Fuck Yeah, Book Arts!

My friend and book artist Zabby Allen is collecting in written submissions for an artist’s book project in aid of the al-Mutanabbi Street bombing. This is your chance to make a difference with book art! 

On March 5th 2007, a car bomb exploded on al-Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad. More than 30 people were killed and 100 were wounded. Al-Mutanabbi Street, the historic centre of Baghdad bookselling, holds bookstores and outdoor bookstalls, stationery shops and even tea and tabacco shops. It has been the heart and soul of the Baghdad literary and intellectual community.

Beau Beausoleil is a poet and bookseller who founded the al-Mutanabbi Street Coalition in April 2007 and has asked book artists to produce 3 books that reflect the fragility of books as well as the endurance of ideas within them. One complete set of books will be donated to the Iraq National Library in Baghdad. The other 2 sets will be shown in touring exhibitions.

I am a book artist taking part in the project and would like to include responses from a wide range of people, all ages from around the world to show the power of books and the effect they have on us. If you would like to be included in my submission please respond to the following query:

Tell me about a memory you have associated with books or about a particular book that has had a strong effect on you. 

Your submission can be as long or as short as you want, handwritten or typed and you can even include photographs or images if you wish. As long as it is related to a book in some way you can tell me about whatever you wish!

Please send your submissions to: zabbyallen@hotmail.co.uk

Thank you! If you would like to read more about the project information can be found here.

And if you want to have a peek at some of the books that have already been completed they can be found here.