The Bainbridge Island Museum of Art’s new festival DogEar — a celebration of artist’s books, print works and paper arts that invites the audience to participate in the process of creation — kicks off Friday, March 1, in conjunction with the opening of the spring artist’s book exhibition, “Open Sesame! The Magic of Artist’s Books Revealed.”
Kicking off the show is a weekend festival that showcases the many facets of book, printing and paper arts.
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3, in honor of the debut, the Open Sesame! exhibition and DogEar festival will take over the entire museum, including the galleries, bistro, and auditorium. Most events include a participatory element, whether it is hands-on art creation, fun competitions to all skill levels, custom art creation through on-demand poetry and improv, or just perusing the works for sale by regional vendors in the exhibitor area.
And all daytime events are free and open to the public, with two exceptions: “Cultivating, Curating, & Encouraging A Book Arts Collection” requires a $5 ticket, and participation in the Edible Book Competition requires pre-registration. Visit www.biartmuseum.org to learn more.
“Open Sesame! The Magic of Artist’s Books Revealed,” on display through June 9, is a major look into the special world of artist’s books and celebrates a promised gift to the museum — one of the most extensive and diverse collections of this art form in the United States — from collector Cynthia Sears.
The exhibition includes collection and loaned works by Diane Jacobs, Daniel Smith and Carletta Carrington Wilson, among many others, and is co-curated by Sears, Amy Goldthwaite and Catherine Alice Michaelis.
Artist’s books combine many art forms and media, including drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, gluing and binding, sculpture, photography, textiles, creative writing, and storytelling.
DogEar Book Arts Festival schedule
Two-day/ongoing events:
Amos Kennedy, “Poster Pop-Up Exhibition”
Toni Hall Orientation Gallery, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
An explosion of poster art by American printer, book artist and papermaker Amos Kennedy, best known for social and political commentary.
“BIMA Book Bind Off!”
Frank Buxton Auditorium, 12 to 1 p.m.
Competitive bookbinding at its finest! You didn’t know that was a thing? Competitors battle it out in a live bookbinding competition featuring unpredictable materials, audience participation, and unique, on-the-fly craftsmanship. A spectator sport for the art-geek in you.
Erasure Poetry Drop-In Art-Making with Path with Art
BIMA Classroom, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Create poems by erasing words from an existing text in prose or verse. Using secondhand books, facilitators will guide guests through the creative process of selecting a page of text, then redacting words and phrases through pen, ink, scissors, or block print images to morph the existing page into a new-found poem.
Paper Marbling Drop-In Art-Making with Sophie Loubere
BIMA Classroom, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Come watch and learn about the ancient art of painting on water and creating one of a kind, mesmerizing prints. Artist Sophie Loubere leads a demonstration and answers questions about both Japanese and Turkish traditions of paper marbling.
Poetry Listening Station with “Path with Art”
Toni Hall Orientation Gallery, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Drop in and listen to deeply individualistic recordings of Path with Art student artist poetry, written and recorded for the upcoming tour of Hear & Now: Community Perceptions of Homelessness. Get an audio taste of this sound sculpture, constructed by the kinetic sound artist Trimpin in collaboration with Path with Art poetry, visual art, and musical student artists, debuting in full at SAM in April 2019.
“Path with Art,” pop-up exhibition
Steve & Harriet Davis Community Gallery
Path with Art presents a showcase of artworks created through their program, designed to use creative arts to transform the lives of people recovering from homelessness, addiction and trauma by harnessing the power of creative engagement as a bridge to community and stability. The exhibition includes a wide variety of works, including a selection of Artist’s Books created during a workshop led by Michelle de la Vega.
One-day events:
Artist’s Book Improv featuring The Edge Comedy Improv Group
March 2 only
Frank Buxton Auditorium, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., 3 to 4 p.m.
Your favorite island Improv artists tackle the unlikely subject of Artist’s Books, responding, riffing, and ranting their way through a series of Artist’s Books. Prepare to be surprised or confused, stimulated or stumped – but always entertained in these two performances.
“Craft in America: Spotlight on book, print, and paper artists”
March 2 only
Frank Buxton Auditorium, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 2:30 to 6 p.m.
Enjoy a specially curated selection of PBS’s outstanding Craft in America Series, focusing on everything from letterpress to papermaking, on the large screen.
Seven Bremner’s “The Poetry Store”
March 2 only
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Poet Seven Bremner comes armed with her vintage typewriter and wordsmithing capabilities and creates on-the-spot personal poetry for guests. Leave with a little masterpiece.
“Cultivating, Curating, & Encouraging A Book Arts Collection”
March 2 only
$5 admission for members, $7 for non-members (bpt.me/4056095)
Frank Buxton Auditorium, 7 p.m.
Moderated by Bonnie Thompson Norman
In the field of book arts, collectors have a tremendous influence on content, forms, and the artists who create them. What do they or can they do with this important role? How does it impact the development of a broader community and/or support education and diversity of all kinds? Audience members are encouraged to join a thoughtful conversation with the preeminent collectors featured on this panel including Sondra Kroupa, Charles Hobson, and Mary Austin, with moderation by Bonnie Thompson Norman.
Edible Books Competition
March 3 only
Pre-registration required (bit.ly/BIMAEdibleBooks)
BIMA Bistro, 3 to 5 p.m.
Bookworms grab your oven mitts! Bakers get reading! The Edible Books Competition asks the public to build their tastiest food-based creations inspired by a book—anything from a literal interpretation to a whimsical punny take. Creations are presented, documented, and scored by a panel of local judges and the public for a variety of awards before the creations are consumed in celebration of this mouthwatering literary competition.
More presentations, workshops and drop-in activities related to the festival will reportedly be announced in early March.
