A book 5 storeys high…

For the month of November, 2016, Artist in Residence Susie Wilson exhibited her new artwork, “Bookwork in 69 parts”, which completed her 2016 research residency in ECA Library.
“Bookwork in 69 parts” was hung in the stairwell of Evolution House, and was accompanied by a display of Susie’s new bookworks, inside the Library. The fragile 5 storey-tall drawing in 69 sections reached from level 5 all the way down to level 0, and gave visitors to the building pause for thought.
We would like to thank Susie for all her work during her research residency and congratulate her on this beautiful new piece of work created for the ECA Library artists’ books collection.
Bookwork in 69 parts, by Susie Wilson, 2016

Partial View: display by artist in residence Susie Wilson

This Spring, our 2016 artist in residence Susie Wilson made a selection of artists’ books from the ECA Library collection, for her display “Partial View”, which was held at ECA Library, Evolution House, during Semester 2.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Says Susie, of her selection of artists’ books:
“There is no definitive description of an artist book as by its very nature it is an elusive art form. The ECA Library’s collection reflects this. Artists’ books invite participation and the interplay between the viewer and the book creates an intimacy that isn’t found in other art forms. For me, an artist book should be a dialogue between form and content, each enhancing the other.”
The display completed the first part of Susie’s residency, following several very successful and well-attended workshops, such as this one where students were shown how to make their own books:
Susie and her workshop group, making book forms.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We would like to thank Susie for her hard work and commitment to her residency, for sharing her skills with our students, and for creating a beautiful display!
The next part of the residency will be when Susie delivers a new artist’s book that she has made in response to her research at ECA Library, in summer 2016.
 

Antonio Freiles book display at ECA library

In April 2016 we were pleased to have a guest display of books by Antonio Freiles, at ECA Library, in Evolution House.
The display was curated by book artist and print maker Jane Hyslop.

Antonio Freiles is an artist who lives and works in Messina, Italy, and his work has been exhibited widely across Europe.
He works with artists’ books and in particular with handmade paper. Through this medium he explores the concept of painting-substance, the indistinct place where any difference between colour and support, between the composition and time of realization, between structure and space, is lost.
Freiles gives these sheets of hand-made paper the role of ‘pages’. Through these he aims for a kind of ‘total experience’, both for himself in that he is artist, editor, page designer, graphic artist, printer and inventor, and for the viewer who discovers the work visually and through tactile experience.
Freiles is deeply involved with Spazio Libro d’Artista, Catania, which houses an important collection of artists’ books.
Artist’s book by Antonio Freiles, with permission of the artist.

Forthcoming display to be curated by artist in residence

A selection of artists’ books, photograph by Jane Furness.
ECA Library welcomed book artist Susie Wilson to the Library on 1st February and Susie has been busy exploring the extensive artists’ book collection held at the Library as part of her research residency, which continues to mid-March.
With over 1500 artists’ books to explore, from Ed Ruscha to Katie Paterson, we are excited to see which books Susie will choose for her forthcoming display in the Library, and we wonder what themes she will discover and explore.
The display is due to open Week Beginning 21st March.
 

Residency begins at ECA Library for artist Holly Prentice

Monday 2nd February 2015:
We are delighted to welcome Holly Prentice to ECA Library today. Holly has already begun to explore our 2000 artists’ books and will be producing an exhibition, several workshops and a new book-work, as part of her month-long research residency.
One of the workshops will be a free and open to all drop in session at ECA Evolution House, room 2.15, during Innovative Learning Week, more details here soon…

Holly Prentice chosen as next research resident for ECA Library

ECA Library is pleased to announce that Holly Prentice has been chosen as the successful recipient of the ECA Book Artist  Research Residency 2014/15. Holly will take up the Residency in early Spring 2015 (exact dates to be confirmed), based in ECA Library, Evolution House.
Holly is an artist who graduated from ECA in 2012 with a First Class degree in Drawing & Painting. Her work has been shown in exhibitions across the UK, from Aberdeen to Sheffield, to Ullapool, and at European venues such as the Universitat der Kunst, Berlin.
Holly uses libraries, archives and collections for research and as inspiration for her practice. We look forward to seeing the ways in which her month long exploration of ECA Library collections inspires her own work. More information about Holly’s plans for the residency will be posted here later this month.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all applicants for the time they took to apply for this award.

Display by Julie Johnstone book artist in residence, opens at ECA Library

May 15th:
A display  of artists’ books from the ECA Library collection has opened today at Evolution House, and has been curated by our book artist in residence, Julie Johnstone.
Julie has chosen artists’ books from our collection which she has felt a particular affinity with or reaction to, as she has surveyed our collection during her research residency.
The display is on level 1 of the Library at Evolution House, and is accompanied by a display of recent book works by Julie herself.

The display closed on 5th June.
 

Book artist Julie Johnstone begins ECA Library artist's residency

May 1st:
Today ECA Library welcomes book artist Julie Johnstone to a one month research residency at ECA Library. Julie will explore the ECA Library Artists’ Books collection, curate a display of books, and will organise a reading group or two, open to all students and staff. At the end of her residency Julie will create a new artist’s book in response to her research residency at ECA, which will be added to the ECA Library artists’ books permanent collection.
Julie will be tweeting about her experience at #eca_artistsbks.

More information about the dates of the reading groups at ECA Library will be posted here soon.

ECA Artists Book Maker Residency Bursary 2014 award winner announced

ECA Library is pleased to announce that Julie Johnstone has been chosen as the successful recipient of the ECA Artists Book Maker Residency Bursary 2014. Julie will take up the Residency in May, based in ECA Library, Evolution House.
A Book of Hours, [detail], Julie JohnstoneJulie is an established book artist and editor of the Essence Press. Her work is held in collections at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, the Tate, the V&A, and elsewhere, and she appears regularly at artists book fairs, and is experienced in the curation of exhibitions.
Julie has proposed a discussion group / reading group format as part of her residency as well as being keen to curate a display of the works held in the ECA Library artists’ books collection that she finds most inspiring. The new book work that she makes as the focus of the Residency will be accessioned into the Library’s permanent collection of artists’ books.
It is intended that this Residency opportunity becomes an annual feature at ECA Library, and anyone who applied this year would be eligible to apply again in future years. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all applicants for the time they took to apply for this award.