PAGES: Reset — Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair

The Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair is back for the first time since 2019. Returning to the Parkinson Court at the University of Leeds, we have ‘Reset’.

Over the event’s two days more than 45 participants – including artists, publishers and educational institutions – will be showing and speaking about a very diverse range of work and with renewed enthusiasm.

The restrictions created by the pandemic, with exhibitions and work reduced to showing online, has made ‘in real life’ events such as this more pertinent than ever before, and a reminder that physical engagement – the handling and turning of the page – is crucial to the experience of the book and its function.

The book fair is organised by PAGES (supported by the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at the University of Leeds).

See the PAGES website for more information including opening times.

Artists’ book fair participants

• ABPress
• AMBruno
• Anna Shilonosova
• Art and Design and Graphic Design and Communication, University of Leeds
• Art Byte Critique
• BA(Hons) Visual Communication, Leeds Arts University
• Best Books by Bernard and Anwyl
• Café Royal Books
• Chloe Cooper
• Coin-Operated Press
• David Armes
• David Barton
• David Faithfull
• Essence Press
• Fine Art Leeds
• Gemma Lacey
• Gnobilis Press
• Gordian Projects
• Guy Bigland
• Helen Douglas / Weproductions
• HG Makes
• intergraphia
• Jackie Chettur
• Joan Ainley
• Joan Newall Artist Book Maker
• John McDowall
• Leslie Gerry Editions
• Longbarrow Press
• MakingSpace
• Morley House
• Mr Smith
• New Arcadian Press
• Noelle Griffiths and Andrew Morrison
• Pat Hodson
• Rochelle Asquith
• Rock – Tree – Landscape
• Rosaleen Williams
• Ruth Martin
• SALT+SHAW
• Sophie Loss
• The Caseroom Press
• The Mindful Editions
• Tim Shore
• whnicPRESS
• Wild Pansy Press

Book fair events programme

The array of stalls within Parkinson Court – which includes contributions from fine art students and colleagues from the University of Leeds, amongst others – will be accompanied by a programme of free events:

Helen Douglas – A Venetian Brocade
Friday 17 March 2023, 6–7pm
The keynote speaker for the PAGES: Reset Contemporary Artists' Book Fair is Dr Helen Douglas, artist and publisher based in Yarrow, Scotland.

Crossing Borders? — Roundtable discussion
Saturday 18 March 2023, 1–2pm
Karen Babayan, Frank Finlay and Sophie Loss will discuss notions of home, and what it means to visit locations, cities and countries felt to be out of bounds as a result of displacement, genocide and political upheaval.

Shifting Borders: A Journey to the Centre of Our World(s)
Until 21 December 2023
In parallel with Reset, in the adjacent Treasures of the Brotherton Gallery, is the exhibition Shifting Borders (guest curated by Chris Taylor). This collection of artefacts from the University of Leeds Special Collections includes items from 15th century incunabula to 21st century artists’ books which highlight how artists, writers, collectors and scientists have both imagined the world they live in, and represented their actual travels through word and image.

About PAGES

PAGES is coordinated by artists and researchers John McDowall and Chris Taylor. Founded in 1998 and operating with the Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair at its center, the project provides wide-ranging opportunities for the development and awareness of the book as primary medium in art practice.

These satellite activities have in the past included curated projects and open calls, workshops and conferences, exhibitions and publications; initiatives that have stimulated and supported wider dissemination of the medium, and encouraged experimentation by makers, and discovery for audience.

Image

Fine art students from the University of Leeds at the Contemporary Artists’ Book Fair in Parkinson Court, 2013. Photo courtesy of Chris Taylor.