Tita do Rego Silva, Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse 2016

Meanwhile, back in the town of Nottuln, I learned that somebody had pulled down the wall my display case was in. This came quite as a surprise as I had rented out the display case for a whole year (lasting until into August 2016) and nobody had pointed out to me it would have to be removed. So all my posters and stuff was still in there one day, and the next day everything was gone. It took me a couple of days to find out who was involved in this. And it took some negotiations. I got a refund by now, but unfortunately the display case is gone for good.

At my table at Turn The Page artist's book fair in Norwich, 2014

At my table at Turn The Page artist’s book fair in Norwich, 2014

Those past few days a number of notifications trickled in. One of them was to let me know that I was chosen to exhibit at this year’s Turn The Page artist’s book fair in Norwich. This event will be on 24 + 25 June in the Forum right in the city centre. So it is ferry time again in June.

Norwich, The Forum in the city centre

The Forum in the city centre of Norwich

 

Bodleian Library, Oxford

Bodleian Library, Oxford

Another one was to let me know that I am part of #154sonnets. This is an effort of the Centre for the Study of the Book at the Bodleian Library in Oxford. In the 400th year of William Shakespear’s death all 154 of his sonnets are to be printed anew by artists worldwide. I am registered to one of the sonnets, mine is No.89. The deadline is on 30 September, which means, there’ll have to be one more working visit to my far away studio sometime in the spring or summer.

stratford-shakespeare

As I write this it is pitch black outside with the street lamps glowing. It is neither a full nor a new moon. We are still having strong winds and rain at times. On our miniature balcony I had been keeping four decorative cabbages, two of which have succumbed to the wet and mild winter weather. I replaced them. It is daffodils now. It is spring we are moving towards.

And: You can now follow me on twitter: @Annette_Disslin

 

 

The Relocation Process: Eight Months On

 

5th Weimar Book Arts, November 2015

5th Weimar Book Arts, November 2015

 

As the year 2015 draws to a close I can say it was a rumble strip for me. By the end of 2015 it is eight months since we have left the southwest and so far we still have not found a new home for the studio and ourselves. Our everyday life has ever since kept its makeshift character. This is charming at times. And when I write „at times“ I mean it.

 

5th Weimar Book Art, November 2015

5th Weimar Book Art, November 2015

November was pretty busy. There was the Fine Press Book Fair in Oxford, the trip to the Teutoburger Forest and finally I was heading even further east to show my books and prints alongside some 45 colleagues at 5th Weimar Book Arts. With it being the end of November Weimar was fairly festive with a good number of Christmas market stalls spread out in the old town. When I walked the cobbled streets and lanes on my first night in town, there were people everywhere and lights and colourful stars blinking from behind many a corner. And in the many restaurants the windows were light, the rooms full with diners and buzzing with life.

Weimar Christmas Market

Weimar Christmas Market

 

5th Weimar Book Art, Noveber 2015

5th Weimar Book Art, Noveber 2015

 

5th Weimar Book Arts, November 2015

5th Weimar Book Arts, November 2015

The book arts fair was in Neue Weimarhalle in the congress centre right in the middle of town. A lovely venue with large windows overlooking a nice park. The exhibition was opened with Mr Seeman, chairman of the trust Classic Weimar , addressing the audience with what was perceived as an inspiring speech and a praise of book art. The tables of the 45 exhibiting artists were spread out on two floors, ground floor and basement, and the architecture of the building was a very good match for the books and prints on show. In the entrance area, welcoming all visitors, Johannes Follmer was showing his craft of hand papermaking. While not attending fairs he practices his craftsmanship at  Paper Mill Homburg.

 

Johannes Follmer, hand papermaker

Johannes Follmer, hand papermaker

 

Goethe + Schiller in Weimar

Goethe + Schiller in Weimar

Quite some famous people used to be living in Weimar over the centuries. It was not only Goethe and Schiller. Herder had been around as well and many more. And with all the old buildings and facades still around there seems to be an air of their presence and their spirit still lingering. The Duchess Anna Amalia library was housing an exhibition on Dante Alighieri, commemorating his birth 750 years ago.

Herder in Weimar

Herder in Weimar

Gudrun Illert, initiator and organizer of Weimar Book Arts, had arranged for a very special Sunday morning treat: Prior to the fair’s opening, our group of book artists was given the once-in-a-life time offer of a tour of this Dante exhibition lead by the curator of the show himself: Mr. Edoardo Costadura. He is an expert in this field and a Professor in Literature Studies at Friedrich-Schiller-Univerity in Jena. Now, this was an ever so wonderful way to set out for the second day of Weimar Book Arts, giving even more inspiration for future work.

Gudrun Illert, Atelier G

Gudrun Illert, Atelier G

There goes a huge „Thankyou“ to Gudrun and all her helpers, who went to any lengths to make this exhibition a real treat for both artists and visitors.

 

 

Part of the Market Fountain in Ebersbach

Part of the Market Fountain in Ebersbach

For the festive days we swapped one makeshift home for another: we went down south to meet up with family and friends there. Christmas Eve sent us into the little town of Ebersbach for a last bit of pre-Christmas-shopping at the baker’s and at the farmers‘ market. This is the town where I founded my studio in 1999. The place has changed since then and there is still a lot of building works going on. There was a bypass road built years ago and following this the town centre could develop into something less dominated by heavy traffic giving pedestrians more space.

 

Park in Goeppingen

Park in Goeppingen

We paid a short visit to the town of Goeppingen, where I spend my years at Gymnasium. The image shows a park not far from the school I attended. The town centre was still occupied by what is called their „Forest Christmas Market“. It is a special sort of event with many fir trees being put up first and all the stalls built in between the trees and it is meant to look like a market in the woods. This event is open into the days after Christmas so we walked past stalls where the salespeople desperately tried to make us realise that this was our last chance to buy whatever they offered (plush Mignons, for instance).

 

Heron in stream Echaz, Reutlingen

Heron in stream Echaz, Reutlingen

On 26 December we went to Reutlingen. The town is less than an hour’s drive by car away and we used to go there often to see exhibitions at Kunstmuseum Spendhaus. With HAP Grieshaber having lived in the vicinity this museum is dedicated to the art of woodcut. Right now they showcase works by H. N. Werkman. He was a printer, painter, businessman and artist based in the Dutch town of Groningen (amazingly Groningen is not all that far away from the place where we are living now). Mr Werkman was taken in custody and later shot by the Nazis in 1945 – just days before WW2 was over. His art work is amazing. For many years he was running a commercial printing office. Later, as an artist, he started to use type experimentally thus creating a new way to look at and work with typography. He, too, was involved in printing connected with the resistance against the Nazi occupants. The show and Werkman’s art work gives lively and disturbingly convincing evidence of the experiences that are being made with a Fascist regime coming into being and, while establishing itself,  repressing and humiliating whoever and whatever they find not properly accepting their way of thinking.

The exhibition will be on until 28 February – if you are anywhere near, I strongly recommend visiting it. The show will travel on to the National Museum Schwerin/Ludwigslust/Guestrow and can be visited there from 2 March to 4 June.

Museum Spendhaus, Reutlingen

Museum Spendhaus, Reutlingen

 

 

View fro the studio's window on 31 December 2015

View from the studio’s window on 31 December 2015

Last but not least we went to the studio. It was a bleak day with fog drifting around the base of the mountain Hohenstaufen. There was still bits and pieces I had to pack as I’d need them at hand for the upcoming fair in Hamburg. We bid our fairwell on January 1st, taking it nice and steady on our 500-km-route back north. And of course, once back, we made it into the Picasso Museum in Muenster showcasing the fascinating Giacometti sculptures. I had seen some of them many many years ago in Basel. In 1980 there was an iconic exhibition of sculputural art in the gorgeous park of Riehen Castle. Back then the Giacometti bronzes were shown alongside sculptures by Rodin, Moore, de SaintPhalle, Tinguelly and so many other great artists.

 

Book Arts Fair in Hamburg, 2013

Book Arts Fair in Hamburg, 2013

 

As I write this it is just after 8am and it is still fairly dark outside with dawn just starting to show. My four-wheeled member of staff is parked outside waiting to be loaded. On Friday this week the two of us will be hitting the road, headed for the book arts fair in Hamburg. Three years have passed since I was able to show my books there and I am ever so happy to be back. „Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse“ is organized by the association „BuchDruckKunst„.

Museum der Arbeit, Hamburg Barmek - venue of "Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse"

Museum der Arbeit, Hamburg Barmbek – venue of „Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse“

(There is a special blogpost on the 2013 „Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse“ in the „Fairs&Markets“ category on here – or check out the 2013 posts in the Archive section.)

Some Autumn Travelling

Fine Press Book Fair 2015, Oxford Brookes University

Fine Press Book Fair 2015, Oxford Brookes University

Earlier this year I had rented a showcase just kind of round the corner where we now live. When I had been for my second working visit to my studio earlier in October I had packed some of my prints and posters to put into that showcase. Before heading for the ferry that would take us to Harwich I quickly decorated the showcase as best I coud – looks like water might be leaking in somewhere from the back.

Showcase in Nottuln

Showcase in Nottuln

drive-left-DSF1005

We were headed for Oxford with the Fine Press Book Fair on 31 October and 1 November. Now, this was somewhat special for the fair was coinciding with both the Rugby World Cup Final and with Halloween. People really had to make their choice as for what to get dressed up for. The Saturday being Halloween was all spooky and foggy.

spooky-foggy-DSF1188

oxf-fair-2015-01

Early Saturday morning

When we were walking into town in the evening we came past hordes of skeletons, witches, vampires, beasts and girls that pretty certainly would be catching the cold of their life during the next couple of hours. However, Sunday was a bright, sunny and lovely autumnal day. With having a table myself at the fair I did not have all that much opportunity to explore everybody elses books and prints and tables. But I had the perfect place to follow things as they evolved.

oxf-fair-2015-02

Saturday morning – still setting up.

oxf-fair-2015-03

Saturday morning – setting up almost complete

There were a good handful of awards to be given to outstanding work and artists. One of them was the Toby English Award which was set up to commemorate Toby, the very unique and inspirational fair manager of many years, who passed away only weeks befor this year’s fair was to open. Here are some of the colleagues who were awarded for their works. (I somehow lost track during the event but shall try to update this blogpost asap regarding the other award winning colleagues.)

Paul Kershaw, wood engraver and running Grapho Editions, saw two awards. The first time we met him he was running Orbost Gallery on the isle of Skye. That was back in 2007. Some years later he moved to Yorkshire. We met again at the FPBA Stockholm Library Tour in 2011.

Carolyn Trant, running Parvenu Press, had published „The Alchymical Garden“ by Sir Thomas Browne earlier this year. It was out at Turn The Page Artist’s Book Fair 2015 in Norwich. She also is among the colleagues who have contributed to the al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here projects.

Carolyn Trant, Parvenu Press, at Turn The Page Artist's Book Fair 2013 in Norwich

Carolyn Trant, Parvenu Press, at Turn The Page Artist’s Book Fair 2013 in Norwich

Jamie Murphy took an award home to Ireland where he is running Salvage Press. We met Jamie earlier this year at Whittington Day and when he was speaking at the Oxford Guild of Printers meeting in September.

oxf-fair-2015-04

The fair is open and buzzing with visitors.

We did have some time to spend in Oxford itself and of course we went to the Queens Lane Coffee House and to the Covered Market. We even could fit in a nice and quiet day in Burford. We spent the Monday following the fair in Banbury. The little town is right on the banks of the Oxford Canal, and we watched the odd narrowboat using the locks.

Narrowboats in Banbury

Narrowboats in Banbury

 

Historic Harwich

Historic Harwich

On our way back we decided to leave early. We had one stopover in Braintree for tea and cake, and went straight on into historic Harwich. We walked around Dovercourt and Harwich with a rather cool wind making us feel quite chilly (and me opting for putting on my woollen jumper). Having had one last fish ’n chips for this year we parked ourselves in the queue for boarding. The crossing was smooth and got us into Hoek von Holland by early morning. There was not a lot of time at home. On Friday we were off once more. We were to be spending our first weekend in famous Teutoburger Wald.

Externsteine, Teutoburger Wald

Externsteine, Teutoburger Wald

We went to see what is called Externsteine. It is a massive and impressive formation of sandstone. A nice little museum is nearby and they show a lovely computer simulation video about the specific process of weathering in these sandstone rocks. Over the centuries the rocks have been put to the most different sorts of use. They had been shelter and hermitage, a place of hunting for the gentry, and later a resort of amusement with a tramway running through a narrow gap.

teutob-wald-DSF1600

We went for the odd little walk around where we were staying. It is all slopes and hills and up and down and cattle in the fields and bracken bordering the forests and glowing golden in the atumn morning’s sun. And it is nice and quiet and time seems to be here to stay.

teutob-wald-DSF1659

sheep-DSF1651

We had taken a box stuffed with books with us. And with the sheep on watch just outside our front door, and the fire crackling in the kitchen stove we just stayed put reading – and loved it. (I can recommend: The House at the Edge of the World by Julia Rochester – which we bought at the Madhatter Bookshop in Burford earlier this year. We can recommend the shop as well, they sell lovely hats: my husband bought one and it suits him ever so nicely. So, if you are in Burford in Oxfordshire, you can’t miss them, they are right on the main road.)

Madhatter Bookshop, Burford

Madhatter Bookshop, Burford

While I write this rain is hammering against the windows. We are having a severe downpour and gusty winds. It has gone almost dark by 5pm. The weekend is said to bring snow. My next travelling might turn out to be wintery already:

5. Buchkunst Weimar, 28 + 29 November 2015, Congress Centrum Neue Weimarhalle

5. Buchkunst Weimar, 28 + 29 November 2015, Congress Centrum Neue Weimarhalle

Short Notice

 

Harwich (UK)

Harwich (UK)

It is ferry time again: we are headed for the Cotswolds once more.

burford-cotdwolds-arms-september

It is Whittington Summer Show on September 5th. If you’re anywhere near Cheltenham come and enjoy a lovely afternoon with the Whittington Press having their open day with three of the presses working and a wealth of nice books and prints on show. I’ll have a table there, too.

whittington-day-2014-DSE_5023

whittingtonDay2015-DSC02232

whittington-day-2014-DSE_5014

Whittington Day at Whittington Court

Burford - Cotswolds

Burford – Cotswolds

 

Fairs I’ve been part of so far

 

Turn The Page 2013, Norwich (UK)

Turn The Page 2013, Norwich (UK)

For the time being I am stuck in the middle of the process of relocating. As a first step I have moved away from my studio to live in Westfalia, and find myself now separated from my workplace for an indefinite period of time. This seems to be the perfect moment to look back and recall how things have evolved. This particular post is all about the fairs I have been part of so far. It is not about all the fairs I’ve been to, as you can  imagine, but about many of them. You might find it somewhat odd that from 2012 onwards I have not attended as much fairs as before. This is nothing to do with the respective fairs. This is for the simple reason of a lack of time due to the relocating process waving its flag from afar at me for quite a while already.

 

Turn The Page in Norwich (UK)

Turn The Page 2013, Norwich (UK)

Turn The Page 2013, Norwich (UK)

In 2014 and 2013 I had been admitted to exhibit at Turn The Page artists‘ book fair in Norwich. The fair is held in the glass roofed entrance hall of The Forum each year in early May. The impressive building also houses the public library, the Tourist Information, a café, and on the upper floor an Italian restaurant, plus the rooms of the BBC. It is a vibrant meeting point right in the city’s centre. Just across the street is the Market with its colourful stalls offering almost everything from baked potatoes to second hand clothing. To the left and across the street there is the old Guild Hall. It is a fascinating piece of flush work craftsmanship and houses a Caley’s Cocoa Café. It is the country’s largest civic medieval building outside London. The Forum, on the contrary, has been built on the turn from the 20th to the 21st century, on the site where the old library had burnt down in 1994. The entrance hall is a wonderful venue for this book fair. Each year a jury admitts some 35 artists to showcase their work. Exhibitors might come from as far as the US. There is a blogpost here to be found in the „Fairs and Markets“ category telling what the 2013 fair was like.

 

Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse in Hamburg

Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse 2013, Hamburg

Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse 2013, Hamburg

So far I have been part of the artist’s book fair in Hamburg three times, in 2009, 2011 and 2013. The fair used to be biennial but in 2013 changed into an annual event. Exhibitors are admitted by lot – so participating is a question of good luck. But with the fair now being every year many more book artists will be able to consider themselves lucky over the years. The „Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse“ is housed in what is called the „Museum der Arbeit“. The impressive old red brick building was turned into a museum several years ago. It houses a rich collection of printing presses, metal type and equipment for type casting.  All of which is shown working by passionate and thouroughly trained volunteers to the visitors during fair times.  For this fair, too, you’ll find a separate blogpost from 2013 in the „Fairs and Markets“ category.

 

Leipzig Book Fair

Leipzig Book Fair 2008

Leipzig Book Fair 2008

Leipzig has a long bookish tradition. For centuries it was home to book fairs. And nowadays with each book fair there is a more than rich programme of readings and performances in all sorts of venues throughout the city and its outskirts.  In 2008 I went there as a first time exhibitor. I presented my then new book: „Das Nusszweiglein“, a fairy tale by Ludwig Bechstein. Another new artwork I put on show there was the scriptural series „Soil Letters“. This series was inspired by Chinese calligraphy. I had taken up lessons with a Chinese teacher some time before and working with the brush in this specific way just mesmerised me. I had printed a broad side using Matthias Claudius‘ poem „Song of War“. After completing the print I went over it with the brush and dye prepared from soil pigments, to give it the shades of earth and blood that go with the text. Alongside grew the idea of having the series of „Soil Letters“.

I went to Leipzig Bookfair for a second time in 2014, presenting my new book „52 Weeks“. It is a collaboration with Australian artist Marianne Midelburg and my first artist’s book using photos. For both, the book „52 Weeks“ and Leipzig Book Fair you can find specific posts on this blog in the „Photobooks“ and the „Fairs and Markets“ category respectively, and you’ll also find a 2014 post on „Marktplatz Druckgrafik“ the young venue for printmaking artists within Leipzig Book Fair.

 

Mainzer Minipressenmesse (International Fair for Small Presses and Publishers, Mainz)

Minipressenmesse 2011, Mainz

Minipressenmesse 2011, Mainz

The first artist’s book I ever made was „Little Niak“ (Der Kleine Niak). It was out in 2001, just in time to be presented at Mainzer Minipressenmesse. This international fair for small presses in Gutenberg’s hometown Mainz is a very special event. It has a long tradition. It is held every other year (the odd numbers) and until 2011 the venue was housed in two large tents right next to the banks of river Rhine. In 2013 the organizers gave the schedule a slight brush-over. The event is now a few weeks later, in June, plus it moved from the tents into Rheingold Hall, which is only a few yards further into town. The tents are being sadly missed by some exhibitors for their make-shift character, which certainly was special. However, there have been years when there was a serious risk of flooding from the nearby river. And there have been severe thunderstorms which have not been very pleasant to sit out in just a tent, even a big one. So with the fair being indoors now both, exhibitors and visitors can get their heads down on the books and prints and publications without keeping one eye glued to the floor in case water comes rushing in.
I have been showcasing my work here on quite a regular basis until 2011.

 

Druck & Buch, Erlangen (Print & Book, Erlangen)

Druck & Buch 2009, Erlangen

erlangen-poetenfest

Every year in late August Erlangen invites people who love reading to come to their traditional „Poets‘ Festival“ (Poetenfest).  The event comes with a rich programme of readings and performances. It is considered to give the opportunity for something like a „sneak pre-listen“ to some of the new and upcoming titles in autumn. One of the venues for the readings is the huge castle right in the city centre. The photo above shows the castle’s front facing the park which, too, is a venue for readings, with people sitting under the large trrees outdoors. During the final weekend of the Poets‘ Festival the entrance hall of the castle houses a fair for artist’s books called „Print & Book“ (Druck & Buch). As it is not a big space only some 24 exhibitors will be able to show their works. I have been part of this event from 2009 to 2012.

 

Künstlerbuchmesse Klaffenbach (Artists‘ Book Fair in Klaffenbach)

Artist's Book Fair at Castle Klaffenbach 2010, Chemnitz

Künstlerbuchmesse auf Schloß Klaffenbach 2010, Chemnitz

Just outside the city of Chemnitz there is a beautiful moarted castle. Castle Klaffenbach houses an artists‘ book fair. The old castle is a very nice venue with a lot of carefully restored, charming rooms where books and prints can be shown to the visitors in a very special atmosphere. With each fair there is an award given to one artist chosen by a jury, the Von-Taube award. I have been at Klaffenbach in 2010 and 2012.

 

Frankfurt Book Fair

Frankfurt Book Fair 2010

Frankfurt Book Fair 2010

Frankfurt Book Fair used to have the „Place of Book Art“ (Platz der Buchkunst) for a period of 10 years, but sadly gave up on doing so just the very year I went there as an exhibitor. This was back in 2010. I was presenting my brand new artist’s book on Kurt Tucholsky there. Tucholsky had taken his own life exactly 75 years earlier, in 1935. You can find more on this artist’s book in a 2013 blogpost in the „Miscellaneous“ category, when there was an article on this book in „Matrix 32“.

 

Frauenfelder Buch- und Handpressenmesse, CH (Frauenfeld Book and Fine Press Fair, CH)

Frauenfeld Fine Press Book Fair 2008, Switzerland

Frauenfelder Handpressenmesse 2008, Switzerland

Frauenfeld Fine Press Book Fair 2008, Switzerland

Frauenfelder Handpressenmesse 2008, Switzerland

In autumn 2008 I went to the book fair in Frauenfeld, Switzerland. This, too, is a biennial fair (in the even numbered years) organized by Atelier Bodoni. The town of Frauenfeld is not far from the German-Swiss border. The fair is called Frauenfeld Book and Fine Press Fair (Frauenfelder Buch- und Handpressenmesse). It is in quite a special venue: an old ironworks with a very specific flair. This was my first ever fair abroad.

In late October I shall be exhibiting at the Fine Press Book Fair in Oxford. In 2011 I had been a visitor there.  Save the date – it is very much worth while going there. And if you can spare a few days more, stay on and pay a visit to the city’s many treasures, such as the Bodleian Library.

Fine Press Book Fair 2011, Oxford (UK)

Fine Press Book Fair 2011, Oxford (UK)

OxfordFinePressBookFair2015-q

 

 

 

 

Marktplatz Druckgrafik – New Artists‘ Venue at Leipzig Bookfair

leipzig-2014-marktplatz-DSE_1835

„Marktplatz Druckgrafik“ (Marketplace for Artistic Printing) is a new and unique venue for all printmaker artists and bookartists at Leipzig Bookfair. It is a special area within „buch + art“ (book + art) in hall 3 put up for the first time in 2012.

leipzig-2014-bookandart-DSE_1800

The „buch + art“ area traditionally housed stalls from artists, artistic or bibliophile publishers, universities and schools of arts and design plus stalls of museums and institutions related to printmaking and bookbinding. The whole area is set up nicely with flower arrangements and places where people can sit down and rest.

leipzig-2014-seat-DSE_1845

Various printmaking museums, such as the Museum für Druckkunst in Leipzig and the Gutenberg-Museum in Mainz, bring in some of their machinery and visitors can watch or even have a go at printing be it letterpress or lithography.

leipzig-2014-mainzmuseum-DSE_1888
Gutenberg-Museum, Mainz

Within „Marktplatz Druckgrafik“ artist have more choices as for stall sizes. Apart from the standard stall sizes (starting from 4 square meters) artists can opt for a special artists stall with is smaller in size and costs. It is 2 square meters, a triangular shape and offers two walls that can be decorated according to the individual artist’s needs and preferences. Tables or shelves can be put up as well.

leipzig-2014-fair-DSE_1764

In 2011 members of Leipzig based artists group AUGEN:FALTER met up with the team of Leipzig bookfair to discuss the possibilities of a special scheme for artists to exhibit at the fair with lower costs. They came up with those specifically designed wedge shaped stalls. The scheme works out well as the steadily growing number of exhibitors in this area shows.

leipzig-2014-flowerpot-DSE_1850

With the multitude of artistic stalls and styles, with prints and books of all sorts a very unique atmosphere of the printmaking arts is established in this area. There are prints in all sizes – from postcard to poster – and all techniques – from woodcut to intaglio. There are books of all sorts as well, from tiny booklets to large volumes.

leipzig-2014-utconf-DSE_1737

But there is even more to „Marktplatz Druckgrafik“ than those specific stalls and the stunning artistic flair they create. In 2013 there was for the first time the call for entries for an award for young printmaking artists. Every year four young artists will be awarded. This years winners were: Anna Andropova, Jeong Hwa Min, Hyewon Jang and Karla Neumeyer Orlando. With the award winners are given a stall of their own to put their art work on show at the current bookfair. There is also an extra brochure with small portfolios of artists exhibiting at „Marktplatz Druckgrafik“.

Leipzig-2014-brochure-DSE_2049
Brochure with artists‘ portfolios

leipzig-2014-poster--DSE_1833
Poster printed by edition carpe plumbum, Leipzig

A well established and important part of Leipzig Bookfair is an event called „Leipzig liest“ (Leipzig is reading). A great number of readings are being held in the fair during fair times and all around the city of Leipzig in the evenings. Just round the corner of „Marktplatz Druckgrafik“ is the special area for readings by „buch + art“ exhibitors from hall 3. So every exhibitor is given opportunity to read to the public from his own books.

leipzig-2014-F530-DSE_1823

And once the fair closes for the evening there is the humming city of Leipzig with his pubs and restaurants, with readings in all sorts of places – with a cultural life rich as can be.

Contact: Grafiknetzwerk

 

 

 

Leipzig Book Fair 2014: March 13 – 16

Leipzig-2008-signetstairs-DSCN7290

The city’s history has been tightly connected with book production, book trade and the book in general for a very long time. There has been a Book Fair in Leipzig as far back as the 15th century. Trading books in the old times was done by exchanging printed sheets. With there being so many kingdoms in Europe, each of which used its own currency and created its own customs regulations, it was easier to pay for printed matter with printed matter rather than with money.

Until the early 19th century during Book Fair times the city would be buzzing with people and carriages. Every house in town would provide accomodation for business partners from wherever far afield they came. Shops, cellars, vaults and basements would be cleared to be stuffed with books and printed sheets, everybody would be busy trading and negotiating.

Leipzig-gutenbergpath-DSE_0495

Sabine Knopf and Volker Titel have published a book that guides the visitor around the city tracing the remains of Leipzig’s long historical connections with books. Also in this publication are places where time plus the bombing raids of WW2 raids have destroyed all there once was of large publishing houses, printing offices or the homes of great publishers or other famous people associated with books. „Der Leipziger Gutenbergweg“ (The Leipzig Gutenberg Trial) published in 2001 through Sax-Verlag Beucha.

Leipzig-2008-rose-DSCN7289

In former times there were fair Spring and Autumn Book Fairs. Nowadays Leipzig Book Fair is a 4 day event occurring in mid March. There is a special program of events that runs concurrently with the fair. Visitors can choose from a great variety of public readings and other types of events. Many of them are located in very special venues around that vibrant city, for example, et the wonderful Leipzig Zoo or a breathtaking Art Deco public swimming pool. Each year a special brochure lists all events concurrent with the fair – more

Leipzig-liest-brochures-DSC_0864

Within the Book Fair itself, there is a special area dedicated to all that relates to book arts: „buch + art“. In 2012 a new feature has been added called „Marktplatz Druckgrafik“ (Marketplace for Artists‘ Prints). This is the venue where printmakers and book artists put their artwork on show and offer it for sale – a haven for collectors, curators and every individual interested in artistic printing and artist’s books. And there is an award for young emerging printer-artists: more

I shall have my own wee little stall this year within this „Marktplatz Druckgrafik“ section and I’ll have my newest book on show. There’ll be updates on this blogpost as soon as the stall numbers come out. In the meantime, if you are inerested in book arts or artist’s books there is considerable reading you might want to do, some of which you can even subscribe to. I am including information on further reading, together with the contact links here on this blogpost:

Leipzig-matrix-DSE_0502

Matrix is a letterpress printed yearbook on themes pertaining to contemporary Fine Press Printing and Book Arts. It is published once a year through Whittington Press (UK), run by Rosalind and John Randle. The next issue is due to be out around April/Mai 2014, and will be No. 32. more

Leipzig-ABYB-DSE_0507

ABYB – Artist’s Book Year Book is published by Impact Press, Bristol (UK) and edited by Sarah Bodman. The most recent issue is 2014-2015. more

Leipzig-bluenotebook-DSE_0510

The Blue Note Book is a journal for artist’s books, edited by Sarah Bodman. Each volume comes in two sections: more

The Book Arts Newsletter (BAN) is an online publication and may be downloaded. It is maintained on a regular basis by Sarah Bodman. The next BAN will be out in February 2014 – get your copy here.

You can find many book arts related publications at the website of UWE, Bristol (UK):
http://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/bookpub.htm

 

Leipzig-fpba-DSE_0500

Parenthesis is the publication of the Fine Press Book Association (FPBA). It is out twice a year in spring and autumn and is distributed to all members. With each volume there is a standard and a luxury edition.  more

Leipzig-codex-DSE_0505

Book Art Object & Book Art Object 2 is published by the Codex Foundation, Berkley (US), edited by David Jury and Peter Rutledge Koch. more

Leipzig-draufsichten-DSE_0512

Draufsichten + SeitenAnsichten – Buchkunst aus deutschen Handpressen und Verlagen, Germanisches Nationalmuseum (book arts by German Fine Press Printers, Germanic National Museum, Nuremberg). more

Leipzig-2014-sticker-DSE_0382

BREAKING NEWS: hall 3 stall no. F530
Be inspired:
52-weeks-sneak-DSC_1362

As for the new book there is a press release (in German) now online at the fair’s press support desk

turn the page 2013 in Norwich

ttp-2013-04-parvenupress-DSD_6187
Parvenu Press

Norwich has been a city with a strong and inventive connection to books, writing and literature for a very long time and still is. Its literary past has developed into a great number of institutions and events related to literature, which in 2012, won the city the status of England’s first UNESCO City of Literature.

ttp-2013-01-forum-DSD_6233

ttp-2013-03-forum-DSD_6182

As far back as 1395 Julian of Norwich became the first woman to write a book in English. During times of war and plague her writings were telling of love and hope. In 1970 the first Creative Writing Master of Arts degree in the UK was founded at University of East Anglia with Ian McEwan being its first graduate. The vibrant literary community is constantly keeping in touch with contemporary needs and in 2006 Norwich as the foremost city in the UK joined the International Cities of Refuge Network, a worldwide net to give support to threatened writers and stand up for free speech.

ttp-2013-08-forum-DSD_6234

Apart from Ian McEwan there are a number of great names connected to Norwich and its literary life. W G Sebald founded the British Centre for Literary Translation, humorist Stephen Fry calls Norwich his home. And there are many more.

ttp-2013-00-forum-DSD_6282
The Forum

In the late 90ies the then public library was badly damaged during a fire. It was replaced by the Norfolk and Norwich Millenium Library, which quickly developed into the most-visited public library in the UK and has been so for the past 5 years. The Forum is right in the city centre and for two days in early May this year its entrance hall turned into a book art wonderland showcasing „books but not as you know them“.

ttp-2013-hazardpress-DSD_6227
Hazard Press

All book arts can give was present: altered books and zines, limited editions, typographic and illustrated artwork, sculptural books and installations, virtual and interactive works. With spring at its best and the sun shining brightly from a blue sky, the cherry trees were in full bloom around Norwich Castle and elsewhere in the city – just everybody had a smile on their face.

ttp-2013-norwich-castle-DSD_6314

Alongside the fair the Norfolk Longbook was presented to the public. It is an ongoing community project with artists and authors contributing works related to or inspired by Norfolk. It is to become the longest book in Norfolk. You can get involved by sending in Norfolk inspired work or join one of the special workshops. Check for dates and details with their website.

ttp2013-norfolk-longbook-cl-DSD_6225

A vital part of the vibrant literary life here is the Writers‘ Centre in Norwich. It not only works locally but also nationally and internationally with workshops, courses, networking and competitions. One of the events they are running currently is „Summer Reads“ where they made their choice of 6 books to read during the summer offering readings and events related to every one of the 6 books. This year they have teamed up with ‚turn the page atrists‘ book fair‘ and have send out a call to all artists to get inspired and creating their response to one or all of this year’s Summer Reads‘ books. More about Summer Reads at
www.summerreads.org.uk

ttp-2013-bleikloetzle-DSD_6220

Find more on the fair and the longbook project on their website: www.turnthepage.org.uk

and find ‚turn the page‘ on facebook too

ttp-2013-09-norwich-DSD_6419
Riverside Walk

We had a wonderful time in a wonderful place in a wonderful city with a marvellous weather. A huge thankyou to all of the team at ttp!
(No idea where you got that special sunshine taskforce from but they were really good at it.)

 

Turn The Page Norwich 3rd + 4th May

cumbria-d-DSD_5745

It was a cold and wet Easter back in 1985 when I was on a 4-week BritRail tour around counties in England. I had been on a long walk around Beverley and by the time I got back I was soaked. When I got to the friary I found a lovely fire burning in the fireplace, the room warm and filled with a joyful group of cyclists who had all got soaked just like me. Half of the chairs were colourfully dressed in wet clothes and put in front of the open fire. The remaining chairs were occupied by people with mugs talking happily.

85-10-7-kingslynn-d-

While taking a picture of a peculiar clock in Kings Lynn a passer-by asked me whether I knew anything about this clock. And since I denied he explained it to me. It was an old but sophisticated device to tell the time of the tide. Apparently it was stunningly precise.

85-11-3-saffronwalden-d-

I have met people on trains, in towns and youth hostels. I was taken to a gaslamp lit pub which was said to be the last of its kind. The images and stories I brought home are enough to fill a good number of books. „Cumbria“ will be the first of them. It’ll come with woodcuts showing places around Keswick and Derwent Water.

85-11-18-colchester-d-

The new book will be out at this year’s Turn The Page on 3rd and 4th May. The fair is held in the glass atrium of the Forum in the city centre of Norwich and will be open 10 am-6pm both days. Find out more about the event and all that goes with it here: www.turnthepage.org.uk

(You can also find Turn The Page on facebook)