The exhibition is titled Sitting Room and is curated by Tom Sowden and Lucy May Schofield.
The goal of the exhibit is to let the artists books “become the tactile and interactive objects that they are usually conceived as being. Take them out of glass cases, out of libraries and away from the artist’s book fairs, resituating them in an environment that was conducive to reading and engaging with the books.”
They attempt to re-create a “sitting room from a time when books were read rather than TV being watched…A space to relax, ignore work and absorb the books”
The inaugural exhibition in 2006 included work by 70 book artists. The 2007 show had 120 pieces.
Lucy May Schofield currently has a solo show titled Reflect Forward. The show was inspired by her research into the hidden archives at the V&A Museum of Childhood. She became fascinated by the “fabricated reality found in the dolls house.”
Tom Sowden is an accomplished artist who is heavily inspired by the book works of Ed Ruscha. He is currently working on multiple Ruscha projects including one called “Follow-Ed”, an exhibit curated by Sowden featuring artists who have been influenced by the artists’ books of Ruscha.
Sitting Room hits Northern California in March where it will share the stage with a juried exhibit called “Sit Down and Read” at the K Gallery in Alameda.