Three conferences dedicated to the thematic of editorial independence and artists books.

15th October 2012 at 06.00 pm Cornelia Lauf

10th November 2012 at 06.00 pm Franco Vaccari

3rd December 2012 at 06:00 pm Giorgio Maffei

A plus A Slovenian Exhibition Center of Venice in collaboration with Automatic Books presents three conferences dedicated to the theme of the “artists book”, that will be explored through multiple points of view thanks to the contribution of prestigious guests: the curator and publisher Cornelia Lauf, the artist Franco Vaccari and the art collector Giorgio Maggei. To talk about the “artists book” is today an interesting but complex theme, starting from its definition. From years curators and art historians participate to this endless diatribe “What is an artists book?”. This cycle of conferences looks forwards to be a precious occasion to look for an answer to this question, debating with important protagonists of this sector whom, other than collecting artists book, dedicated themselves completely to this media through exhibitions, publications and events. The first conference, that will occur Monday 15th October 2012 at 06.00pm, will have as protagonist Cornelia Lauf, American curator of German origins with a passion in publishing. Cornelia is the co-founder of Three Star Books, a publishing house that is specialized in the realization of editorial projects conceived as art works created in collaboration with artists of the caliber of Maurizio Cattelan, Tobias Rehberger and Ryan Gander. The 10th November 2012 at 06.00pm will be the turn of Franco Vaccari. Appreciated from the critics, ready on the scene since the early sixties, he participated to the Biennale of Venice in various occasions (1972, 1980, 1993 with personal space and in 1995 with a collective exhibition). The 3rd December 2012 at 06.00pm will speak Giorgio Maffei, editorial historian, art collector and seller of rare vintage artist books. He wrote numerous essays on the relationship between the editorial world and the art world, one of which is entitled “Il Libro D’Artista” published by Bonnard in 2003. From Marinetti to Cattelan, voyaging from conceptual art to poor arts, the book had been used from artists of all époques not only as an expressive media but as a real artistic object. Despite the increasing computerization of paper printing, we internationally assist to a renewed interest for artist books as a rare objects, with limited circulation, self produced and self published, to the point of becoming an art piece. This phenomenon develops under the influence of the collaborative predispositions of artists, authors, curators and independent editors, interested to the book as expressive form of the artistic practice. In this moment of economic austerity the artist book is also more financially accessible and it could become a cultural vehicle within everyone’s reach, a seed of diffusion for new artistic meanings. In 2013 the A plus A Slovenian Exhibition Center will host two important international names: AA Bronson and Dexter Sinister The event is organized in collaboration with the Cà Foscari University.