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Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) Biennial

July 22, 2017 - July 23, 2017

The 2017 Book Art Biennial — Shout Out: Community Intervention, Independent Publishing, and Alternative Distribution — features programming that encourages people of all disciplines and skill levels to amplify individual and collective voice through grassroots artistic practice.

The centerpiece of the Book Art Biennial is the presentation of the MCBA Prize, a unique award that showcases and honors the best artists’ books in the world. The winner will be announced at a gala and awards ceremony the evening of Saturday, July 22.

MCBA Prize Gala

Gala & Awards Celebration
Saturday, July 22; 7:30pm – 10:30pm

Toast the best new artists’ books in the world at the MCBA Prize Gala on Saturday, July 22 from 7:30-10:30pm.

Join us for an evening of live music, refreshments, and mingling with artists, collectors, and special guests! Attend the evening’s program and witness the live presentation of The MCBA Prize, then celebrate with champagne and a dessert reception.

Get the VIP treatment! VIP ticket holders receive access to an exclusive cocktail hour from 6:30-7:30pm where you can view the MCBA Prize finalists’ works and personally meet the artists.

Additional perk! Each VIP ticket holder will receive a commemorative print created under the direction of printer-in-residence Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.

$35 General Admission, $75 VIP

Register

The MCBA Prize

The MCBA Prize is the first honor to celebrate the diversity of book art and recognize work from across the field and around the world. A jury of three distinguished leaders in the field will review all submissions and choose five finalists. These five works will be on display at MCBA during the Biennial. From these works, the jury will select the recipient of the 2017 MCBA Prize. Integrity and the unity of form, materials, and content will determine the winner. Over $9,000 will be awarded. For more information please visit mcbaprize.org.

Book Art Biennial Symposium

Book Art Biennial Symposium
Saturday, July 22 – Sunday, July 23

Join us for this special series of talks that explore the broad definition of “book” in contemporary artistic practice.

Saturday, July 22; 8:30am–4:30pm

  • Keynote address by Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.;
  • Making Books, presented by Simon Goode, founder and director of the London Centre for Book Arts;
  • The Constellation Metaphor, presented by Karen Kunc, artist, educator, and founder of Constellation Studios;
  • Book Arts in Havana, presented by Steven Daiber, proprietor of Red Trillium Press;
  • We Are What We Do, presented by Angie Butler, letterpress scholar, University of the West of England;
  • Report from the Field: Papermaking as Community Catalyst, presented by Mary Hark, Professor in Design Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison;
  • Medium to Message: Art as Culture-making/Public-making, a panel discussion with artists Sam Gould, Lacey Prpić Hedtke, Regula Russelle, and Elana Schwartzman, and moderated by Monica Edwards Larson.

Sunday, July 23; 10am–noon

We’ll conclude the Symposium with Teaching the Book Arts: Making it Matter. In this informal roundtable discussion, facilitated by artist and instructor Rachel Melis, participants will share practical techniques with special emphasis on social engagement, accessibility, and grassroots practice.

Enjoy both days of the Book Art Biennial Symposium for $65. We are also pleased to offer a $30 student rate. Call 612 215 2520 to register, or click the link below.

Register

Pre-Biennial Workshops

Four unique workshops will be offered prior to the Book Art Biennial:

Each is designed to inspire participants and demonstrate the intersection of historical craft with contemporary content. Participants of all skill levels are welcome!

Tuition for each is $250 ($225 for MCBA members) plus a $55 supply fee. Follow the links above or call 612 215 2520 to register.

Exhibitions throughout Open Book!

An unprecedented number of exhibitions provide an exciting backdrop for the 2017 Book Art Biennial. Join us for a free, public reception for these exhibitions on Friday, July 21, 6-9pm! Visit our Facebook event to RSVP.
  • Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.’s democratic and collaborative project, Open Book Takeover, features 5,000 community-made prints that cover the 55,000 square foot Open Book Building.
  • An interactive zine reading lounge, Free for All is in MCBA’s Main Gallery, organized by Twin Cities Zine Fest.
  • Guest curator Heid E. Erdrich has gathered Native American voices in the exhibition (About that) Water is Life in MCBA’s Main Gallery.
  • Reader’s Art: Control/Alt/Shift, a juried exhibition of artists’ books exploring the politics of control and alternative methods of public discourse, is on view in Open Book’s Cowles Literary Commons.
  • End of Times 2, a portfolio of broadsides by 41 letterpress printers organized by Mary Bruno, is on view in the Lerner Bindery Gallery.
  • Stamp of Disapproval showcases counter-culture work from MCBA’s S. Helmes and W. Gaglione Rubber Stamp Archive.
  • Meander, new work by environmental artist Alyssa Baguss, is on view in the Outlook Gallery.

Sponsorship

Become a Sponsor

A series of special sponsorship opportunities are available to support the Book Art Biennial:

  • Signature Sponsor—$2,500 ($2,100 tax-deductible)
    Benefits include: 8 VIP Gala tickets; and logo or personal acknowledgement in the Gala invitation, event programs and other print and online promotions.
  • Patron Sponsor—$1,000 ($700 tax-deductible)
    Benefits include: 6 VIP Gala tickets; and logo or personal acknowledgement in the Gala invitation, event programs and other print and online promotions.
  • Program Sponsor—$500 ($300 tax-deductible)
    Benefits include: 4 VIP Gala tickets; and logo or personal acknowledgement in event programs and event webpage.
  • Event Host—$250 ($150 tax-deductible)
    Benefits include: 2 VIP Gala tickets; and personal acknowledgement in event programs and event webpage.

Make your sponsorship gift here. Questions? Contact Amanda Kaler, Development Director, at akaler@mnbookarts.org.

Press

Clink the links below for detailed media-related information and FAQs about the 2017 Book Art Biennial.

2017 Book Art Biennial official press release

2017 Book Art Biennial media advisory

2017 Book Art Biennial FAQs

Mary Bruno artist profile

Steven Daiber artist profile

Heid Erdrich artist profile

Simon Goode artist profile

Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr. artist profile

Karen Kunc artist profile

 

Details

Start:
July 22, 2017
End:
July 23, 2017

Venue

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA)
1011 Washington Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55415 United States + Google Map
Phone
612.215.2520
View Venue Website

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