Photo by Hikaru Hayashi | The Vancouver Art/Book Fair goes this weekend. Pop down to the Vancouver Art Gallery Annex to check out artist-produced books, magazines, and all manner of printed ephemera. The Art/Book Fair takes place in the same two week period as several other art/book fairs around the world (New York, Tokyo, Berlin) and aims to put Vancouver artists on an international stage by showcasing their work within the context of this global ‘conversation’ about books. Expect to see everything from small runs of locally published chapbooks and magazines (there will be over 50 exhibitors) to readings, panels, performances and installations. Visit Vancouver Art/Book Fair website for the full program details or check out the highlights after the jump…

Opening Night Reception
Friday, October 4 | 8pm | Project Space (222 E Georgia)

Vancouver Art Gallery Library Book Sale
The Vancouver Art Gallery Library offers a grand selection of new, gently used and antiquarian delights at bargain prices for the discriminating bibliophile. As well, bargain prices on duplicates, posters and library deaccessions in less than perfect condition.
Saturday & Sunday, October 5&6 | 12-5pm | 2nd Floor, Vancouver Art Gallery

Artists on Art Books | The Art Book Review, LA
Introduced by Andrew Berardini, co-founder of The Art Book Review, this session examines artists’ books as an important aspect of many artistic practices and explores the ways in which books can influence and inform well after their publication.
Saturday, October 5 | 2pm | Vancouver Art Gallery Annex, Room 403

From Z(ine) to A(gency) | OWT Creative, Manchester
Jon Hannan and Sarah Stapleton of Manchester-based, multidisciplinary design collective OWT Creative discuss their journey—namely, how a professional agency can be developed from an unusual starting point and how something as irrelevant as a zine can have a big impact.
Saturday, October 5 | 3pm | Vancouver Art Gallery Annex, Room 403

I Fell in Love with Black | Amber Dawn in OCW Magazine
Adapted from the short story, “The Nevelson” (forthcoming in Plenitude Magazine), I Fell in Love with Black tells the story of romantic attraction between seven-year-old loner Bailey and Sky Cathedral, a Louise Nevelson sculpture housed at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, NY. Told as a magical realism script reading and slide show, award-winning author Amber Dawn celebrates women artists and love in strange spaces.
Saturday, October 5 | 4pm | Vancouver Art Gallery Annex, Room 403

In Conversation | Publication Studio, Portland
Patricia No and Antonia Pinter engage the audience in a conversation around the founding principles and pedagogical interests of Publication Studio, including a brief history of the studio and an examination of several book projects that illustrate the various successes and failures of print-on-demand. Read more…
Sunday, September 6 | 1pm | Vancouver Art Gallery Annex, Room 403

Spotlight on Colombia | la silueta ediciones, Bogotá
Andres Fresneda of Bogotá-based la silueta ediciones provides a snapshot of the current energy and obstacles in Colombian art publishing today and reviews a number of projects produced by the small publishing house.
Sunday, September 6 | 3pm | Vancouver Art Gallery Annex, Room 403

And paper | Jesse Hlebo of Swill Children, Brooklyn
Brooklyn-based artist and publisher Jesse Hlebo discusses the many roles that independent publishing plays in his practice—both within his personal work and his imprint Swill Children. Remote collaboration, the processes required to manifest a physical project and the subversive potentials afforded by independent publishing are among the topics he explores.
Sunday, September 6 | 2pm | Vancouver Art Gallery Annex, Room 403

The Photobook from Start to Finish | Deniz Merdano, Montreal/Istanbul
Following his recently published book +90, international photographer Deniz Merdano leads participants in a workshop outlining the creation of a photobook, from start to finish. This three part workshop/seminar will take you through the personal, creative and technical challenges of starting, sustaining and completing a photobook project.
Sunday, September 6 | 3:30pm | Vancouver Art Gallery Annex, Room 403