Queens, NEW YORK—The current issue of Gentlewoman magazine features Angela Landsbury on the front. Christie Turlington graced the cover of a previous installment of the London-based publication that describes its audience as “modern women with style and purpose.” The bi-annaul magazine is among hundreds of independent periodicals and zines showcasing their creations at The NY Art Book Fair at MoMA PS1.
Presented by Printed Matter—a treasure trove in the Chelsea gallery district that sells all manner of books and publications made by artists—the fair is in its seventh year. The event has taken over the entire museum including the courtyard. MoMA is the perfect venue for the gathering. The museum is in an renovated school building, so what better place to convene the creative and the academic and explore the world of art-related books.
Publishers of periodicals and zines, including London-based Gentlewoman magazine, have set up shop in a large tent in the courtyard of MoMA PS1.
According to Printed Matter, the fair has attracted more than 200 artists, booksellers and independent publishers and presses from more 20 countries. The participants are offering a wide variety of “art books” from monographs, exhibition-worthy works and rare and collectible tomes, to ‘zines and print-on-demand explorations of cultural issues, public policy and current events. Almost everything is for sale.
The fair is free, although a donation of one or two dollars is suggested at the entrance to help underwrite the event and cover the cost of the printed catalog.
The fair began with a preview Thursday evening and runs through Sunday, Sept. 30. In addition to the exhibitors, there is a two-day program of panel discussions that will explore “emerging practices and debates within art-book culture” and a series of book signings.
All photos © Arts Observer
Above, Presented by Printed Matter, the art book fair features more than 200 exhibitors. Top of page, Printed by Pork Salad Press, The “Purple and Orange Memorial Album” is a creative press kit and album about the public campaign to save the life Troy Davis who was convicted of murdering a police officer and maintained his innocence until his execution in September 2011.
A visual representation of the space devoted editorial (red) and advertising (black) in Artforum magazine, the ARTFORUMx project explores the ad/edit breakdown from 1962 to 2012. Each volume represents one issue and the art/edit breakdown is shown graphically on the spine and on each of the interior pages.
The ARTFORUMx project was researched and executed by Michael Maranda, who runs Parasitic Ventures Press. Maranda worked on ARTFORUMx from 2007 to 2010 and Parasitic printed the project.
The fair features a wide range of art books, from monographs and collectible tomes to zines and print-on-demand offerings.
MxEditions, a space for books by Mexican independent publishers, littered the hallway outside its “project room” with promotional balloons.
The Center for Urban Pedagogy works with graphic designers and high school students to demystify public policies and improve civic engagement. The projects often result in printed publications that can be shared with their families and the community. Project have addressed the rights of street vendors, what happens to a student when he/she is arrested, the Bloomberg soda tax and predatory housing issues.
Fair goers lined up Friday evening to hear the keynote address “Publish to Perish” by Paul Chan, an artist and founder of Badlands Unlimited, a limited-edition publisher.
The Pork Salad Press table includes “Purple and Orange Memorial Album,” a project about the execution of Troy Davis.
An artist and photographer, Noria has set up a station in the first-floor corridor where she is printing the titles of books purchased by fair goers.
Noria hand-carved the plates she is using.
The final printed product.