MICRO-PAGES

'Micro-Pages' will start a conversation about the issues surrounding the display of artists' books. A series of selected artists' books will be turned into a reel of microfilm for a touring exhibition. The work will be accessed through microfilm readers in participating libraries and archive centres. The books selected will relate to the history of artists' books, archives and libraries, or challenge the preconceptions of the future of document preservation.
Each artist will have their book translated into microfilm; all the books will be one after the other on one reel. Essentially the whole touring exhibition will be on one 35mm reel of microfilm.
I wanted to explore issues that affect libraries and archives as well as the book art world. Books have it in their nature to be handled; they are intimate objects whose feeling, texture, weight and smell are part of their artistic aura. Artists' books should be experienced differently to paintings and drawings but similarly not treated as throw away ephemera. Glass cases remove the experience of the work, and you are unable to see it in its entirety, however, having books out also has its disadvantages; books can be easily damaged, accumulative wear and tear can ruin a book. Should we treat artists' books as archival material? This is the starting point that the project stems from. "Micro-Pages" as an exhibition of books on microfilm is not an answer to the issues but will create a dialogue between both points and between the artists, the libraries and the public.

'Micro-Pages' Project Aims:
- Creating and encouraging the opportunity to discuss artists' books and their display as well as comparing artists' books to the idea of traditional books and their use and the issues surrounding this
- Encouraging engagement of public library users, members of the public who are culturally aware but do not know the genre, other artists to encourage cross disciplinary understanding of book art, and art & design students with Artists' Books as an interest to them
- Promoting libraries and archives
- Promoting the book form as an artistic genre
- Promoting artists who use the book form in their practice
- Supporting emerging artists alongside established artists
- To promote the traditional archival side of document preservation by using microfilm in a non traditional way
- Encouraging Archivists and Information Management professionals to think about the limits of digital preservation
- Encouraging research into these areas of interest both within arts circles and library and archive communities

Selected Artists:
- Sarah Bodman >>>
- Lucy Harrison >>>
- Esther Yarnold >>>
- Dorothy Smallman
- Pilar Cortes
- Kim Pilgrim
- Lynne Williams
- Annabel Ralphs
- Kate Gallon
- Csaba Pal
- Laura Guy
- Borbonesa & Emitron >>>
- Kit Merritt
- Hanne Matthiesen >>>
- Ann Willmott
- Abigail Thomas
- Kerri Cushman >>>

Dates & Venues:
1st - 31st October 2009 Winchester School of Art Library

1st - 30th November 2009 UWE Bristol Bower Library

Nov-2009 London South Bank University Library

1st November - 11th December 2009 Goldsmiths Library

1st - 7th December 2009 Paul Hamlyn Library, British Museum

4th - 31st January 2010 Bristol Central Library

1st - 5th February 2010 Glasgow School of Art Archives

Spring 2010 (March or April 2010) Hackney Archives