Turn the Page 2019

Gwen Simpson and Chris Ruston have spent two delightful days taking part in this years Turn the Page Artist Book Fair held in the Forum, Norwich. The event showcased forty plus book artists - so something for everyone. to enjoy. The Turn the Page moto - 'books but not as you know them' proved accurate, with a wide variety of work demonstrating various forms of what constitutes a book. 

Gwen presented her enormous textile work Connecting Threads. It hung impressively from the first floor balcony, tumbling down to the ground. At a total length of of twenty four feet, the work  consists of 1130 contributions from people wanting to remember the lives lost in the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory.  1130 pages coming together on to one enormous page  highlights  an important issue regarding  the working conditions of textiles workers.

Chris's focus this year has been on seeds. She presented 'an ark for our time'. ​'The Ark - From deep blue to troubled green we pass"  encapsulates the traditional flood story with the unfolding flood story of rising sea levels.. The initial idea began after reading an article about a flood in the entrance area of the Global Seedbank on Svarlbard.  The work also explores seeds in the wider context of culture and ideas.

The drawback when you are exhibiting is not being able to get around to see other peoples work! Unfortunately we are not able to do justice to all the exhibitors but here's a snapshot of just a few. However more information about individual artists can be found on the Turn the Page website.

A  stunning glass book inspired by Seabold's Rings of Saturn by​ ​Jen Fox.

Marion Stuart's installation of ceramic ink pots and cynatypes.

Heather Prescott's humorous letterpress work.

Rosie Sherwood's beautiful boxes with bronze seedpods.

Carol Kearns beautifully illustrated botanical books.

Gemma Lacey

Books made from Vegetables and Fruit by Dizzy Pragnell.

And finally Cups and Saucers by the talented Christine Nichols of inkpotandpen.