What makes books more than words on a page? And why does the physical, tactile experience of printing still matter in a digital world?
In the latest talk in the Engine Room Lecture Series from the University of Worcester, researcher and artist-printer Dr Angie Butler introduces 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 16.30-18.00 at The Hive in Worcester on Wednesday 15 April.
Explaining what her talk will explore, 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,” she added. “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.
“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,” said Angie. “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 spoke passionately about the importance of appreciating books as a physical object.
“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,” she said. “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.”
Dr Lucy Arnold, Course Leader for English Literature at the University of Worcester, is the organiser of The Engine Room lecture series. She said: “Angie’s work is particularly special in that it draws our attention to the detail of an object that we might overlook in our day to day lives, that of the book, and allows it to become imbued with all kinds of new creative and emotional possibilities.”
“In an age where we increasingly read on screens,” she added, “returning to the materiality of the printed page is such an enticing invitation.”
Tickets to the event are free, and can be booked on the Hive’s website.
For information on courses at University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email [email protected]