Book Art Biennial 2017

Book Art Biennial 2017— Shout Out: Community Intervention, Independent Publishing, and Alternative Distribution
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
July 22-23, 2017

Free and open to the public


The 2017 Book Art Biennial — Shout Out: Community Intervention, Independent Publishing, and Alternative Distribution — featured programming that encouraged 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 was announced at a gala and awards ceremony the evening of Saturday, July 22.

MCBA Prize Gala

 

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) is proud to announce the winner of the 2017 MCBA Prize, The Book of Disquiet by London-based book artist Tim Hopkins!

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 reviewed all submissions and chose five finalists. These five works were on display at MCBA during the Biennial. From these works, the jury selected the recipient of the 2017 MCBA Prize. Integrity and the unity of form, materials, and content determined the winner. Over $9,000 was awarded. For more information please visit mcbaprize.org.

Book Art Biennial Symposium

Pre-Biennial Workshops

Four unique workshops were offered prior to the Book Art Biennial:

Alternative Printmaking with Rubber Stamps
Papermaking in the Islamic World
Innovative Books from Head to Tail: Ideas – Content – Making
Approachable Metalworking for Book Artists

Each was designed to inspire participants and demonstrate the intersection of historical craft with contemporary content.

Exhibitions Throughout Open Book

An unprecedented seven exhibitions provided an exciting backdrop for the 2017 Book Art Biennial:

Amos Paul Kennedy Jr.’s democratic and collaborative project, Open Book Takeover, featured 5,000 community-made prints that cover the 55,000 square foot Open Book Building.

An interactive zine reading lounge, Free for All was in MCBA’s Main Gallery, organized by Twin Cities Zine Fest.

Guest curator Heid E. Erdrich 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 explored the politics of control and alternative methods of public discourse, was 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, was on view in the Lerner Bindery Gallery.

Stamp of Disapproval showcased counter-culture work from MCBA’s S. Helmes and W. Gaglione Rubber Stamp Archive.

Meander, new work by environmental artist Alyssa Baguss, was on view in the Outlook Gallery.

Press

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

MCBA Prize 2017 Winner Announcement
City Pages: MCBA opens 7 gallery shows at once (and other art happenings worth your time this week)
Pioneer Press: Book Arts event encourages grassroots artistic practice
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

Sponsors