The Last Chapter

 

 

The Last Chapter is a bookstore/gallery in Sheffield, UK which is featuring four artists books from the collection at Bank Street Arts in their shop window this autumn in conjunction with The Sheffield International Artists Book Prize.  The 2013 Artists Book Prize will feature over 450 artists books from all over the world. As well as this exhibition, Bank Street Arts are showcasing artists books in a number of public spaces like libraries and hotel foyers to expose artists books to a wider community.

 

I entered Lost in a Million Dead End Streets in the 2nd Sheffield Artists Book Prize in 2009.  It was not compulsory, but Bank Street Arts ask artists if they would be prepared to donate their book to build the collection.  I did so and now my book has been chosen to be the first one displayed at The Last Chapter.  One of the nice things about having books in collections is that other people start exhibiting your books for you and they reach a much wider audience.

 

I have entered one of my Book Art Object books called Unchartered Democracy

 

 

into the 2013 Sheffield Artists Book Prize which will be on display at Bank Street Arts in Sheffield from the 5th October to 30th November.

 



Delires de Livres

 

The next exhibition I will be participating in is Delires de Livres 2013, a biennial exhibition organised by Am'arts in Chartres, France.  Delires de Livres  means delirious about books. I have participated once before in 2011, and I was fortunate to be on holidays in Paris at the time and was able to spend a delightful day in Chartres seeing the exhibition and meeting Chantal Leibenguth, the organiser and curator.  Chantal produces a great catalogue and artists' cards which can be purchased at the show.

 

The exhibition is held in the Collegiale Saint-Andre, a gorgeous old church which dates back to the 12th century.  It has been partly destroyed and rebuilt over the centuries and underwent a comprehensive restoration in 2003 as a cultural centre. 

 

 

The medieval garden has been cultivated with aromatic and medicinal herbs.

 

 

After leaving the magnificent Chartres cathedral

 

 

and walking through a gateway from the gardens

 

 

I entered a steep old street of stairs

 

 

which led down to Saint-Andre.

 

 

There is a video of the opening in 2007 which gives some idea of the wonderful interior and atmosphere of the exhibition.

 

 

One of my Book Art Object books, That Unbearable Lightness

 

 

and a 2012 version of Lost in a Million Dead End Streets

 

 

 

will be on display from 27th April to 19th May.

Unfortunately I am not able to attend this year, but I'm delighted to be participating.