8 August – 1 September 2009

A veritable smorgasbord of artists’ books of all shapes and sizes welcomed the large crowd that was present to hear the Judges announce the winners of the East Gippsland Art Gallery’s inaugural artists’ books award Books … beyond words.

Since then the gallery has been extremely busy with visitors who have taken the time to put on the gloves and thoroughly explore all the works on display.

The EGAG thanks all the artists who submitted entries for the award. Unfortunately we were not able to accept all the books in the initial ‘call for entries’. And thank you to all those artists who were able to attend the opening.

Selecting the winners was not an easy task. The Judges took quite some time to view each book separately - all the display cases were opened to allow them to see the books properly. After much discussion their final decision was:

First Prize $5,000

Donated in the memory of Derek Rice

Deanna Hitti
Assimilated Symphony
Collograph & vinyl
100cm x 75cm x 4cm

“A child of Lebanese parents who migrated to Australia I began developing a strong interest in comprehending the diverse cultural traditions amongst the varied population in this country.Living two cultures simultaneously, one of a strong Middle Eastern tradition at home and collectively experiencing mores of Western influences in my social and school environment. This began a visual exploration of an ‘Australian identity’ – infusing one cultural uniqueness with the romanticism of my Middle Eastern Background.

Music is one of the universally shared experiences that cross many boundaries of communication. Assimilated Symphony is one work that I produced in a traditional codex book format that is founded on a large musical score. Using the Arabic text from one of my earlier childhood readers, I reassembled these words, that although keeping with the spirit of the Arabic text, the text used has in fact become illegible.

Assimilated Symphony formed a rhythmic palimpsest of Arabic and Western words, generating a lyrical flow of pattern and thought as the reader turns its pages.”

Tantaro Design Innovation Award $1,000

Katren Wood
76636 263 585438
Cloth bound book (hardcover), ink printed on paper
21.5cm x 15.2cm x 1.5cm

Servant - But pray can you read anything you see?
Romeo – Ay, if I know the letters and the language. – Romeo and Juliet

“Every day words are forgotten, language is reduced, abbreviated and erased and information is transformed into codes and electronic data.  Due to scientific advancements, human to human interaction has become increasingly reliant on technology. 

Trace of the hand has been lost and our ability to communicate in an articulate and grammatically correct fashion is becoming extinct.  The communication evolution from hand written letter to text message is the bittersweet development of our modern world.  With mobile phone and internet dependency ‘instant’ isn’t instantaneous enough, ‘fast’ isn’t quick enough and ‘now’ isn’t current enough.  We live in a high speed society at the peak of its scientific era but where has that left language?  What linguistic sacrifices have we made for the development of technology?

76636 263 585438 is a modern translation of Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy “Romeo and Juliet”.  The code is based on the predicative text or dictionary setting on a mobile phone where each number correlates to a letter on the numerical keypad.  Ironically this instant, ephemeral form of communication not only took hours to complete but remains permanent and physical in its book form.  Merging the cheapness of text messaging with the aura of Shakespeare, the conventions of contemporary communication are exploited and the barriers of language have been exposed to create a book truly beyond words.”

Riviera People's Choice Award $500

Kim McKechnie Bound by the Collective Self

Judges Commendations:

• Rhonda Ayliffe
  Herstory 2007
  Reclaimed text book, cotton thread, copy transfer
  58cm x 425cm

  “Books are central to my arts practice – they provide both the subject matter and physical materials of my work. Books enter my practice in a number of ways:  for many years I have been collecting unwanted books, saving them from landfill – I manipulate, modify, alter and occasionally destroy collected volumes in order to create works. I also use traditional and contemporary bookbinding to create new book structures, sometimes incorporating the old books in the process.

  My book works are at the forefront of my present ambition to explore the construction of knowledge and knowing as these relate to place. My desire is to create work that has multiple, even dichotomous meanings – a deliberate cultivation of ambiguity to highlight the transient nature of knowledge and knowing and the difficult shifting relationship of self to history and heritage.”

• Angela Cavalieri
  Le citta continua
  Handprinted linocut, acrylic, pen ink
  57cm x 39cm x3cm

  “Le citta continua (Continuous Cities) is based on text from the Italian version of Italo Calvino’s “Le citta invisibili (“Invisible Cities”). In particular from Le ciita continua which is one of the ‘cities’ invented by Calvino and I chose this city because it gave me a sense of space and infinite time. I wanted to create the sensation I often have when entering and re-entering a city. For me, it feels like a continuous journey and although cities vary greatly, it appears you are in the same ‘space’. The arch symbolizes this ‘passageway’ and on opening this book you view a large arch which slowly diminishes into the last page.”

• Joel Gailer
  Print
  Offset lithograph
  21cm x 150cm
  “The visual culture of today could not exist without the centuries old technologies of printmaking.  My work utilizes the mass produced and commercial world of print.  Highlighting our excessive and compliant consumption of visual technology, I use text to create work with light-hearted reverence for printmaking and its relationship to mass production, media and print processes.

  Primarily a concept based process my work is produced almost entirely by correspondence.  The work itself is a dialogue between myself, art/printmaking and the public.  By employing printmaking terms in my work, i.e. Hors de Commerce, I am highlighting the primary position print occupies in our current visual culture, as the derivative print technology.

  This collection of work exists in publishable form only, unlike most art production, which culminates in a single or limited number of objects. These works are unlimited editions that can be printed and reprinted into perpetuity. It’s conceptual core is an art that is free, mass produced offset lithograph and art that can be studied and appreciated outside the confines of an art establishment.  But unlike most public art, the viewer can possess it, it has a tangible form that can be held and displayed as an original work.”

• Angela Leech
  Commodity Doc: 1:142
  Paper & cardboard
  31cm x 22cm x 3.5cm

  “I work in a number of mediums, primarily in collage and sculpture. Over the past year I have become interested in creating artist books. 

  My work often references the human figure combined with a complement of mechanical elements and nearly always with a mask, appendage or other disguise. I do this to reference more ambiguous psychological phenomenon, experiences and perspectives.

  I build into the work an original, open and energising humour.”

• John Ryrie
  The Man Who Went To See The Sea
  Hand coloured linocut and letter press

Books ... Beyond Words

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An illustrated colour catalogue of the exhibition is available from the EGAG for $10. If you would like a catalogue sent out please send $15 to the EGAG with your name and address.

The EGAG would like to acknowledge the support it has received from local organisations and businesses.

The First Prize was donated by Fay Rice in memory of Derek Rice and it was her generosity that gave the EGAG the opportunity to fulfill its goal of presenting a major arts award.

Joe Tantaro of Tantaro Design, Bairnsdale, was very interested in the concept of artists’ books and his early support and enthusiasm gave the organisers some much-needed confidence to continue seeking sponsorship.

Tim Weight of Riviera Properties Ltd, Paynesville, also offered support early.

East Gippsland Institute of TAFE and the East Gippsland Shire Council Arts and Heritage Alliance are also major sponsors of the Award.

As well, SLAP Architects, Bairnsdale, McSweeny Neville, Building Design & Drafting, Bairnsdale and The Esplanade, Resort & Spa, Lakes Entrance have given generously of their support.

Thank you to the other local businesses that have supported Books … beyond words:

• Harvey Norman, Bairnsdale
• K. Easton & Associates
• Pulse Pharmacy, Bairnsdale
• Collins Booksellers, Bairnsdale
• Mystic House, Bairnsdale
• Coles Group & Myer
• House & Gift, Bairnsdale

Books ... beyond words aims to showcase excellence in expression, innovation in concept and in the use of materials in contemporary artists' books as well as pushing the boundaries of the definition of ‘book' and exploring it as sculptural form.‘

Artists' books' is a very broad term and trying to describe an artist book to those unfamiliar with the genre can be difficult. The easiest way is to recommend to ‘google' artists' books and a door to a new world of wonder and delight will be opened.

Generally, artists' books may be thought of as a book, unique or multiple, which has been made by an artist. There are books that embrace the traditional structure of a book and others that are something of a sculptural object.

Artists' books are used as a medium for self-expression often using cross-disciplinary media. They may be constructed from a varied range of materials from felt to metal, cardboard to wood, handmade paper to ceramics. Whatever the technique and material the ‘book' encompasses concepts associated with the fine arts.

The East Gippsland Art Gallery has initiated a number of artists' book exhibitions over the last few years and is extremely pleased to be able to introduce this event that will become a biennial award and exhibition.