This post is a summing up of the many opportunities that came about as a result of my exhibition. I have written about some of these events previously and you will find links elsewhere on my blog, however this post aims to sum it all up in one post for ease of reading, and future reference.
I also include links to view videos of the exhibition on my YouTube Channel, for those who couldn't make it in person.
(My blog is an invaluable personal digital portfolio of my practice so this is as much for "future me" as for anyone else who may be interested.)
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| Artful Narratives, Angela Morton Room, Takapuna Library |
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| Artful Narratives, Angela Morton Room, Takapuna Library |
My first ever solo exhibition Artful Narratives was presented in the Angela Morton Room at Takapuna library earlier this year. I have exhibited in many group exhibitions and participated in many collaborative projects but, until this opportunity came up, I had avoided the idea of a solo for a number of reasons, the two main reasons being cost (knowing that many artists can barely cover their costs even after selling well during their show) and also I never felt I had a substantial enough body of work that deserved all the fuss.
That was until the opportunity to exhibit in the Angela Morton Room came up!
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| Artful Narratives, Angela Morton Room, Takapuna Library |
While co-curating a group show in the space I suddenly thought:
Hmmm I could FILL this space with my own artist books!
And so I did!
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| Artful Narratives: Ngunguru & Mangroves artist books and layered prints |
A Surprising Learning Experience
The experience of planning, designing, managing and presenting this exhibition was an incredible learning experience. Putting myself in front of an audience, repeatedly, to talk about my work and answer many questions delving into my practice and processes, was a series of illuminating light-bulb moments. I was very surprised to discover so much about my own work, things I didn't realise until I spoke my thoughts out loud to others.
I found the whole experience, including the many positive responses I received, very affirming and uplifting. It has helped me to feel inspired to have more belief in my own work and not to be swayed and stifled so much by my inner critic. I shall try to remember this when I have confidence wobbles in the future.
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| In Residence, In Residence, created during Lockdown March 2020 |
My goal with this exhibition was to present my large accumulation of artist books and sculptural works, created between 2016 and 2021, as a single body of work, so that each work could be seen in context with other pieces, and to provide an insight into my ways of working. Seeing my own work in this way was something of a revelation, to realise that my work actually does appear to have a cohesiveness despite dabbling in so many things. Exhibiting these pieces collectively has also allowed me to move forward with new work and to be ready to "let many pieces go" to new homes.
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| Artful Narratives artist talk: 7 April, 2022 |
The Joys of Connecting with People
One of the real joys of presenting my work like this, and importantly to me, sharing the stories behind the works, was connecting with the many visitors to the show:
was so interesting and inspiring for new trains of thought and research, more "rabbit holes!"
Meeting other artists working in a variety of media,
but united through similar interests, is always inspiring.
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| Artful Narratives, Angela Morton Room |
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SCROLL DOWN to view:
The Catalogue Video
A Walk-through Video of the exhibition
The Slideshow Video as seen in the exhibition
My Heritage et Al blog post
My interview in the Rangitoto Observer
My interview for Ina Arraoui's Print Community
My LIVE Fibre Arts Take Two Interview
An overview of the Artist Talks
My Unfolding Ideas Workshop
Auckland Museum Acquisitions
Auckland Library Acquisition and Gift
Artist's Books in Aotearoa, NZ
But what, exactly, is an artist's book?
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Artful Narratives Catalogue
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| Artful Narratives catalogue |
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| Artful Narratives catalogue |
I designed my catalogue to be made from a single piece of folded paper, opening up like a little book. A ridiculous amount of time and energy went into getting it just so (having never created artwork for print before), and then, with various lockdowns delaying the opening, amending the artwork to remove any dates, to cover all eventualities of future lockdowns or delays.
View the Catalogue by visiting my YouTube clip HERE.
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For those who couldn't make it along in person,
or for those who would like to revisit,
I started a YouTube Channel (!)
where you can view the exhibition.
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View a Speedy Tour of some pieces from Artful Narratives
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| Diatom II, Artful Narratives |
View a Speedy Tour of some of the pieces from Artful Narratives
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View a Walk-through of Artful Narratives
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| Artful Narratives, Angela Morton Room, Takapuna Library, Auckland |
View a walk-through of my Artful Narratives exhibition on my YouTube Channel HERE.
This video shows how the exhibition is presented in the space and gives an overview of the "feel" of the exhibition and how the works form a large cohesive body of work.
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View the Artful Narratives Slideshow
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| Slideshow, Artful Narratives, YouTube: Toni Hartill Art |
View the slideshow, as seen in the exhibition, on my YouTube Channel HERE.
This slideshow includes images of all of the pieces in the exhibition plus some process shots and behind-the-scenes, helping to give context to the works.
NOTE: I intend to add more videos showcasing a few of the works in the exhibition so you are welcome to SUBSCRIBE to be notified of new uploads or check back anytime.
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Heritage et Al Blog Post
Interview: Rangitoto Observer
Interview: Ina Arraoui Print Community
LIVE Interview: Fibre Arts Take Two
Well, I never expected this might be a thing I would do!
Unbelievably, Fibre Arts Take Two invited me to be one of their Friday Feature Artists and so on Sat (NZ time) 30 April, 2022, I had the absolute thrill of "meeting": Tara Axford and chatting, at speed, about the many aspects of my work.
Read some background and how this came about in my previous blog post HERE.
View the interview on YouTube HERE.
View the interview on Facebook HERE.
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Artist Talks
Unaccustomed as I am to public speaking... I offered a series of artist talks, providing the opportunity for visitors to have a guided tour through the cabinets and to view the artworks being handled and manipulated, the way they are meant to be fully appreciated. Also, sharing the stories and inspirations behind the pieces, and offering an insight in how the pieces were made, all added to the engagement of the audiences and many questions were asked and experiences shared.
Admittedly, I was somewhat overwhelmed by the number of attendees on some days but it was very heartening to realise that so many people were genuinely interested in my work and/or wanting to find out more about artist's books.
7 April
22 April
6 May
as Dunedin, Wellington and Taupo to attend the Printopia Festival.
28 May
I extend my heartfelt THANKS to the many people who attended my artist talks!
and inspires me to continue to do what I do.
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Unfolding Ideas Workshop, Printopia Festival '22
Printopia 2023 planning is well underway so follow online
for dates and programming.
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Auckland Museum Acquisitions
purchased a number of pieces from my exhibition to add to their special collections:
The Butter Book
Once a Grand & Noble Forest...
There Be Treasure (Rockpool)
Field Notes: Manawa, 1/3
Gateway
Fenced In
Read my earlier blog post about Auckland Museum's acquisitions HERE.
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Auckland Libraries Acquisition & Gift
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| Lost Forests of the Plains II & AN Memento Box, Angela Morton Archive Room |
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| Artful Narratives Memento Box, Angela Morton Room Special Collection |
I am so thrilled and honoured that one of my large cascade artist books, "Lost Forests of the Plains II", was purchased by Auckland Libraries to be added to the Angela Morton Room Special Collection.
Also, in sincere appreciation for the opportunities provided to me, and for the ongoing support from Leanne Radojkovich, Research Librarian of the Angela Morton Room, and Auckland Libraries, I created a special Artful Narratives Memento Box to be gifted to the special collection.
Read my earlier blog post about these pieces, now held in the special collection, HERE.
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Finally, one of my goals with Artful Narratives was to introduce a wider audience to the concept of artist's books. To provide some background and context I included the following information for visitors to consider.
Artist's Books in Aotearoa New Zealand
Whichever way the title is punctuated, there’s no doubt that
artist’s books are an increasingly popular way for artists to express ideas,
explore materials & challenge conventions.
Existing at the intersection of printmaking, mixed media,
visual arts, photography, book binding, poetry, experimental narrative, letterpress,
graphic design and publishing (among others), artist’s books are making a place
for themselves in the collections of libraries, museums, bibliophiles, artists
and art collectors. Internationally, artist’s books have a high profile in
their own specialist galleries, competitions, book fairs, conferences, special
collections and archives.
In Aotearoa, artist’s books have flown well under the radar,
known mostly by artists who work in the field, but not well known by a broader
audience. That is changing, however!
Many artists create artist’s books as part of their arts
practice, but tend not to exhibit them widely due to the fact that art
galleries are rarely suited to safely and satisfactorily exhibiting these
diverse sculptural works. Organisations in NZ such as PCANZ (Print Council
Aotearoa NZ), ABC (Association of Book Crafts), AHP (Association of Handcraft
Printers) and many in the fibre arts world, among others, each hold events and
encourage the creation of artist’s books within their memberships.
The Angela Morton Room
Special Collection archives a steadily growing collection of these taonga, as
do other major institutions in NZ, and these collections are often able to be
viewed by request.
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"But what, exactly, is an artist's book?"
"You may not be able to tell just from looking at the object itself! The simple answer to someone not familiar with artists’ books might be: art in book form. But they are not quite so simple…
An artist’s book is a medium of artistic expression that uses the form
or function of “book” as inspiration. It is the artistic initiative seen in the
illustration, choice of materials, creation process, layout and design that
makes it an art object. A book that only contains text is simply a book; even
if authored by an artist, it would be a book that belongs in a book store or
the shelves of a library.
What truly makes an artist’s book is the artist’s intent, and
artists have used the book as inspiration in a myriad of ways and techniques,
from traditional to the experimental. The book could be made through fine press
printing or hand-crafted, the pages illustrated with computer-generated images
or cheap photocopies; books became sculptures, tiny and gargantuan; books were
sliced up and reconfigured, made from all kinds of materials with
unconventional objects incorporated, in unique or limited editions, or produced
in multiple copies. With all sorts of ideas behind them, artists continue to
challenge the idea, content and structure of the traditional book.”
An excerpt from: Smithsonian Library Blog: https://blog.library.si.edu/blog/2012/06/01/what-is-an-artists-book/
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In finally summing up Artful Narratives, I feel excited to now set my sights on new goals and to re-engage with new work for future projects, which I look forward to sharing with you.
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