(self)Publish or Perish
Books, Zines, Comics, Postcards, Pamphlets & Manifestos
curated by Jo Cook
February 6 – March 7, 2004
Opening: Friday, February 6, 8:00 p.m.
From February 6th to March 7th Open Space will be exhibiting work by over 130 national and international artists, graphics outlaws, and fanatic zinesters. Not an overview or even a survey show, this exhibition is another in the growing wave of regional and national book shows where theory books get parked at the door.
From full-colour comix by international art stars to photocopied grocery lists by Anonymous, zines are about personal obsessions and enthusiasms. The zines your mother collects (or self-publishes) are probably not the ones you would – and that’s the whole point.
Hundred of books, pamphlets, postcards, and manifestos are shown here – the rude and crude and X-rated alongside lovingly hand-stitched fur-lined covers. There are pamphlets about the end of the world and postcards made from photographs of strangers found on the street. There’s a zine made by the St. John’s Rock School for Girls and another called How to Hold a Scissors (in case you didn’t already know). There are big bold screen-printed books in day-glo colours from Le Dernier Cri collective in Marseilles, tiny flipbooks, survey pamphlets about your New Year’s resolutions, and another about what you think a CRUST is or could be. There’s a book of translations by Babblefish and more and more and more – including shrines to various late departed self-publishers such as dear granddaddy Gutenberg himself.
Back by popular demand after their wildly successful gig at the Open Space Christmas party, Emi Honda and Jordan Mckenzie will provide the music for the gala opening.
Please join us Friday, February 6th at 8 PM.