Center for Book Arts in partnership with Art on Paper present BOOKSMART FAIR, an artists’ book fair located at the front of Art on Paper. We have selected 22 vendors, independent artists and institutions to take part in a mini fair, each of whom will bring a curated selection of artists’ books that engage the form in a myriad of ways — ranging from highly tactile and physical objects to conceptual works. The fair is accompanied by a series of programs including artist talks and book presentations:
Been Magic * Been Real: A conversation between Helina Metaferia and Corina Reynolds
Friday, September 6th from 2pm – 3pm
Artist Helina Metaferia will engage in a conversation with Corina Reynolds, Executive Director of the Center for Book Arts, about her latest artists’ book, Been Magic * Been Real. This limited-edition risograph is inspired by traditional Ethiopian “magic” talisman scrolls. Metaferia reimagines the scroll format as a contemporary paper book, featuring collaged images of Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) women (including cis and trans femmes) who have participated in her By Way of Revolution social practice workshops across the country.
There is nothing so delightful as an afternoon in the library
Friday, September 6th from 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Gillian Lee, Librarian at Center for Book Arts, will take you on a journey through the marvelous world of artists’ books, exploring unique and editioned works from the Fine Arts Collection at CBA. Several of the works explored are published by artists and groups tabling at the BOOKSMART Fair.
Heavy loads_6EQUJ5
Saturday, September 7th from 2pm – 3pm
An hour with DJ URIC/Slavko spinning his favorite deep-pocket books and other well imbalanced hits #graceful-deconstruction #interchangeable-entanglements
#double-bind and more
Book Launch: On Solitary Viewership by Rujuta Rao
Sunday, September 8th from 3pm – 4pm
The book launch will feature a performative reading of the work, followed by time for the audience to engage with the artist and interact with the book.
On Solitary Viewership by Rujuta Rao is an artists’ book composed of 93 flashcards held together by a clamp. In her book, Rao reflects on the creation of art for individual viewers, her relationship with her late mentor Aveek Sen, their conversations on queerness, and her broader art practice.
The Fair will take place at Art on Paper from September 5-8, 2024, at Pier 36, 299 South St, New York, NY 10002. To purchase tickets please visit this link
