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10th Annual Babylon Lexicon's Page
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10th Annual Babylon Lexicon at N/A
November 7, 2009 from 10am to 6pm
Call For Submissions for 10th Annual Babylon Lexicon on Nov. 7th
If you want to submit a artist book for 10th Annual Babylon Lexicon, send an email to abovegroundlibrary@yahoo.com for a submission form and deadline info that hasn't been decided on a…
10th Annual Babylon Lexicon at N/A
November 7, 2009 from 10am to 6pm
Call For Submissions for 10th Annual Babylon Lexicon on Nov. 7th
If you want to submit a artist book for 10th Annual Babylon Lexicon, send an email to abovegroundlibrary@yahoo.com for a submission form and deadline info that hasn't been decided on a…
Profile Information
- Your website address:
- http://nolabookfair.com
- Name of institution/organisation/press/studio?
- 10th Annual Babylon Lexicon
- Background
- History of Babylon Lexicon and the New Orleans Bookfair
Inspired by the work of Jon and Gypsy Lou Webb's Loujon Press, Outsider
magazine, and the Bukowski books, Babylon Lexicon started in January, 2001
with a show at Barrister's Gallery as an exhibition of artist books: books
made by hand by any means possible, with any intention in mind, with any
material at hand, and for anyone who wanted to pick them up to muse over.
We used the show as an excuse to make our own books and to see who else in
New Orleans was making books.
All sorts of books and all sorts of people came together for the first
show. It was an informal and inspired gathering. The majority of the books
might have fallen under the category of "fringe" art, instant expression,
but there were also more traditional gems. Books made of metal, pigskin
leather, paper, garbage...No two books were alike -- some contained
collage, some painstakingly letterpress printed and hand bound, some xerox
copied and Kinko's-bound, and some hand-illustrated. There were also
zines, sketch books, old diaries childhood notebooks, and found oddities.
For the first year, we held free binding workshops and held meetings to
educate anyone interested in learning traditional book making methods and
to share ideas. This has tapered off, but those in the original group have
gone on to expand their skills and learn from what they saw at the show and
what others around the world are doing. The use of the book as a form of
artistic expression is limited only by the artist's ability.
The next show was even larger, in submissions and in attendance. D. Eric
Bookhardt wrote about both shows for the Gambit, and in December, 2001,
Doug Maccash attended the opening and wrote about it for the Times
Picayune.
Edwin Blair, who worked with Jon Webb and funded some of their work,
exhibited some of the letterpress books that he has published with Perdido
Press: a chapbook written by Hunter S. Thompson, among others. Karoline
Schleh, Laura Richens, Miriam Martin (of the New Orleans School of
Glassworks and Printmaking Studio), and Raegan Robinson, all experienced
printers and book makers, also exhibited their work.
In addition to the artist books, local small presses were encouraged to
attend. As well as Perdido Press, among these were Bill Lavender's Lavender
Ink, Dennis Formento's Surregional Press, New Mouth from the Dirty South,
Lit City, and Garrett County Press.
The book arts culture may be stronger in other regions of the United
States, but New Orleans has a strong literary and publishing tradition.
Babylon Lexicon serves as a forum and a platform for passing on
information, ideas, and tradition. Interest and participation grows with
each show. Mark Kennedy of Faulkner House Books purchased some work from
the last show, and there is strong support from local independent book
sellers. Brian Valenza, a dealer from New Haven, Connecticut, who runs
PABA, a gallery devoted to artist books has begun to work with some artists
and plans to include books from his collection in the next Babylon Lexicon
show. Nexus Press, out of the Contemporary Art Center in Atlanta, will
also exhibit in the next show.
Artists' books and small press publications often overlap in form and
content. Therefore, Babylon Lexicon is open to any and all forms of books,
with the exception of those mass-produced by large presses. It is only
practical therefore, that we are expanding the scope of the show by forming
an independent press book fair. This allows Babylon Lexicon to focus on
artists' books, while at the same time remaining faithful to the ideas of
the show and creating room for broader participation: it is part of an
undercurrent of modern culture wherein people seek originality, honesty of
expression, and books made for the love of books and ideas. The excitement
is contagious for those who attend and participate.
- Your Blog address
- http://www.flickr.com/photos/babylonlexicon/sets/72157609893780302/
Call For Submissions for 10th Annual Babylon Lexicon on Nov. 7th 2009
If you want to submit a artist book for 10th Annual Babylon Lexicon, send an email to abovegroundlibrary@yahoo.com for a submission form and deadline info that hasn't been decided on already. We will get back to you soon, but Babylon Lexicon is on Nov. 7th.
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