Guest Curator: Liya HyunJoo Choi
About the Bookmark Project
For the seventh year, the Koffler Gallery is organizing The Bookmark Project, an intervention of artist-designed bookmarks concurrent with the annual Jewish Book Fair organized by the Koffler Centre of the Arts.
This year’s theme, Insert, explores the interplay between the reader and the bookmark in the act of reading. The reader inserts him/herself into a book, activating it with their emotions, memories, and thoughts. When the reader pauses, the act of inserting a bookmark tangibly signals a temporary exit while simultaneously indexing the point of re-entry into the text. As an insert, the bookmark becomes a place holder for the reader’s hands, eyes, and thoughts, marking territory and preserving their intimate relationship with the book. Denoting the reader’s absence, the bookmark’s presence echoes their memory inside the book. Upon returning, the reader once again replaces the bookmark in order to immerse back into the text. The act of reading therefore proceeds in the continual interchange between the reader and the bookmark, initiated and sustained by the process of ‘inserting’.
Both unique bookmarks and multiples created by fine art students and practicing artists will be introduced into the 8,000 books on display during the 32nd Annual Jewish Book Fair held from November 1 to November 9, 2008. The event draws 10,000 participants. The bookmarks will also be on display in the Koffler Gallery showcase through November.
Requirements
Bookmarks for the intervention should be functional and should not damage or scratch the books on display. Artists are requested to submit two original bookmarks: one for the public intervention that will not be returned, and one for display in the showcase. Artists whose bookmarks are selected for this project will receive a nominal artist fee, determined by the number of participating artists and issued by mail within 30 days of the close of the exhibition.
Deadline for submissions Extended: October 10, 2008
Results will be announced shortly afterwards.
Download the Call for Submissions
For additional information, contact Liya HyunJoo Choi at bookmarkproject2008@gmail.com