Well, I am back home on the mountain after a busy few days in Brisbane attending ABBE - the conference hosted by the Griffith Centre for Creative Arts Research, part of the Queensland College go Arts.
It was a fabulous few days. So much information. I tried to absorb it all, but some of it really challenged my brain (in a good way).
There were some real stand out speakers - Brad Freeman who runs JAB was a keynote, along with Lyn Ashby and Sarah Bodman from UWE in Bristol. They each covered so many wonderful elements of the book arts - reading artists' books, demonstrating how artists' books link to the virtual and beyond and linking handmade books to their literary legacy.
Other great speakers like Angela Gardner, Caren Florance, Sara Bowen, Tim Mosely, Kim Tabulo and Bridget Hillebrand, all captured my attention and sparked my imagination. I learnt something from each and every speaker and really really enjoyed myself. I am soooo looking forward to it becoming a biannual event (if that is the right way to say once every two years).
On top of the conference there was also a gorgeous exhibition, a Book Artists' Fair and for some, a visit to some major collections and studios in Brisbane. Oh, and a big dinner get together on Friday night which was great fun.
I came home buzzing with new ideas and thoughts about how to look at artists books in an academic and theoretical manner, pondering how to apply this thinking to my own work. This wasn't just a get together of artists' book makers; it was a conference where academics presented their research, and the next stages of their work after completing PhDs (I was one of the few non-academic speakers but did get some lovely feedback from folk).
I met some wonderful people, talked about all sorts of things and generally had a good time.
So, now to the visuals.
Me mid-presentation...
A shot of some of the crowd...me up the back with my mates Rose and Robyn. I am not bored! I am intently listening...
The Fair was another wonderful showing of some of the best artists' book makers in Australia. Simply stunning and many happy hours could have been spent wandering through - engaging with these gorgeous books.
Robyn and I holding her books.
Lots of happy explorers of artists' books.
Caren and Angela at their stores/tables.
So, it's back to making now and less time for thinking, but it was a fabulous injection of thought-provoking material. Well done to Tim and Lynden who did so much to bring together a great bunch of people.
It was a fabulous few days. So much information. I tried to absorb it all, but some of it really challenged my brain (in a good way).
There were some real stand out speakers - Brad Freeman who runs JAB was a keynote, along with Lyn Ashby and Sarah Bodman from UWE in Bristol. They each covered so many wonderful elements of the book arts - reading artists' books, demonstrating how artists' books link to the virtual and beyond and linking handmade books to their literary legacy.
Other great speakers like Angela Gardner, Caren Florance, Sara Bowen, Tim Mosely, Kim Tabulo and Bridget Hillebrand, all captured my attention and sparked my imagination. I learnt something from each and every speaker and really really enjoyed myself. I am soooo looking forward to it becoming a biannual event (if that is the right way to say once every two years).
On top of the conference there was also a gorgeous exhibition, a Book Artists' Fair and for some, a visit to some major collections and studios in Brisbane. Oh, and a big dinner get together on Friday night which was great fun.
I came home buzzing with new ideas and thoughts about how to look at artists books in an academic and theoretical manner, pondering how to apply this thinking to my own work. This wasn't just a get together of artists' book makers; it was a conference where academics presented their research, and the next stages of their work after completing PhDs (I was one of the few non-academic speakers but did get some lovely feedback from folk).
I met some wonderful people, talked about all sorts of things and generally had a good time.
So, now to the visuals.
Me mid-presentation...
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| Photo by blogger_dad |
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| Photo by blogger_dad |
The exhibition is beautiful. For more details see here or up in my Works on Show tab at the top.
My sister-in law Lorraine put together this montage of me and my book A Subversive Stitch at the opening...
Barry examining my book...
And Al (brother), Lorraine (sister-in-law) and I looking at some fabulous books.
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| Photo by blogger_dad |
Robyn and I holding her books.
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| Photo by Doug Spowart |
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| Photo by Doug Spowart |
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| Photo by Doug Spowart |
I've so enjoyed your report fiona --- I've been following caren's farcebook feed of all the happenings at the conference (or mostly things happening alongside --- like treks to book art studios and the like) fabbbbbulous! ooo I hope that the conference organisers publish the conference papers and make them accessible to we non-academic folk ---- I do so miss all the lovely access to journals and papers that was a part of uni study.....
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed Ronnie - I wish I was able to give a more comprehensive report! You would have really enjoyed it I am sure - lots of deep pondering on bookish artist things. I am not sure about publishing the papers - I would have loved to have had a copy of several of them - will keep you posted if they do.
DeleteLooks like a raging success!....and you are looking quite glam and in control of your audience. It must've been heaven on a stick.
ReplyDeleteWoman in black Jo! It went well and I enjoyed presenting, but was most happy when it was over!
Deletewow! Wow! WOW!
ReplyDelete'Twas rather wonderful Mo!
DeleteThank you so much Fiona, what a great report. Like Ronnie, I too have been following all of Caren's stories even from afar. OMG I love your hair! I know I should say that on your blog but you look fabulous!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed G! And thanks for loving my hair - it was nice and tidy that day!
DeleteIn between being disconnected for redcoration and having oodles of other things happening...I've been bookmarking various reviews.All good reports.Thank you for this.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good one Dinah - I hope you get a feel from it from the other reviews as well.
Deletearen't book conferences cool?!
ReplyDeleteVery very cool V! Heaven on a stick as Jo said.
Deleteall looks very exciting, l would of loved to have been there- well done
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate - you can probably feel the buzz from this end! I really enjoyed it. Go well.
Delete