In conjunction with the exhibition Text/Messages: Books by Artists, Minnesota artists who make book-related multiples set up shop for
Multiples Mall: A Bookish Fair
—a day of merriment complete with a tour of the exhibition and a short presentation on the history of chapbooks and radical reasons for making multiples. Artists’ books, chapbooks, zines, and other booklike objects will be on display. Come browse the offerings and purchase a piece of this local and thriving creative scene on Saturday, February 21, 11 am–4 pm.
Co-organized by librarian Rosemary Furtak and curator Siri Engberg, Text/Messages: Books by Artists highlights the Walker’s impressive collection of books by artists, now numbering some 2,000 objects. Drawn from a broad range of artistic movements, the books and book-based works on view come from some of the most recognizable names in contemporary art as well as lesser known artists. Examples include books by Surrealists and Futurists, elegant tomes conceived by artists such as Robert Motherwell and Ellsworth Kelly, conceptual projects by Lawrence Weiner, humorously subversive books by Karen Finley, Mike Kelley, and Paul McCarthy, and rare illustrated editions such as Salvador Dali’s take on Alice in Wonderland.
Admission to all activities related to the Multiples Mall is free. The event is copresented by mnartists.org, Minnesota Center for Book Arts, and Rain Taxi Review of Books.
Book Fair and Sale
11 am–4 pm, Cargill Lounge
Free
Lecture: A History of Chapbooks
1 pm, Lecture Room
Free
From xylography to xerography, chapbooks tell the history of literacy and disseminate the expression of thought, from musings to manifestos. To enlighten us on this subject Rain Taxi Review of Books editor Eric Lorberer will give an overview of the chapbook, paying special attention to its fascinating history, its variable design elements and formats, and its vibrant role in contemporary literature and publishing. Rain Taxi, a nationally acclaimed journal, includes regular critical commentary on chapbooks and will be launching a Chapbook Finder feature on its Web site soon. The chapbook is generally a pocket-sized, paper-covered publication, noteworthy for being accessible to create and circulate. Its pages may contain edicts issued by the establishment or criticisms articulated by a counter-culture voice.
Public Tour: Text/Messages: Books by Artists
2 pm, Medtronic Gallery
Free with gallery admission
Featured artists:
Raighne and Megan Hogan, 2D CLOUD
Brian Aldrich
Emmet Bryne
Ryan Dorshorst, Synthetic Infatuation
Wendy Fernstrum, Fernwerks
Bill Gorcica
Hardland/Heartland
Lacey Prpic Hedtke
Sam Hoolihan
MC Hyland, Double Cross Press
Josh Journey-Heinz
Chad Kloepfer
Sean Lynch
Andrea McKay
Ed Choy Moorman, Bare Bones Press
Rachel Melis
Kelly Meister
Sarah Morean
Abigail Mullen
Paulette Myers-Rich
Brian Ness
Mylinh Trieu Nguyen
Regula Russelle, Cedar Fence Press
Noa Segal
Chip Schilling, Indulgence Press
CB Sherlock
Chuck Smith
Richard Stephens, supersession press
Elizabeth Workman and Erik Brandt
For more information on featured artists, visit mnartists.org.