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ARTISTS BOOKS IN AUSTRALIA: The People+Events

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In July the artists book symposium ABBE 2025 took place at Artspace Mackay. A key theme of this event was the ‘mapping Australia’s artists book histories’ and in the extended brief for the conference there was the lament that while artists books in Australia had been broad and active there was a scant record of the history the discipline.

Reference was made to the understated history of the two main texts Gary Catalano’s The Bandaged Image (1983) and Alex Selenitsch’s NGA published Australian Artists Books 2008, conferences such as those coordinated by Artspace Mackay, many unpublished PhD thesis and the ‘valiant attempts by journals’ that burn out after a few years.

‘Bring your stories, your artifacts, and your memories’ they said so I put forward a submission consisting of aspects of the visual record that I have been making over 22 years of the artists book scene. My submission was to be an illustrated presentation consisting of approximately 200 portraits of the people of the artists book discipline as well as a few events.

Here is my submission rationale:

AN ARTISTS BOOK FAMILY ALBUM – A ‘paper’ by Dr Doug Spowart

“A family’s photograph album is generally about the extended family

and, often, is all that remains of it.”

Susan Sontag in On Photography 1977

Family archives are a profound thread connecting past, present, and future, serving as repositories of memory, identity, and history.

Photography is more than just a medium for capturing pictures—it is a lens through which we view and understand history. Its ability to document, provoke, and preserve moments in time has made it an indispensable tool for both personal and collective memory.

In this way photographs hold the power to evoke vivid recollections, introducing us to lost relatives and forgotten stories while anchoring us within a broader familial narrative. Yet, the fragility of these archives is striking — images tucked away on devices or in drawers risk being lost to time, their stories untold.

The passing of key family members often deepens this void, as context and meaning tied to people and events can vanish. Establishing and preserving a family archive becomes not just an act of personal curation but a legacy-building effort, ensuring that these visual fragments of memory remain accessible to future generations.

In an era where countless photos are taken but rarely saved, the challenge lies in collecting and annotating these fleeting moments. A taking them into lasting archives for some to have as a touchtone for memory, and for others to review and research. Maybe to tell the story for future eyes and minds of the books that were made, what events happened and who was there…

This paper will present an illustrated fragment of photographs of the artists book family taken by the author over a 20 years period.

Dr Doug Spowart

This submission was accepted, and the presentation offered to attendees of the symposium, and later online as a movie via the Artspace website.

A LINK TO THE YOUTUBE VIDEO ON DOUG SPOWART’s Channel: “CLICK IMAGE”

For BEST viewing quality select HD quality in the SETTINGS menu. NOTE: The full video is 12 minutes long.

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PRESENTER’S COMMENT from Doug Spowart

In curating these photographs I have focussed on selecting images from the broad artists book community and have not included many photographs from my collaborative practice with Victoria Cooper.

Every attempt has been made to ensure correct captions – Please advise of any errors or omissions. Thanks to Caren Florance, Helen Cole, Robert Heather and Adele Outteridge for their assistance with captions.

Victoria and I have provided commentary about the artists book and photobook disciplines for many years in our Blog, journals, events coordinated and lecture presentations.

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All photographs are Copyright Doug Spowart (Some by Victoria Cooper). The subject pictured, after contacting the copyright owner, may be able to use the portrait of themselves for non-commercial applications. Other usage may require negotiation of a fee.

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WHAT FOLLOWS IS A LIST OF ALL CAPTIONS IN THE VIDEO

MABF 2017 National Gallery of Victoria

Deanna Hitti and Deidre Brollo @ MABF 2017 National Gallery of Victoria

‘Life’s Journey’ exhibition @ Redland Art Gallery, Cleveland 2012

Julie Barratt in her gallery at Alstonville 2011

Dianne Longley in her exhibition ‘Navigations’ at Barrett Galleries 2008

Tim Mosely in his exhibition Make Like An Eskimo 2012

grahame galleries opening of Lessons in History Vol. II – Democracy 2012

Heather Matthew and Stephen Spurrier @ grahame galleries opening of Lessons in History Vol. II – Democracy 2012

Monica Oppen and Jan Davis @ grahame galleries opening of Lessons in History Vol. II – Democracy 2012

Volume Art Book Fair, Artspace, Woolloomooloo, Sydney 2017

Helen Cole chairs presentations by Keith Smith and Scott McCarney State Library of Queensland 2012

Siganto Seminar: The Trouble with Artists’ Books SLQ 2013

Helen Cole –Siganto Seminar: The Trouble with Artists’ Books SLQ 2013

Noreen Graeme and Jan Davis – Siganto Seminar: The Trouble with Artists’ Books SLQ 2013

Hearsay book launch with Euan Mcleod, Ron McBurnie, Susi Muddiman & Lloyd Jones SLQ 2013

Jo Kambourian at Artists Books Flash Mob Survey Book event Grafton 2013

Catherine McCue Boes Books as art: 30 years in the making Bundaberg Regional Gallery 2014

George Paton Gallery, Artist’s Books (reprised) University of Melbourne 2014

International speaker Sarah Bodman presents a paper – Abbe 2015 Griffith University

International speaker Brad Freeman – Abbe 2015 Griffith University

Lyn Ashby – Abbe 2015 Griffith University

Convener Tim Mosely presenting – Abbe 2015 Griffith University

Books By Artists exhibition – Abbe 2015 Griffith University

Sue Anderson + Gwen Harrison Abbe 2015 Griffith University

Deidre Brollo with Christene Drewe + Helen Cole and Marian Crawford with Sarah Bodman

Abbe 2015 Griffith University

Penny Carey-Wells and Caren Florance Abbe 2015 Griffith University

Robyn Foster + Fiona Dempster and Angela Gardner Abbe 2015 Griffith University

Sheree Kinlyside and Impress Printmakers: Sue Poggioli + Jennifer Stuerzl Abbe 2015 Griffith University

Tim Mosely and Heather Matthew Abbe 2015 Griffith University

Adele Outteridge + Wim de Vos – Abbe 2015 Griffith University

Jo Kambourian and Darren Bryant at Lismore Art Space 2014

The SLQ White Gloves team Christene Drewe, Helen Cole and Jeanette Garrard for Abbe 2015

State Librarian Janette Wright welcomes attendees SLQ 2015

Brazillian artist Amir Brito Cadôr keynote presentation Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Seminar 2015

Julie Barratt and Clyde McGill discusse their Siganto Foundation Creative Fellowship 2015

Jan Davis and Doug Spowart discuss their Siganto Foundation Creative Fellowship 2015

A forum on collaboration – Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Seminar 2015

Judy Bourke and Adele Outteridge+Wim de Vos at the Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Fair SLQ 2015

Clyde McGill and Anne Kirker and Sue Poggioli at the Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Fair SLQ 2015

Helen Malone and Sandra Pearce at the Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Fair SLQ 2015

Amir Brito Cadôr with Noreen Grahame & Helen Malone at the Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Fair SLQ 2015

Helen Cole, Michael Wardell & Clyde McGill at the Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book Fair SLQ 2015

Dr Marie Siganto makes a presentation to Ana Paula Estrada and Victoria Cooper

PAPER CONTEMPORARY – Sydney Contemporary 2015

Grahame Galleries stand with Ron + Jonathan McBurnie at Paper Contemporary – Sydney Contemporary 2015

Victoria Cooper, Jan Davis and Trent Walter at Paper Contemporary – Sydney Contemporary 2015

Sue Anderson + Gwen Harrison and Brigita Oppen at Paper Contemporary – Sydney Contemporary 2015

Helen Cole, Akky van Ogtrop, Robyn Berkeley from Berkeley Editions and Victoria Cooper at

Paper Contemporary – Sydney Contemporary 2015

Fellow Travellers a book by William Kelly, SLV Creative Fellow and Baldessin Press Studio Residency recipient

Personal Histories International Artist Book Exhibition Uni of NSW Canberra 2015

Robyn Foster (Curator), Judy Bourke, Selena Griffith, Tracie Toohey, Rachel Hunter, Lisa Morisset –

Personal Histories International Artist Book Exhibition Uni of NSW Canberra 2015

Christene Drewe introduces UK artist Guy Begbie – The Siganto Foundation Fellowship artist book series 2016 SLQ

Guy Begbie presents his keynote address – The Siganto Foundation Fellowship artist book series 2016 SLQ

Victoria Cooper and Lyn Ashby presentations – The Siganto Foundation Fellowship artist book series 2016-7 SLQ

Helen Douglas presents her keynote address – The Siganto Foundation Fellowship artist book series 2017 SLQ

Clyde McGill performs his book and a White Gloves presentation of artists books

– The Siganto Foundation Fellowship artist book series 2016 SLQ

Freestyle Books exhibition curated by Helen Cole at the State Library of Queensland 2008

Freestyle Books Symposium with Ron McBurnie, Peter Lyssiotis, Judy Watson, Jonathon Tse and others

at the State Library of Queensland 2008

At the launch of Ana Paula Estrada’s book MEMORANDUM – Ana Paula with Louis Lim and Annette Green 2016

Visiting Wim de Vos and Adele Outteridge at Studio West End Brisbane 2017

Visiting the 2017 Festival of the Photocopier Zine Fair – Melbourne

David Dellafiora and Gracia Haby + Louise Jennison at the

2017 Festival of the Photocopier Zine Fair – Melbourne

Ulrike Stoltz & Uta Schneider international presenters at Artists book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017

A K Milroy + Brad Freeman – presenters at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017

Marian Crawford and Ana Paula Estrada presents their papers

Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017

Marian Macken presents at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017

Wim de Vos at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017

A plenary session on artists books at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017

Noreen Grahame in her curated exhibition “… & So” – Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017

Barbara Davidson and Caren Florance at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017

Sue Poggioli and Anne-Maree Hunter at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017

Brad Freeman and Anita Milroy – Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017

Lyn Ashby and Sue Anderson at Artists Book Brisbane Event Griffith University 2017

Anna Welch, Des Cowley and Madeleine Say at Ballarat International Foto Biennale

World Photobook Day Book Fair 2019

Helen Cole presents and a floortalk – The First Focus of Artists Books and the Libris Awards at Artspace Mackay 2004

Looking at books and the opening crowd – Focus of Artists Books and the Libris Awards at Artspace Mackay 2004

Bruno Leti workshop – Focus of Artists Books and the Libris Awards at Artspace Mackay 2004

Focus of Artists Books and the Libris Awards at Artspace Mackay 2005

Caren Florance, Sasha Grishin and Dianne Fogwell in the ANU exhibition at FOAB 2005

Unknown lady, Adele Outteridge, Madonna Staunton and Wim de Vos and Sasha Grishin FOAB 2005

Focus of Artists Books and the Libris Awards at Artspace Mackay 2006

Robert Heather welcomes attendees + Marshall Weber presents Focus of Artists Books at Artspace Mackay 2006

Katherine Nix workshop – Focus of Artists Books at Artspace Mackay 2006

The installation view of the 2008 Libris Awards

Michael Wardell welcomes attendees and a Forum at the 4^th Focus on Artists Books event and

Judge Michael Desmon presents his address to the 2008 Libris Award

Clyde McGill’s foyer artwork FOAB 2028

Michael Desmond presents his lecture in the 4^th Focus on Artists Books event

2008 FOAB some of the presenters McGill, Fogwell, Florance and Cooper

Focus on Artists Books V and the 5^th Libris Awards 2010

Michael Wardell addresses the attendees – 2010 Libris Awards and 5^th Focus on Artists Book event

2010 FOAB Deanna Hitti in her exhibition ‘Bint Trembucky (daughter of the drum)’

Caren Florance and David Dellafiora in their workshops – 5^th Focus on Artists Book

Victoria Cooper with Judy Barrass and Linda Douglas – 5^th Focus on Artists Book

Barbara Davidson and Caren Florance with Sheree Kinlyside of Red Rag Press – 5^th Focus on Artists Book

Victoria Cooper with Monica Oppen and Sara Bowen (Book Art Object), Julie Barratt and Caren Florance

Visiting the 2016 Libris Artists Book Award

Denise Vanderlugt with her highly commended bookwork I used to wrap rainbows and Jamian Stayt’s

Soulless evolution 2016 Libris Artists Book Award

graeme galleries’ 5th Artists’ Books + Multiples Fair in the Dell Gallery Griffith University 2007

Monica Oppen and Michael Wardell with Doug Spowart

at graeme galleries’ 5th Artists’ Books + Multiples Fair in the Dell Gallery Griffith University

Helen Cole + Dianne Fogwell and Stephen Spurrier + Normana White

at graeme galleries’ 5th Artists’ Books + Multiples Fair in the Dell Gallery Griffith University

Victoria Cooper with Dianne Longley and Anne-Maree Hunter

at graeme galleries’ 5th Artists’ Books + Multiples Fair in the Dell Gallery Griffith University

12^th Edition Noosa Artists Book event ‘Back to Basics’ 2008

Southern Cross University Acquisitive Artists Book Award 2006

Southern Cross University Acquisitive Artists Book Award 2007

Southern Cross University Acquisitive Artists Book Award judged by Robert Heather 2008

Judge Tara O’Brien announces the winner – Southern Cross University Acquisitive Artists Book Award 2009

Southern Cross University Acquisitive Artists Book Award 2011 – Judge Ross Woodrow

Peter Lyssiotis is his studio 2014

Ana Paula Estrada presenting her Mexican photobook collection in Maud Gallery, Brisbane 2017

Keith Smith and Scott McCarney in a workshop at West End Studios Brisbane 2006

Deanna Hitti’s exhibition of the book ‘A is for Alam (pen)’ at the State Library of Victoria 2022

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Any RSS reposting from this Blog without permission represents a breach of Copyright.

Written by Cooper+Spowart

August 8, 2025 at 2:57 pm

Posted in Victoria Cooper, Wot happened on this day

Tagged with A K Milroy, Abbe 2015, abbe 2025, abbe2025, Adele Outteridge, Akky van Ogtrop, Amir Brito Cadôr, Ana Paula Estrada, Angela Gardner, Anna Welch, Anne Kirker, Anne-Maree Hunter, Artist’s Books (reprised), Artists Books, Artists books in Australia, Artspace Mackay, Baldessin Press Studio Residency, Barbara Davidson, Berkeley Editions, Book Art Object), books, Brad Freeman, Brigita Oppen, Bruno Leti workshop, Bundaberg Regional Gallery, Caren Florance, Catherine McCue Boes, Christene Drewe, Clyde McGill, Darren Bryant, David Dellafiora, Deanna Hitti, Deidre Brollo, Denise Vanderlugt, Des Cowley, Dianne Fogwell, Dianne Longley, Doug Spowart, Euan Mcleod, Fellow Travellers a book by William Kelly, Festival of the Photocopier Zine Fair, Fiona Dempster, Focus of Artists Books, George Paton Gallery, Gracia Haby, grahame galleries, Guy Begbie, Gwen Harrison, Heather Matthew, Helen Cole, Helen Douglas, Helen Malone, history, history of artists books, history of artists books in australia, Jan Davis, Jennifer Stuerzl, Jo Kambourian, Jonathan McBurnie, Jonathon Tse, Judy Barrass, Judy Bourke, Judy Watson, Julie Barratt, Katherine Nix, Keith Smith, Libris Awards at Artspace Mackay, Linda Douglas, Lisa Morisset, Lismore Art Space, Lloyd Jones, Louis Lim, Louise Jennison, Lyn Ashby, MABF 2017, Madeleine Say, Madonna Staunton, Marian Crawford, Marian Macken, Michael Desmond, Michael Wardell, Monica Oppen, National Gallery of Victoria, Noreen Graeme, Noreen Grahame, Paper Contemporary – Sydney Contemporary, Penny Carey-Wells, Peter Lyssiotis, Rachel Hunter, Red Rag Press, Redland Art Gallery, Robert Heather, Robyn Berkeley, Robyn Foster, Ron McBurnie, Sandra Pearce, Sara Bowen, Sarah Bodman, Sasha Grishin, Scott McCarney, Selena Griffith, Sheree Kinlyside, Siganto Foundation Artists’ Book, SLV Creative Fellow, State Librarian Janette Wright, State Library of Queensland, Stephen Spurrier, Sue Anderson, Sue Poggioli, Susi Muddiman, Tim Mosely, Tracie Toohey, Trent Walter, Ulrike Stoltz, University of Melbourne, Uta Schneider, Victoria Cooper, Volume Art Book Fair, Wim de Vos

ABBE: Artists books Brisbane Event 2015

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ABBE Logo

For many years Queensland had a diversity of artists book activities: the bi-ennial Artspace Mackay Artists Book Forums and Libris Awards, the once yearly Noosa Artists Book Events and the Southern Cross University Acquisitive Artists Book Awards. Also contributing to this fertile artists book environment the State Library of Queensland’s Australian Library of Art which included the SLQ’s Siganto Foundation fellowships, ‘white glove’ presentations and events. Added to this were exhibitions and artists book fairs coordinated by Grahame Galleries and other shows at scattered venues. With the recent demise of the Mackay, Noosa and Southern Cross events their absence was felt by the artists book community. Now a new event has emerged to add to the SLQ and Grahame Galleries support of the art – the Artists Book Brisbane Event (ABBE). Over July 16, 17 and 18 ABBE featured a triptych of activities; a conference, an exhibition of books, an artists book fair and allied exhibition events at the State Library of Queensland, Grahame Galleries, The Studio West End, the IMA and Impress Printmakers Gallery.

The conference sought to address 3 main themes relating to the artists book:

post literacy
materiality/the haptic
the nature of reading artists books.

Three keynote presenters lead the program:

Sarah Bodman – Senior Research Fellow for Artists Books, CFPR editor of the Blue Notebook
Brad Freeman – Founder and editor in chief of the Journal of Artist’s Books
Dr Lyn Ashby – Australian artist and scholar making books

Sarah Bodman presents her keynote lecture

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SARAH BODMAN (Abstract)– ARTISTS’ BOOKS AS A PHYSICAL SITE OF PRACTICE

If a post-Literate society might also encompass new ways of thinking about reading, we could think of contemporary artists’ books as a site of practice beyond that of McLuhan’s sign posting of the invention of moveable type as fundamentally responsible for how the Western world physically reads: “along the straight Lines of the printed page.”

We seem to have already moved from Linear to non-linear reading; we are used to flitting through digital screen-based texts, and losing our attention through a multitude of online multi-tasking. Physical engagement with artists’ books provides us with spaceto breathe, a slower rhythm of ingesting information and time to reflect, so what about the artists who are making them? How are artists engaging with the physical book now?

These examples focus on celebrating the book as a physical container used by artists to: re-present language, offer performative reading, view how reading is perceived, appropriate text from novels and instructional manuals into new works, or to transform information from the virtual into the physical.

Brad Freeman presents his keynote lecture

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BRAD FREEMAN (Abstract) – JOURNAL OF ARTISTS’ BOOKS

Brad Freeman’s Lecture focussed on JAB, the Journal of Artists’ Books, that supports critical inquiry into artists’ books. Since 1994 JAB has published interviews with contemporary artists whose primary medium is the artist book, reviews of artists’ books, and essays about historical issues and contemporary artists and their work. JAB has a two pronged approach to culture creation via publication arts; an educational approach with critical writing and documentation of current activity; and second, a creative approach with publication art-exploring the creative potential of print and the book by commissioning artists’ covers (letterpress and offset), artist designed pages, and artists’ books made especially for insertion into JAB.

Lyn Ashby presents his keynote lecture

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LYN ASHBY (Abstract) – POSTLITERACY AND ARTISTSBOOKS: Coming to our senses with a modern mythic form

This presentation is a speculation on the idea that contemporary artistsbooks may be the laboratory for a new literacy, and that in honor of the quietly evolutionary nature of this new literacy, we might call it “postliteracy”.

As background, it explores how our centuries of standard literacy and its attendant conventions of pictorial space and chronological, narrative time, have privileged a specific code in the representations of our language systems (both image and text) and their operations across the page and through the book. The prescriptions of these conventions and the domination of the line and the grid onto the look of language have come to minimise the participation (and uncertainty) of the senses in the direct process of apprehending meaning with language forms.

But the pages of artistsbooks are often filled with the explorations of other ways that language forms can activate a lively, sensory involvement with the page space, or how meaning can be formulated beyond the limitations of chronology.

Some of these experiments involve the invocation of pre literate, oral language structures that work more by the devices and grammars of music, song and myth than the usual strategies of standard literacy. in this way, the contemporary artistsbook may be the hardcopy home of a modern, mythic form.