Artists in pandemic isolation
By Guest bloggers: Victoria Cooper & Doug Spowart - Artists' Book creators | 30 October 2020
The Australian Library of Art has acquired the first artists’ book for the collection which documents artists’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Victoria Cooper and Doug Spowart collaborated with Julie Barratt and Solange Baques to create Artists Survey #23: Artists in pandemic isolation.
Victoria and Doug, both former Siganto Foundation Research Fellows have written a guest blog about the Artists Survey #23 which we are pleased to share.
ARTISTS SURVEY #23: Artists in Pandemic Isolation, Victoria Cooper & Doug Spowart, Australian Library of Art, State Library of Queensland.
ARTISTS HAVE ALWAYS ADAPTED TO AND EMBRACED CHANGE IN CHALLENGING TIMES OFTEN WORKING IN ISOLATION. Nearing the end of their artists in residence in Finland, Australian artist Julie Barratt and Argentinian photographer Solange Baques found themselves stranded on the other side of a pandemic stricken world. Concerned for their friend and colleague, Cooper and Spowart connected with Barratt and proposed the concept of a collaborative Artists Survey book project to present the artists’ experiences during the COVID-19 enforced isolation.
This small book compilation is published by the Centre for Regional Arts Practice is the result of the collaboration. It is a small gesture to bridge the vast physical and psychological distance that this pandemic has engendered.
Here is the story of Artists Survey #23: Artists in Pandemic Isolation project.
The backstory to this special edition of the Artists Survey
The Centre for Regional Arts Practice (acronym C.R.A.P.) was founded in 2007 during an artist in residence at Arthur Boyd’s Bundanon property near Nowra on the NSW south coast. As artists’ bookmakers, we saw the opportunity to produce a democratic multiple publication to present our perspective on regional artist experience and to develop C.R.A.P. manifestoes.
All of our C.R.A.P. Artists Survey books draw upon humour and irony of the prosaic routines and events encountered in life of a regional artist. These publications are usually produced in editions of 25 with 5 artist’s proofs. They are humble handmade books which are sold to collectors and institutions – most are given away to friends and peers.
Some early C.R.A.P. Artists Survey books, Centre for Regional Arts Practice (acronym C.R.A.P.).
The C.R.A.P. and its Artists Surveys have become a vehicle for highlighting, critiquing and questioning many issues both local and global affecting regional artists. The 23 editions to date have included topics such as Swine Flu, The Global Financial Crisis and Global warming. On seven occasions collaborative Artists Survey books have been created with a regional artists.
In late March we witnessed Julie Barratt’s situation as a participation in an artist’s residency in regional Finland. At that time the viral pandemic was closing the world down and cutting off homeward travel with airlines grounded. Though Julie seemed unphased we thought our shared isolation experiences could be an important commentary on these times. So, we suggested to Julie our idea of a C.R.A.P. Artists Survey book about Covid-19 isolation and she agreed enthusiastically. Within a short time Julie’s compatriot in isolation – Argentinian photographer Solange joined the project.
Screen snaps of Facebook group meetings.Image courtesy of Victoria Cooper and Doug Spowart
We formed a Facebook group and held online meetings to talk over the concepts, we shared work, discussed design ideas and quickly our isolation had a creative purpose. We are excited to share our stories with you …
About the ARTISTS SURVEY #23
The Artists Survey project culminated in a book of 6 elements:
- An introduction booklet
- 2 works from Solange Baques (1) An image from her ‘Through the window project, and (2) a small piece of Finnish soap enclosed in a stitched holder accompanied by messages about anti COVID-19 hand washing techniques.
- An original Polaroid image made by Julie Barratt in a stitched folder made at the residency with red thread used by Julie in some of her performance work.
- A collaborative concertina book by Victoria Cooper and Doug Spowart.
- All the elements are enclosed in a special folder cover designed and handmade by Doug Spowart with the support of Victoria Cooper
Size of the book: 15 x 10.5 x 2cm
Media: Various art papers, inkjet on photo paper, a Polaroid photograph, a soap shard, a plastic enclosure, various threads and cords
Design and printing: Doug Spowart of cover, intro booklet and other elements
Fabrication: The artists
Edition: 40
Published by: The Centre for Regional Arts Practice
Victoria Cooper+ Doug Spowart Blog: https://wotwedid.com/2020/08/22/artists-survey-23-artists-in-pandemic-isolation/
Links
- Australian Library of Art
- #23 Artists suvey : Artists in pandemic isolation : Finland, Argentine, Australia / prepared by Lolonge Baques, Julie Barratt, Victorial Cooper + Doug Spowart
- Siganto Foundation Artists' Book Project
- Victoria Cooper + Doug Spowart Blog
- Artists Survey #23: Artists in Pandemic Isolation intro book Aug 21
Cooper Victoria Artists Survey #23: Artists in Pandemic Isolation
ENTRY IN THE 2020 NATIONAL WORKS ON PAPER – An artists' book by Julie Barratt, Solange Baques, Victoria Cooper and Doug Spowart. This small book is a gesture to bridge the vast physical and psychological distance that this pandemic has engendered. Our four stories are of the moment and place and are impromptu responses to a rapidly changing and chaotic world.
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