Stand and Deliver:

Engineering Sculpture into a Book Format

Stand and Deliver
Engineering Sculpture Into a Book Format

The Brookfield Craft Center
and
The Movable Book Society

Invite entries for an exhibition of
Handmade Movable Artist Books

Curated by Ed Hutchins

The Brookfield Craft Center
Brookfield, Connecticut
April 11 – June 6, 2004

Mesa College and San Diego Book Arts
September – October, 2004

The Movable Book Society
Conference in San Diego
Fall 2004

Arthur and Mata Jaffe Collection
Florida Atlantic University
January 10- March 25, 2005

Denver Public Library
June – July 2005

Columbia College
Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts
Fall 2005

Show Concept

Stand and Deliver seeks to locate and exhibit a selection of handmade editioned artist books that incorporate movable parts, pop-ups, or other sculptural elements into the book structure. Books can include paper mechanisms, fantastic folds, motors, sound chips, fiber optics, wire springs, and other materials to lift the message (in word or illustration) off the page and present it to the reader/viewer in an engaging fashion. The goal of the exhibit is to showcase inventive and well-crafted books with strong intellectual content.

How To Enter Your Books

Entries: A maximum of three works may be submitted by each applicant. Books must be from an edition of at least three copies; one-of-a-kind or unique books are no eligible. Collaborations are welcome.

Fees: Each applicant must be accompanied by a $25.00 nonrefundable entry fee for up to three entries. Checks should be made out to “Stand and Deliver.”

Supporting Documentation: Each entry must include a completed entry form and notification card, an artist statement of less than 200 words concerning the work submitted, a one-paragraph biography,a nd a SASE for the return of slides and other submitted materials.

Catalog: An illustrated catalog of the exhibition with an interactive CD will be published. Each artist whose work is selected for the show will receive one copy. Catalogs will be distributed to museums, galleries, and curators in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Distinguished Book Awards

Six books will be honored with the following awards:

Best integration of message and engineering, selected by Robert Sabuda, author, illustrator, teacher, paper engineer, and winner of three Meggendrofer Prizes.

Best crafted books, selected by Hedi Kyle, innovative book artist, conservationist, teacher, co-founder of Paper and Book Intensive, and author of Library Materials Preservation Manual.

Best use of typography, selected by Susan E. King, artist, writer, and the proprietor of Paradise Press since 1975.

Best use of serious content, selected by Tom Trusky, Director of the Idaho Center for the Book, university professor, and proprietor of Painted Smiles Press.

Best use of humor, selected by Linda Costello, architect, artist, and paper engineer for the Pea Pod Pop-ups.

Best use of unexpected materials, selected by Miriam Schaer, whose award-winning multimedia approach to books incorporates a wide variety of found materials and garments.

Each honoree will receive an award certificate, engraved trophy, cash prize of $100, and two extra copies of the catalog/CD.

The books to be exhibited will be selected on the basis of 2” x 2” 35 mm slides. Maximum of five slides per book is permitted. It is suggested the book be shown closed, open with a distinctive sculpture or pop-up element on display, and one or more slides showing featured detail. Slides should be marked in the standard format for slides.

Judging Criteria

The bookworks submitted will be evaluated on:

Content: Each book should have a clearly articulated message in well-sequenced presentation.
Craftwork: Each book should demonstrate excellence in basic bookmaking skill.
Engineering: Each book should feature at least one element that breaks the surface of the page to convey or further the message in a three-dimensional fashion.
Originality: Each book should strive to present new methods of construction, use of materials, engineering techniques, and way of communicating the message.
Integration: In each book the visual presentation, content, engineering, binding, construction materials, and overall style should work together to deliver a message in a unified manner.
Additional considerations: The show seeks to exhibit a cross-section of books being created across the book arts community, books crafted in the last three years will be favored over those created earlier, and emerging artists are encouraged to enter.

After receiving the selected books, the show organizers reserve the right to refuse an entry if (1) it is significantly different than it was represented in the slides (2) it is judged to be too fragile to travel (3) the book arrives without an acceptable reusable shipping carton.

Please enter! If three-dimensional elements have found a way into your endeavors as a book artist, please submit an entry to this show. The purpose of the show is to exhibit a wide variety of approaches. Every artist has a unique way of presenting their artistic vision. Think in all dimensions, craft a compelling book that proudly stands and delivers the message, then tell us about it on the entry form.

Deadline: Only complete applications postmarked on or before November 17, 2003 will be considered.

Sales: The books in the show will not be for sale and must be available for exhibit during the run of the show. However, we will make every effort to connect artists with collectors wishing to purchase other copies of the edition, or the displayed book after the run of the show,

Please join: A great way to keep informed on pop-up and innovative books is by joining the Movable Book SOciety. Annual membership is $20 and includes a subscription to the quarterly newsletter, Movable Stationary. Contact: Movable Book Society, PO Box 11654, New Brunswick NJ 08906.

Keep informed: Keep posted on the latest details relating to Stand and Deliver at www.artistbooks.com. You can download entry forms and check out the latest additions to the schedule.

Please Read the Fine Print

Liability: Each artist is responsible for insuring artwork during shipment to the show. Each venue will provide insurance during the run of the show in their area. Books will be insured during transit between venues. The show organizers will do everything possible to ensure that the books are protected and properly handled. However, as these are movable books with movable parts, problems may arise. The show organizers will contact the artist to determine to best way to resolve any such situation. Hardy construction, detailed handling instructions, and adequate packing material can help minimize these issues.

Agreement: No substitutions may be made for work submitted on slides and accepted for the show. The artist agrees to allow work selected for the show to be displayed for the run of the show, which will be until the end of 2005. All entries must be of original design and personal or collaborative execution. It is agreed that images of selected work can be used to promote the show including publicity, in the catalog, on the CD, and on an Internet web site devoted to the show. Submission of entry constitutes agreement to all conditions in this prospectus.