Events that combine books and art always get my attention. I love both and write about them often on this blog. So it should come as no surprise that I’m really excited about the 2017 installment of the LA Art Book Fair (LAABF17). The LA based event and its counterpart, the NY Art Book Fair, showcase and celebrate “…artists’ books, art catalogs, monographs, periodicals, and zines presented by over 300 international presses, booksellers, antiquarians, artists, and independent publishers from over 20 countries.”
Both the LA and NY Art Book Fairs are organized by Printed Matter, a 40 year old, New York based non-profit that works to make artists’ books and works by small presses publicly available. Last year 35,000 people attended the event in Los Angeles and a similarly impressive crowd is expected again this year.
The roster of activities and speakers at LAABF17 is extensive and varied – there really is something for everyone. Here are just a few highlights that caught my eye.
Selected Art Book Fair Events
Friday February 24
Memory for Forgetfulness
Screening curated by Myriam Ben Salah and Martha Kirszenbaum
This screening program is the third opus of a series presented at Kadist (San Francisco) and NeueHouse (Los Angeles) and deepens the research around a generation of artists from the Middle East whose work deconstructs any preconceived Western expectation about the region.
Saturday February 25
KEYNOTE
AA Bronson: My Life in Books
An autobiographical romp through the world of artists’ books, from the 60s to today, from underground newspapers to queer zines, through the eyes and words of AA Bronson.
Sunday February 26
Self Help Graphics & Art and the Inaugural Chicana/o Latina/o Printmaking Summit
Exhibitions
Moran Bondaroff presents: The Sabian Exercise, 1971-72 by George Herms.
After 40 years in storage, this is the first time The Sabian Exercise will be presented to the public in the form of an immersive installation created by this iconic California artist.
XE(ROX) & PAPER + SCISSORS
A lively selection of international artists and zinesters that represent independent publishing at its most innovative and affordable.
The Box
The Box will showcase a selection of work from the Los Angeles Free Music Society (LAFMS), an experimental music collective founded by artists and musicians in Pasadena, CA in the early 1970s.
The LA Art Book Fair is free and open to the public, so mark your calendars and set aside some time to immerse yourself in the mind-boggling array of panels, exhibits, lectures and other creative events that are sure to intrigue, delight and educate. To plan your day, check out the Event Calendar.
DETAILS
When:
Preview: Thursday, February 23, 6–9 pm
Printed Matter’s LA ART BOOK FAIR, free and open to the public:
Friday February 24, 1pm-7pm
Saturday February 25, 11am-7pm
Sunday February 26, 11am-6pm
Where: The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, located at 152 North Central Avenue Los Angeles
Support the art book movement, join Printed Matter
More information, call (212) 925-0325 or write laartbookfair@printedmatter.org
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