Boston University School of Visual Arts Hosts Multiple Formats Contemporary Art Book Symposium and Inaugural Fair
Boston University School of Visual Arts Hosts Multiple Formats Contemporary Art Book Symposium and Inaugural Fair
Join designers, artists, educators, and publishers including Nontsikelelo Mutiti, founder of Black Chalk & Co., for an event celebrating artist book publishing.
Detail from Nontsikelelo Mutiti’s installation, Everything is Where it is Expected, presented at Printed Matter in New York City, 2019 (photo by Natasha Hatendi)
This post was originally published in Hyperallergic on February 13, 2023.
Excerpt
Boston University School of Visual Arts is delighted to announce the return of Multiple Formats: Contemporary Art Book Symposium, an event weaving together conversations related to artist books and higher education, pedagogical practices involving artist books, artist advocacy, and artist book distribution. The 2023 edition includes an art book fair that will feature books, zines, and more.
The School of Visual Arts is honored to kick off this year’s symposium on Thursday, March 16, with a keynote address by Nontsikelelo Mutiti, founder of Black Chalk & Co. and Director of Graduate Studies in Graphic Design at Yale University. A day of talks, panels, and conversations will follow on Friday, March 17, leading into the inaugural book fair on Saturday, March 18. The mix of scholarship and reflection — coupled with the opportunity to examine artist books and support publishers and artists making books — is meant to benefit students, faculty, artists, librarians, and scholars in Boston, New England, and beyond.
Organized by Associate Professor Christopher Sleboda, co-founder of Draw Down Books, Multiple Formats aims to be an elastic and inclusive forum for discussions about artist book publishing, with a particular focus on publishing by graphic designers, the use and creation of artist books in visual arts programs, and other topics of interest.
“Multiple Formats is an event that brings together a diverse community of artists, designers, collectors, and students from various art and design programs,” says Sleboda. “I think one of the most powerful aspects of the event is the way it weaves together thinking and talking about artist books—and wisdom from people who actively make books as part of an art or design practice—with the opportunity to examine and handle a range of printed matter at a free artist book fair. While the symposium’s overall focus is on printed matter, including photobooks, zines, one-of-a-kind editions, broadsides, Risograph booklets, and printed specimens, the real value of the event lies in the relationships that Multiple Formats can foster.”
With over a hundred exhibitors from diverse backgrounds and interests, this year’s inaugural art book fair promises to offer something for everyone. I hope events like this will welcome more people into the community of artist book makers, and that students, faculty, and visitors can take away something meaningful from the event, whether inspiration, a printed treasure, or a new relationship with an artist or designer making books.
The symposium and fair are free and open to the public. Multiple Formats’ goal is to build community, strengthen creative networks, create a forum for resource sharing, and offer substantive discussion about sustaining a practice that includes artist books.
The symposium is sponsored by the Boston University School of Visual Arts. The school includes both graduate and undergraduate programs, including Graphic Design, Painting, Sculpture, and Art Education as well as new MFA programs in Visual Narrative and in Print Media & Photography.
Save the Date!
The 2023 Multiple Formats Contemporary Art Book Symposium and Book Fair is taking place at BU from March 16-18. Check out the official Multiple Formats‘ website for the latest information on the invited speakers and for a schedule of events. All events are free and open to the public.