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We have Black History Month new books displays at ECA Library, Evolution House, and at the Main Library, George Square, for everyone to enjoy this month.
In this in-person event, Dr Elizabeth Williams, cultural historian and leader of the Academic Support Librarian team, will be in conversation with six outstanding University of Edinburgh academics and commentators: Dr. Gwenetta D. Curry, Dr Omolabake Fakunle, Dr Nicola Frith, Sharon Boateng, Dr Simon Buck, and Rachel Hosker.
Black History Month book displays at ECA Library, October 2023.
From 8th September until 7th November 2023 we were delighted to host sidereal. the afterimage, presenting a selection of work from ~ sidereal. the afterimage, by Barbara A. Morton of Entropie Books.
sidereal. the afterimage
sidereal. the afterimage
~ sidereal. the afterimage is a new chapter of creative composition by Barbara A Morton.
The exhibition takes its title from the distinctive signature piece ~ sidereal. the
afterimage which achieves an extension of intention and originality in the
expression of poetry, book-making, drawing, and design.
The accompanying pieces, likewise, demonstrate ambition and creative reach,
both technically and imaginatively, and serve to maintain and develop Barbara’s
ongoing purpose of bringing poetry and poetic text to its aesthetic and accurate
environment ~ to encourage the reader to look, and to encourage the viewer to
read. To look closely. To look again. To look ~ for longer.
The show was at ECA Library, Evolution House (level 1), West Port, Edinburgh, until noon on 7th November 2023. Evolution House is open to the public Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 4.45pm.
Award winning artist, poet and letterpress printer, and founder of Stichill Marigold Press, Len McDermid sadly died last week, and we pay tribute to him at ECA Library with a display of the work we hold by him in the ECA Library artists’ books collection.
We were honoured to host a tribute exhibition in 2021, Fair Winds and Following Seas, curated by book artist Barbara A Morton, and we loved and respected Len and enjoyed working with him.
We are delighted that Norwegian artist Kjersti Sletteland has been announced as the winner of the 2023 RSA Annual ECA Library Prize. Kjersti wins a one year free borrowing membership to the ECA Library collections, which is part of the University of Edinburgh Libraries.
Well done Kjersti!
You can find out more here.
Our new display at ECA Library, Evolution House, features the work of book artist Priya Pereira. Published by Pixie Books, Seven Stories of Mewar is an artist’s book exploring episodes of significance that occurred during the illustrious history of Mewar, in Northern India, over the last 1500 years.
To celebrate Black History Month 2022 ECA Library has a special display centred on the new memoir by Edward Enninful, Editor in Chief of Vogue UK since 2017.
The display features Enninful’s new book: A Visible Man alongside many of the issues of Vogue UK with which he has transformed the culture of this most famous of fashion industry magazines. Enninful is a key figure with global influence since he is the first male, first Black, first gay editor in the magazine’s 100-year history.
Listen to the podcast of Enninful’s interview with Oprah on Super Soul in which Enninful says “I want young people to read this book and understand that they can change an industry from within, by being vocal and not afraid”.
Find out about other Black History Month events at the University.
The Digital Wall at the Main Library
Here are some guidelines for students who may wish to exhibit their work on the Main Library Digital Wall.
There are two ways to show video or moving image work on the Digital Wall:
1: Continuous loop films that populate the whole 18 4k screens at about 1-2 mins in length. Pixel Dimensions for these films are 7680 × 2160 at 30fps.
2: Films that are accessed via the touch screens that play on 9 screens at a time: about 3 mins is a good length. (Maximum 4 mins). Pixel Dimensions for these screens are 3840 × 2160 at 30fps. These films can be grouped into ‘collections’ within the Digital Wall database.
Students should supply an Mp4 file, preferably using the H.264 codec.
Still images can be shown using the same formats above, as Mp4 files/short films.
If you wish to exhibit your work on the Digital Wall it would be best to visit the Main Library (first floor landing) to see the Wall in action. Who to contact:
Malcolm Brown, Deputy Photographer: Malcolm.Brown@ed.ac.uk Digital Imaging Unit, University of Edinburgh, Main Library, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Alternative contacts:
Gavin Willshaw, Digitisation & Digital Engagement Manager: Gavin.Willshaw@ed.ac.uk
Stuart Robinson, Technician, Audio Visual Resources, Digital Library: Stuart.Robinson@ed.ac.uk
Watch a clip of ECA Student Work on the Digital Wall
If you are interested in all things Zine, you will be pleased to know that the Edinburgh Zine Fair 2021 takes place at the Drill Hall, Out of the Blue, 36 Dalmeny Street (just off Leith Walk) on Saturday 23rd October, 11.00am – 5.00pm.
The Edinburgh Zine Fair is brought to you by Typewronger Books
This will be a great opportunity to see and buy zines, and talk to their makers!
ECA Library is delighted to present a new exhibition at ECA Library, Evolution House, West Port. Opening on 12th October, Fair Winds and Following Seas, is co-curated by Barbara A Morton of Entropie Books, and ECA Librarian Jane Furness.
Featuring a personal selection of Leonard McDermid’s own work from the Stichill Marigold Press, alongside the collected responses in appreciation of his art, as received from his friends:
Jane Hyslop
Graeme Hawley
Julie Johnstone
John Easson
Thomas A Clark
Catherine Marshall
W J Morton
Barbara A Morton
Susie Wilson
Imi Maufe
Gin Saunders
We are so pleased to host this wonderful celebration, and are thankful for the generosity of Len and Barbara, in making this exhibition possible. The show will continue through Semester 1 and closes on 30th November 2021.
Don’t forget to pick up your free packet of marigold seeds! Public access to ECA Library: Please note that access to all University of Edinburgh libraries is currently restricted to University of Edinburgh Students, Staff and Official Visitors, and NHS Lothian Staff, Edinburgh Theological Seminary Staff & students (Free Church of Scotland College), Free Church of Scotland Ministers, retired ministers and staff, Church of Scotland Ministers, retired ministers & staff, Alumni, Friends of the Library and Life members of the Library. For members of the public not in any of those membership categories who wish to view the exhibition, please note, you do not need to book a time slot to visit, but you should announce yourself to ECA Reception on arrival inside Evolution House, and to ECA Library Helpdesk on arrival within the Library, you should give your name and phone number to Library Helpdesk staff for NHS Test and Protect purposes, and all visitors should wear a face covering (unless exempt). We regret that at this time, Access will be granted to the Library exhibition space only, and not to the rest of ECA Library.
Enjoyed Fair Winds and Following Seas? Then you might be interested in the CRC (Centre for Research Collections) online exhibition, Sea Change.
Tuesday 1st December 2020:
Today sees the launch online of the Visual Arts Scotland virtual exhibition, F L O W, their first online VAS Members’ winter show, running online throughout December 2020 and January 2021. Exhibitors include artist’s book makers who have appeared in exhibitions at ECA Library, and/or who have artist’s books in our ECA Library Artists’ Books Collection, for example Entropie Books, by Barbara Morton, and works by Karen Gabbitas, an ECA Alumna, and Susie Leiper, a former RSA Open annual ECA Library Award winner.
In addition, the traditional University of Edinburgh Christmas Charity Craft Fair is going virtual between 1st and 20th December. Many ECA students and graduates are involved, as well as our talented and creative University staff.
Visit our virtual exhibition hall at www.christmasfair.sps.ed.ac.uk, where you can find gifts big and small to make Christmas extra special!
This year, the Fair is in support of Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation, helping in the fight against Covid-19.
