BOOKS are coming to life at the next University of Worcester Engine Room Lecture Series talk.
Researcher and artist-printer Dr Angie Butler will be introducing the world of artists’ books – artworks that use the book itself as a creative medium.
A Story about Making and Printing Books is a free talk, to be held from 4.30pm until 6pm at The Hive in Worcester on Wednesday (April 15).
Angie said: “I’m going to be talking about my specialism, letterpress printing as a print process for making artists’ books. It’s something that goes back to the mid-1450s in Europe.
“I want to explore the physicality of print. The direct, tactile connection to words, materials and making. Every part of a book can tell you something, from the paper to the cover and the binding, and the book speaks to you before you even open it.”
The talk is aimed at anyone interested in learning more about books as pieces of artwork, just like a painting or sculpture.
Angie continued: “I’ll be showing a lot of pieces alongside the presentation, and people are welcome to pick them up, hold them, feel them, and explore them. The talk will be perfect for people who enjoy tactile work, and who are curious about the history behind this kind of artistic practice.”
She also spoke passionately about the importance of appreciating books as a physical object, adding: “A recent study found that many young children struggle to interact with physical books. There’s a real need to counterbalance screen-based learning with physical experience. Books invite us to use all of our senses, they bring us into contact with specific materials, textures and movement, and the experience is something you can’t replicate on a screen.”
Tickets to the event are free, and can be booked on the Hive’s website.
