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WORLD CYANOTYPE DAY 2022: ANZ – Online Exhibition

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ENLIGHTEN Header.

EACH YEAR FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS WE HAVE COORDINATED AN EXHIBITION OF  ARTWORKS BY AUSTRALIAN CYANOTYPE PRINTMAKERS TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL EVENTS LINKED TO WORLD CYANOTYPE DAY.

Unlike most years where the exhibition is in a physical gallery this year the exhibition is an online catalogue. Another aspect of World Cyanotype Day (WCD) events is the connection that works made should respond to a theme which this year was – ENLIGHTEN. This year WCD falls on Saturday September 24th.

Our preparations for the exhibition began back in May with a call for expressions of interest from members of the Facebook Group The Cyanotype in Australia and New Zealand – A group we founded in 2019 to facilitate the first WCD exhibition at the Monash Gallery of Art.

Respondents were presented with the concept of “presenting your cyanotype in a way that shows something about you – It could be positioned in your studio, home setting, in the garden or somewhere in your locality”.

Twenty-five cyanotype makers sent in their submissions. These artworks were collated and prepared for the design stage of the project by us. Here are their cyanotypes and a link to download the catalogue. ALSO at the end of the post is the story and links to the previous year”s catalogues.

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Here the submissions:

“CLICK” on the thumbnail to enlarge the image and see the author’s name and title

 

WCD 2022-CAT COVER-v2-2000pxl Angled

THE ONLINE CATALOGUE IS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD –

Here is the file: CYANOTYPE CATALOGUE 2022v3

 

 

Here is the backstory the 5 Cyanotype in Australia and New Zealand WORLD CYANOTYPE DAY exhibitions & catalogues

 

CinAust Catalogue 2018-coverDownload: WCD_CinA-Catalogue-2018

Event 1 – 2018

In September 2018 The Cyanotype in Australia Facebook group was founded and held its first collective exhibition and illustrated catalogue as part as the global event World Cyanotype Day (WCD). Entitled In Anna’s Garden the exhibition referenced Anna Atkins’ pioneering role in the development of the cyanotype.

The exhibition was held in the Atrium Space at Monash Gallery of Art, Wheeler’s Hill, Melbourne and was opened by Gael E Phillips.  Gallery staff members Stephanie Richter and Gillian Jones joined with Victoria Cooper and Doug Spowart to prepare and hang the diverse representation of Australian contemporary cyanotype work. The Gallery Director Anouska Phizacklea attended the event along with many of the exhibitors.

 

CinAust Catalogue 2019-coverDownload: WCD_CinA-catalogue-2019

Event 2 – 2019

A world-wide call out from the A. Smith Gallery in Texas, USA, invited artists to participate in an exhibition by sending a cyanotype made on a 30cm square of fabric – referred to as ‘Flags’. The work was a personal response to the WCD theme for that year, Land / Sea / Sky.

The Cyanotype in Australia (CinA) co-ordinators decided to organize a collaborative show of cyanotype flags connecting with the WCD. Coordinated at the Maud Street Photo Gallery in Brisbane, the exhibition was called Under the Southern Sun. Again, the coordinators were supported by Gail Neumann, David Symons and Keiko Goto in the unpacking and hanging the flags in the gallery. However this was only the first part of a long and exciting journey for these cyanotype prints.

After the show came down, the working party packed up the show and the Flags were sent off to Texas where they were shown with all the other works from across the world at the A. Smith Gallery. Subsequently the exhibition was also shown at PhotoNOLA in New Orleans.

 

CinAust Catalogue 2020-cover Download: ____WCD 2020 CATALOGUE-FINALv3

Event 3 – 2020

Due to the pandemic 2020 was a difficult year to show work in a physical gallery space so the CinA co-ordinators created an online presence and an illustrated catalogue referencing the WCD theme of Interconnected. After a call out to all members of our Facebook group, artists from across Australia and around the world responded by contributing to the collection of a creative work that showcased the diverse practice of the cyanotype in Australia and elsewhere.

 

CinAust Catalogue 2021-coverDownload: WCD 2021 Exhibition-SCREEN_Res-Sept27

Event 4 – 2021

Despite the challenges of Covid, 2021 saw the return of a physical exhibition. Gail Neumann curated the show at KEPK Gallery in Brisbane, supported by other members of the CinA team. The WCD theme this year was REJUVENATION. Local art identity and cyanotyper LeAnne Vincent opened the exhibition and an illustrated catalogue was made available to participants.

 

Event 5 – 2022

For many surviving Covid, floods and fire and rebuilding their arts practice has been challenging over the last 2-3 years, so the return to an online format seemed a good option. Also at this time, the organisers felt that it was important to recognize our friends and colleagues from across “the ditch” in New Zealand, so our group name was changed to The Cyanotype in Australia and New Zealand.

The call for expressions of interest was made in May and those who responded were asked to submit work on the WCD theme – ENLIGHTEN. They were also requested to consider making an in-situ representation of their cyanotype image in their studio space or where they live, to add a personal and physical dimension to the virtual online space. The 2022 catalogue includes the artists who responded to the in-situ request, and also those who only sent through a photograph of their cyanotype.

Once again, the catalogue presents a survey of the practice of cyanotype within our region. We wish to thank the contributors for making work available for this catalogue as well as providing commentaries about their work.

 

ENJOY and be ENLIGHTENED about the work by the members of the Cyanotype in Australia and New Zealand.

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ABOUT THE CYANOTYPE IN AUSTRALIA + NEW ZEALAND

The Cyanotype in Australia + New Zealand Facebook group has actively supported a vibrant community of practice of not only local, but also international cyanotypers for 5 yearsFF.

The Facebook page is a closed group though we welcome ‘Requests to join’ from cyanotype practitioners of this region.

The Cyanotype in Australia+New Zealand Team are Doug Spowart, Gail Neumann, David Symons and Victoria Cooper.

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EX LIBRIS: WHO OWNS THIS BOOK? A Queensland artists’ bookplate project

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Zealous book collectors have always prominently placed inside the first few pages of a book their Ex Libris bookplate as a sign of ownership of books that they acquire. Over time these bookplates became a kind of specialised artwork created by artists and designers—not only for their own collected books but also for the libraries of serious book collectors. Bookplates then, are not just the carriers of the name of a book’s [one time] owner, but are also a thing of artistic integrity and beauty. Indeed there exist a large number of book-collecting dilettantes who are more interested in the bookplate and less in the book in which it is fixed.

The origins of the bookplate can be traced back to the 15th century and the artists who made them include Albrecht Durer and Hans Holbein. In Australia the most noteworthy bookplate designers include Norman Lindsay, Adrian Feint and G.D. Perrottet. Most significant state and national library collections include bookplate works. The Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery has a collection of bookplates as part of The Lionel Lindsay Gallery and Library Collection (Also known as the Bolton Collection) and in 2004 Patrick Corrigan AM gifted to the gallery a collection 318 bookplates, mostly by Australian artists, including John Shirlow, Lionel and Norman Lindsay, P. Neville Barnet, George Perrottet, Lloyd Rees, Pixie O Harris and Brett Whiteley.

"Bookplates Unbound" limited edition set (two views)  Photos: Doug Spowart

“Bookplates Unbound” limited edition set (two views) Photos: Doug Spowart

Into this bookplate space a new and ambitious project is set to provide a contemporary view of the bookplate by Queensland artists. The project, entitled Bookplates Unbound, was inspired by conversations between artists Gael Phillips and Wim de Vos around the role of printmakers in the creation of fine art bookplates. The details of the Bookplates Unbound are as follows (from the frontpiece):

As the project evolved we decided to invite 29 other Queensland artists to collaborate in a project to make a limited edition folio of fine art bookplates mounted on sheets of art paper, unbound, in a clam shell box. The artists were also requested to supply an Artist’s Statement to accompany the prints. Any hand printmaking technique was allowed as well as digital prints. The size was restricted to no more than 90mm by 130mm and the bookplates were to be printed on acid free paper of a weight up to 100gsm. Since we are now in the 21’t century, digital prints were also allowed and, if submitted, these were to be printed using archival inks on acid free paper.

Some of the 'Bookplates Unbound' printing plates   Photo:Doug Spowart

Some of the ‘Bookplates Unbound’ printing plates Photo:Doug Spowart

The Bookplates Unbound set of bookplates is a limited edition production with each artist receiving a copy. The remaining copies will be made available to collectors. The coordination of the project was undertaken by Gael Phillips and Wim de Vos at The Studio West End and was supported by Adele Outteridge.

'Bookplates Unbound' wall @ The Studio West End   Photo: Doug Spowart

‘Bookplates Unbound’ wall @ The Studio West End Photo: Doug Spowart

Anne Jolly, of Novel Lines Bookshop, launched the Bookplates Unbound set at a special event at The Studio West End on November 24. Accompanying the launch was an exhibition of artists books from friends of Studio West End that was opened by Helen Cole, Senior Librarian, State Library of Queensland. Wim de Vos also gave the audience a performance of two new tunnel books, one on Venice and the other referencng the Chrysler Building in New York that he has created [SEE the video in this post]. The openings concluded with a musical 6 song set by ‘Rock and Roll’ impresario Wim and fellow band members Neil Anderson and Robin Webb [SEE the video in this post].

Gael Phillips talks @ 'Bookplates Unbound' launch  Photo: Doug Spowart

Gael Phillips talks @ ‘Bookplates Unbound’ launch Photo: Doug Spowart

Wim and Gael thank Anne Jolly   Photo: Doug Spowart

Wim and Gael thank Anne Jolly Photo: Doug Spowart

Helen Cole opens the Studio West End artists book show   Photo: Doug Spowart

Helen Cole opens the Studio West End artists book show Photo: Doug Spowart

Helen Cole opens the Studio West End artists book show   Photo: Doug Spowart

Helen Cole opens the Studio West End artists book show Photo: Doug Spowart

Studio West End artists book show   Photo: Doug Spowart

Studio West End artists book show Photo: Doug Spowart

Studio West End artists book show   Photo: Doug Spowart

Studio West End artists book show Photo: Doug Spowart

The Band - Wim, Neil and Robin   Photo: Doug Spowart

The Band – Wim, Robin Webb and Neil Anderson Photo: Doug Spowart

The contributing artists to the Bookplates Unbound and their respective print media are:

Janette Bailey                     Line etching / aquatint

Graham Bligh                     Linocut

Susan E Bowers                 Sugarlift etching and embossing

Victoria Cooper                  Digital print

Geraldine Connolly           Soft ground etching

Philomena Drake               Etching / aquatint

Malcolm Enright                Digital print

Barbara Heath                    Digital print

Tabitha Ford                       Line etching

Lynne French                      Line etching and relief roll

Teresa Jordan                     Digitised linocut

Jeraldene Just                    Line etching

Sharon Lee                          Digital print

Chris Ling                            Line etching

James McDougall              Photo etching

Julanne McDougall           Photo etching

Fiona Medhurst                 Line etching and rubber stamp

Karla Meursing                  Linocut

Anita K Milroy                   Three hand pierced plates, line etching and embossing

Katharine Nix                    Lino etching

Adele Outteridge               Line etching

Gael Phillips                       Line and photo etching on three plates

Pip Reid                               Line aquatint etching

Anneke Silver                     Engraved lino print

Doug Spowart                    Digital print

Stephen Spurrier               Digital print

Madonna Staunton           Wood cut and rubber stamps

Jonathan Tse                      Screen print

Geoff Thompson                Line etching

Wim de Vos                         Line etching on four plates

Sheryl Whimp                     Open bite etching

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The Colophon for Bookplates Unbound

This Edition consists of forty copies, of which this is number 11

The bookplates were mounted on acid free cartridge paper and the cover titles embossed in “Times New Roman”. The font used for the Artists’ Statements was “Centaur”, designed by the late Bruce Rogers. The clam shell boxes were made by a craftsman bookbinder, Tony Gibaud at “Craftsmen Bookbinders”, Geebung, Queensland, who also made the blocks for the cover, spine and title page to a design by Gael Phillips and Wim de Vos. The text was printed by Drawing & Drafting Digital, Bowen Hills, Queensland.

The copyright of the bookplate images is retained by the individual artists.

ISBN: 978-0-646-59203-9

Published by Alumni Publishers

© 2012 Brisbane

SEE ALSO: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wealth/telling-a-book-by-its-inside-cover/story-e6frgac6-1111113127290

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