The 2024 Contemporary Artists Books Conference (CABC) focusses on “Artists’ Books as Expanded Literacy.” The CABC planning committee asks: How can the artists’ book expand upon ideas of information and visual literacy, conceptions of language, data visualization, methods of presenting research, and beyond?
Black Feminist Publishing as Liberatory Praxis
Black feminist truth-telling has been a critically impactful practice on many forms of media, and, in this lively roundtable, we will explore Black feminist publishing as liberatory praxis both historically and contemporarily. From our specific standpoints as publishers, artists, book lovers and community driven memory workers, we will discuss our experiences, inspirations, and challenges in publishing and book centered-works while dreaming aloud the possibilities and future of this tradition.
golden lionheart collier (he/they) is a transdisciplinary artist, researcher, facilitator, memory worker, and publisher whose praxis honors Black wisdoms and freedom technologies that defy a single, static, or linear narrative. Their practice and research are grounded in a joyful exploration of Black axiologies and transatlantic networks of kindred ontological and epistemological stances through ancestral movement, performance, print media, lens-based works, ceramics, sound design, and more. They are ultimately most inspired by increasing accessibility to technical craft and the rich fecundity where disciplines, practices, and identities overlap.
Through their imprint, Diasporan Savant Press, their publications are in the collections of The Getty Museum Research Institute, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, London College of Communication, The Library of Congress, New York University’s Tamiment & Wagner Labor Archives, and more. Their lens-based work has shown across the world, including the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, Outfest LA, the Seattle Queer Film Festival, and The Director’s Guild of America. Their highest ambition is that their research activate creative practice and process in accessible ways that envision generative present and future possibilities for our world.
OlaRonke Akinmowo (Ola) is a multidisciplinary artist who works in collage, printmaking, papermaking, and stop-motion animation. She is also a Set Decorator for film and TV, and the Creator and Director of a Brooklyn-based social art project called The Free Black Women’s Library.
This literary hub, Black Feminist archive, social site, and community care space features a diverse collection of over five thousand books written by Black women and Black nonbinary folks, free public programs, a free store, a period pantry, a backyard garden, a reading club, and weekly book swap. She has received artist fellowships and residencies from the NYFA, Women’s Studio Workshop, Robert Blackburn Printmaking Shop, BRIC Arts, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Time Out Magazine, Hyperallergic, Teen Vogue, and BUST magazine. Follow the library @thefreeblackwomenslibrary on socials to stay connected.
#Blkgrlswurld Press is an award-winning indie publishing house based in New York City. Led by Christina Long, MFA, (Global Creative Director) and her younger sister Courtney Long (Senior Editor), since 2013. The press celebrates and documents Black Womxn & Womxn of Color who participate in heavy music genres like Metalcore, Hardcore, Punk and Black Metal. Interviewing bands, reviewing music events and vending at zine fairs allow #Blkgrlswurld ZINE to introduce readers to new music and the diversity within music scenes.
Zines and artists’ books published by #Blkgrlswurld Press can be found in libraries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art PS1, The Whitney Museum, The Schomburg Center for Research On Black Culture, The Barnard Zine Library, Reparations Club and many more.
The 2024 CABC is supported by Center for Book Arts, with additional support from Deirdre Lawrence and the Grolier Club.
