"Feminism and the Artist’s Book"
October 19 – December 30
Reception:
Friday, October 19, 6 – 8pm 

at Vespa Properties http://vespa-artsandcommunity.tumblr.com/

Central Booking is back and so is Maddy Rosenberg with a great exhibit based on the writings of Lucy Lippard and her influence on feminism and the arts!  This exhibit has a great roster of artists like Beatrice Coron, Miriam Schaer, Robbin Ami Silverberg, and Maddy Rosenberg, herself.  From installation to performance and just plain old (how can anyone call artists' books "just plain old"?) artists' books, this exhibit reexamines the fabulous writings of Lucy Lippard and how she influenced a whole generation of women and more toward re-defining art history that would include women!  What a concept!  From Miriam Shapiro, Faith Ringgold and Faith Wilding, the feminist art movement still continues to influence young female artists and art students as well as male with its wonderful and varied processes and patterns.  This exhibit showcases how the movement also influenced the makers of artists' books and its many forms!  Temporarily located at Vespa Properties, the exhibit is up until December 30th, 2012 and is a must-see if you are in the city during its duration!  Another exhibit will also travel to Lafayette College, the Williams Center Art Gallery in Easton, PA opening November 2nd and running through to December 15th!  The opening reception is Monday, November 12th and will be another wonderful exhibit to augment the exhibit in Brooklyn.  While Central Booking is trying to locate a permanent space, these two exhibits definitely ensure that Maddy Rosenberg is back and will be providing fabulous exhibits dedicated to the artists' book and paper! 

For more information on the history of the Feminist Art Movement, check out Lucy Lippard's writings at your local art bookstore or on Amazon.com!  Also, I always enjoyed reading Faith Ringgold and Bell Hooks and their perspectives.  If you can locate some information about WomanHouse done on the West Coast and the early work of the art feminists such as Faith Ringgold, Miriam Shapiro, Judy Chicago and Faith Wilding, this is a fascinating foundation for the early years of the movement!  The Brooklyn Art Museum also has a permanent installation of Judy Chicago's work and a whole wing dedicated to the Feminist Art Movement!  Enjoy!

Some things are just too darn fun!  When the Minnesota Center for the Book Arts sent me their latest email with classes announced for children, I thought, "I want to be between 2 and 12 and take these classes!".  They are just too darn fun to miss!  Plus I'd have to be closer to them!  But for ideas for book arts and kids, these classes may give one some great ideas!  But then, these could be fun for adults as well!  Who doesn't like a book mask or origami spiders?  Well, maybe not spiders! 
Halloween Mask Boooooks!
Get ready for Halloween with Littlebat's Halloween Story by Diane Mayr and by creating your own boootiful Halloween mask book – or is it a book mask? Folded papers, a stick and lots of colors and collage. A book for
stories!  A mask for trick or treats! And a Halloween ghost book, too!
Spooky Stories, Creepy  Creations
What do you think makes a story really scary? Is it monsters, strange sounds, or a dark and stormy night? How will you become the hero or heroine of your story? Begin by writing a funny, silly, spooky, scary story for Halloween. Visit  MCBA’s studios to construct a creepy little book to put it in, then share your  creation with family and friends while having some tasty Halloween treats!
Halloween Origami Party
Celebrate Halloween at MCBA's origami party! Make paper pumpkins, bats, spiders, monster heads and more! Choose from a variety of papers and colors. Folding patterns will be provided to help you create your very own creepy creatures!
Create Your Own Magical World
Explore the timeless territory of magic! First, imagine a hair-raising adventure for your hero or heroine, setting out on a magical journey to save a troubled world and encountering menacing villains and mystical beings along the way. Invent your own setting, characters and plot. Then bring your magical world  to life in a handmade pop-up book!
Thanksgiving Paper Dinner
Celebrate the colors and aromas of Thanksgiving dinner by “cooking” up some paper. Start by pulling sheets of white paper, then add onion skin yellow, cabbage purple, cranberry red, orange orange, and more! Use herbs and spices, such as crumpled sage, grated cinnamon and nutmeg. Dress for mess with waterproof shoes.
If you really do want to take these classes, or check out the Minnesota Center for the book, go to www.mcba.org!

So have fun and hope this sparks some ideas for the kids in your life or the kid in you!  Happy Fall and Halloween!