Phoenix Brighton
Phoenix Brighton
Kaho Kojima

Kaho Kojima

John Dilnot

John Dilnot

John Dilnot

Chisato Tamabayashi

Knust

Knust

Borbonessa Publishing

Borbonessa Publishing

Reassemble

Reassemble

Press & Release 2008 is supported by<br />
a grant from Arts Council England

Press & Release 2008 is supported by
a grant from Arts Council England

Press & Release 2008

Exhibition Archive

In the Main Gallery

26 Apr – 7 Jun, 2008
PREVIEW: Fri 25 Apr 6–8 pm

‘PRESS & RELEASE’ is celebration of artists’ books and independent publishing, showcasing an intriguing selection of UK and international artists, with work ranging from the profane to sublime. Curated by Karin Mori, the exhibition provides an opportunity to encounter a range of visions arising out of the world of artists’ books within an imaginative, improvised space dedicated to revealing the artist’s book in a new light. Sculptor Ben Thomson has transformed the gallery space into an environment housing the work of individual artists and publishers, presenting books and related ephemera outside the conventional glass case. The show includes over 30 individual artists and groups, with an emphasis on limited edition, hand-made work that stretches the parameters of printmaking, mixed media and other approaches, to arrive at highly original and inventive permutations of the book format. Ranging from underground comics to journals, pop-ups, posters, web-based pieces, installations and gate crashers, the work provides a glimpse into the dense and multi-faceted world of self-publishing.

Highlights includes John Dilnot’s cabinet of curiosities, hand-cut pages from Kaho Kojima and Chisato TamabayashiBatool Showghi’s family albums, Paul Clarke’s gothic childrens’ stories, Mark Pawson’s low-tech hi-fi multiples, Mayan women’s collective Taller Leñateros, and installations by Nicola Dale, found sound duo reassemble, and collaborative trio Borbonesa.

The special line up of artists also includes: Frans Baake, Peter Chasseaud, Young-Ju Choi, Karen Constance, Roz Cran, Ann D’Arcy Hughes, Jeff Keen, Lotte Little, Angela McKay, David Miles, Dylan Nyoukis, Oddstock Books, Redfoxpress, Monica Ross, Jim Sanders, Lucy May Schofield, Jonathan Swain, Carolyn Trant and Weproductions. In the south gallery, Alasdair Willis scours cyberspace for self-publishing pioneers and rogues, and fills the walls with his discoveries. Books and other publications are for sale in the exhibition through the Permanent Gallery Bookshop. Special guests include Le Dernier Cri, an artists’ publishing house in Marseille that generates beautiful and intense, often disturbing limited editionbooks, prints, and animations from European, American, Japanese and South American artists. They are joined by Knust, an artists’ collective from Nijmegen, Netherlands which employs a unique stencil (mimeograph) printing process and champions some inventive ways of producing books, posters, cd’s and wall paper.

NOTICE: Some of the imagery in this exhibition is not suitable for children, and therefore a small area of the gallery will have restricted access. Elsewhere, children are very welcome but should be supervised by an adult, as many of the books can be handled but are fragile.

Visitors are encouraged to linger in the gallery and take part in a number of special associated activities:

PHOENIX GALLERY TALK

Sat 26 Apr 2pm Phoenix GalleryFREE.
An opportunity to meet Caroline Sury and Pakito Bolino from Le Dernier Cri, and Joyce Guley and Jan Dirk de Wilde from Knust. An informal presentation on these two organisations with an international underground reputation.

SCREENING & PERFORMANCE

Sat 26 Apr 8 pm Westhill Hall, Compton Avenue, Brighton
Tue 29 Apr 8 pm ICA, London
“Les Religions Sauvages”: Produced at Dernier Cri, the film features a series of short animations by various artists. Billed as a cult film, it “…tube-feeds its audience a horrific diet of sin, visual saintliness, torture, twisted pitch black humour and perversion for initiated eyes” Pakito Bolino and others will perform a live improvised sound track.
Westhill Hall, Brighton £5/£3 conc.
ICA, London £10/£9 conc. ICA box office: 020 7930 3647 Not suitable for under 18’s.

THE CRITICAL INCIDENT

Tues 13 May, 10 am – 6pm Phoenix + other venues around Brighton
A day and night of challenging, practical conversations, workshops and events about artistry, innovation, insight, imagination and challenging collusions of mediocrity. £25/£20 concessions.
Details & booking: www.thecriticalincident.com

BEFORE WRITING: Self-Publishing Workshops

18 & 25 May, 1 Jun, 1 – 5 pm Phoenix
Introduces low-budget, practical techniques forcreating the vehicles through which an idea can be made public. Covers making booklets and printed material, web-based communication, and performance. Run by Bookville: Graeme Walker & Maggie Tran. Per session: £5/£3 concessions Advance registration required. Suitable for ages 18+

Artists’ Book Fair

Sat 24 May, 11am – 5pm

As an accompanying event to the ‘PRESS & RELEASE’ exhibition, the book fair will feature a wide range of artists’ books and independent publications. Over thirty stalls will feature limited edition, hand made books, fanzines, comics, multiples, ephemera and more. Special performances, readings, food and music will round out the event.

Participants

Alice Smith – Bracket Press www.bracketpress.co.uk
Angela Mckay www.phoenixarts.org/artists/artists_angelamckay.htm
Beatrice Haverich www.beatricehaverich.com
Book Art, Andrea Hill www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk
Candida Lacey www.myriadeditions.com
Carolyn Trant www.carolyntrantparvenu.blogspot.com
Cathy Streeter
Frank Eye
Gavin Burrows
In to Art www.intoart.org.uk
Irma Irsara www.oleary-isara.com
James Evans www.myspace.com/noncontactable
Julie Caves www.juliecaves.moonfruit.com
Kate Blevgard and friends
Kato Catling www.Kcatling.co.uk
Knight comics
Leslie Wilson Rutherford www.leslieworks.co.uk
Lonely Pandas, Karoline Rerrie www.lonelypanda.com
Lorna Crabbe
Lucky Dip (collective)
Mark Pawson www.mpawson.demon.co.uk
Mike Russell
Nicola Jackson www.nicolajackson.net
Paper Tiger Comix, Sean Duffield www.dirtysquatters.com/papertiger
Paul O’Connel www.soundofdrowning.com
Peter Chasseud www.peterchasseaud.blogspot.com
Peter Poole www.thestereobrothers.com
Pig Hog Press www.pighog.co.uk www.thesouth.org
Reassemble www.reassemble.co.uk
Sumi Perera www.loopartists.co.uk
Tozzy Bridger www.tozzybridger.co.uk
University of Brighton Illustration Students