Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here assembles artists' responses to the tragic loss of a cultural and intellectual hub in Baghdad that occurred in March 5, 2007, by a car-bomb explosion. Thirty people were killed and more than 100 people injured, and it was the historic cultural, intellectual and literary hub of Baghdad with bookstores, cafes and tobacco shops. The call to book artists was to reflect on the targeted attack on the street of the booksellers as well as the ultimate futility of those who try to erase thought. This important and timely exhibition will be held in five New York City cultural venues from July 10 to September 21, 2013.
The Center for Book Arts will be presenting the exhibition, in collaboration with Alwan for the Arts, Columbia University Libraries, International Print Center New York, and Poets House. This major traveling exhibition, which will feature approximately 250 artists' books and 50 broadside (prints) by artists from around the world, was co-organized by Beau Beausoleil, Founder of the Al-Mutanabbi Street Coalition, and Sarah Bodman, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Fine Print Research in Bristol, UK. A comprehensive catalogue
accompanies the exhibition.
While checking out this wonderful exhibit, check out their class offerings for the summer and take a break from the heat. Always fun and educational things to do and see at the Center for Book Arts! Check out their offerings at www.centerforbookarts.org!