BookOpolis began in 2004 as the inaugural event for Asheville BookWorks. BookOpolis has become a signature annual event showcasing a weekend of Book Arts. The first year, BookOpolis exhibited 60 entries and the next year it rose to 80 then in 2009, they received over 140 entries. Artists’ Books and Prints arrive for BookOpolis from all across the United States and beyond, and exhibited books from Canada, England, Mexico and Australia. During the weekend, BookWorks hosts an ‘open house’ for people to view the BookOpolis exhibit, talk with artists, watch demonstrations, participate in cranking the letterpress or learn a simple binding technique. BookOpolis has introduced Book Arts, Letterpress and Print to many people who never knew. Artists send their BEST work to BookOpolis, work that best integrates Concept and Craft; merging Content and Ideas with Creative Use of Materials, Inventive Construction and Technique.
If you’d like to see the Curator’s Selection, a collection of 36 pieces from the entire group of 101 entries, you can view it on-line at Picasa Web, or view it up-close, in-person, at BookWorks Gallery through November 27th, 2011.
In addition, a full-color catalog of BookOpolis 2011 featuring artist statements and nine extra images of books from the Small Book Edition, entitled, Parallax, is available for sale.