Bookstars Meet Update

A couple of updates and a bit more info from Karen on last week's meeting...

A Residency

Plans for a book artist residency at Hot Bed Press are under discussion at the moment. This will be a position organised in conjunction with one of our sponsors, Ratchford Ltd. Applicants will be expected to submit a portfolio and a proposal. More information will become available in the new year – keep an eye on the HBP website.

Manchester Artists Book Fair 2010

Hot Bed Press are running the Manchester Artists Book Fair this year – it will be held as usual in the Holden Gallery of MMU, on Saturday 6 November from 10am to 6pm. As we did last year, Bookstars will be hiring two tables.

We’re hoping that everyone who wants to will be able to have their books represented – we ask £10 per person to cover costs – although if there is overwhelming interest, we might have to select (if that happens and you’re work isn’t chosen, obviously you won’t be expected to pay). The idea is that we bring along our work to the October meeting, giving us some time before the fair to get organised. We’ll put out another request for work before then, but meanwhile get to work on your masterpieces.

Of course, you can always hire a table for yourself if you would like to. The cost is £60 per table – please get in touch with Karen Mercer at the HBP office on any Thursday.

Last time at Bookstars...

We caught up on the plans for Manchester Book Fair with Sean (see latest post for more details)

We also agreed that a bi-monthly theme was a little unrealistic so we are going to try a quarterly theme instead!

The theme is intended to stimulate ideas, give focus and aid discussion.
So you don't have to bring a perfectly realised book along (although that would be very nice) rough ideas and mock-ups are most acceptable.

The theme of time will stay til next meeting and then we will start afresh with 'Reflections' (blame it on all the mirrors in the Kings Arms).
If you're stuck for a new project why not try 'Reflections' as a starting point for the book fair work.

We are taking a break in August so the next Bookstars meeting will be Wednesday 1st September, probably at Hot Bed Press.

This will coincide nicely with the last week of the Endpapers course if there is space in the workshop for both you can have a peek at what's been made, or you can come along to the whole course and not miss out on the bookstars meeting!

Watch this space for venue confirmation.

Hot Bed Bookstars @ Leeds Bookfair

Hot Bed Press Bookstars exhibited their work at the 13th International Contemporary Artists' Book Fair held in Leeds. There was a wide range of work on show with unique and multiple book works by artists, imprints and publishers from around the world

Bookstars' stall was a great success! The stall stood out from others due to its wide range of work on show from the 7 members who submitted. A great deal of interest was generated for the studios and was a great opportunity to network with fellow creatives.

New Course: The Complete Bookmaker

Wednesdays 19th May - 21st July

This 10 week course is brand new to Hot Bed Press and will give a comprehensive approach to book arts.

In fact this news is so fresh off the press that details of course content are still to be written up, but it is safe to say that it will be a great opportunity to learn everything you wanted to know about book arts and lots you didn't even know you could do. We hope to announce more very soon, and expect a flurry of activity in booking this up.

Lucy May Schofield has become a regular tutor for Hot Bed Press and has a strong following both as a tutor and as a respected contemporary book artist. Visit her website at www.lucymayschofield.co.uk to see her exquisite book forms and you will see why her courses are so popular.

Cost £200 (£185*)

Notes from April's Meeting

At last nights’ Bookstars meeting we had a chance to look at the work being made around the agreed theme of ‘Time’ from Januarys’ meeting. Most of the work is still in mock-up stage but working to the theme has done what we wanted it to – given us some focus in and out of the sessions.

There were some great ideas and we were able to offer feedback around ideas and practical tactics involved in each piece which I for one found very helpful.
If you didn’t get a chance to show your work, bring it along to the next session, this is no deadline project, just a reason to make.

We are having a new theme bi-monthly, so for June we agreed to work towards this years’ ‘we love your books’ exhibition theme – (e)motive.

Check the website for more details – they have lots of suggested starting points and a few guidelines for submission (if you want to submit) www.weloveyourbooks.com

This theme coincides nicely with their June 14th submission deadline.
Bring along mock-ups / ideas/ finished pieces to discuss at the meeting in May, this should give those wishing to enough time to go away and finish the work in time for submission.

Also at next months meeting……
More on the Ratchfords Residency and Hot Beds involvement in the Manchester Book Fair.

Letterpress Workshop

Just completed a weekend workshop at Hot Bed with Graham Moss from Incline Press, had a brilliant weekend and came home with some of these beauties...

Slash

Mia Pearlman, Inrush

sara shafiei theatre for magicians

For those of you lucky enough to be in New York over the next couple of month's I'd definitely make a beeline for this exhibtion at MAD

Slash: Paper Under the Knife takes the pulse of the international art world's renewed interest in paper as a creative medium and source of artistic inspiration, examining the remarkably diverse use of paper in a range of art forms. Slash is the third exhibition in MAD's Materials and Process series, which examines the renaissance of traditional handcraft materials and techniques in contemporary art and design. The exhibition surveys unusual paper treatments, including works that are burned, torn, cut by lasers, and shredded. A section of the exhibition will focus on artists who modify books to transform them into sculpture, while another will highlight the use of cut paper for film and video animations.

The website has great images of the work if (like me) you'll have to enjoy it from your armchair.