World of the Book, 2023-24

Pictured above and below are selected highlights from a recent mad dash to revisit the latest iteration of World of the Book in the dome of the State Library of Victoria one last time before the exhibition closed.

The section focusing on silhouettes included four page views from my unbound artist book, Leaves of Absence, 2017, collection: State Library of Victoria. (Images 1-2). Coincidentally, the book is also on display just a few tram stops away at Melbourne Athenaeum Library. It has been a thrill to see my work placed in this particular context, alongside works by some of the greats of silhouette art, among them, Arthur Rackham and contemporary artist, Kyoko Imazu. 

Of greatest personal significance were the sections devoted to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (I was particularly taken with Lynd Ward’s illustration in the 1934 edition, pictured above) and Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There, with illustrations by John Tenniel. Both authors have had considerable impact on my own work. 

The following works are by Dianne Longley (Threads Drawn from the Past, Towards a Digital Future, 2005) and Angela Cavalieri, whose large-scale linocut, Luce, 2005, was inspired by a 2003 residency undertaken at the British School in Rome. The work, which references Donato Bramante’s Tempietto of San Pietro in Rome, is equally at home in the dome gallery overlooking the library’s magnificent Reading Room (final view). 

The exhibition opened on 1 April, 2023 and closed on Sunday, 12 May, 2024.

World of the Book 2023, State Library of Victoria

Deborah Klein, Four pages from the unbound artist book, Leaves of Absence, 2017.

 Installation view, State Library of Victoria, April 2023.

Selected pages from Leaves of Absence, my unbound artist book, are on display in the latest iteration of World of the Book in the Dome Galleries, Level 4, State Library of Victoria, amidst some remarkable examples of silhouette art. 

Other exhibits include early editions of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and rare editions of Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. 

The exhibition opened on 1 April 2023 and is current to 12 May 2024.

Pictured top: Memory 1, 16, 14 and 9 from Leaves of Absence, 2017, unbound artist book. Collection: State Library of Victoria.

Pictured below: The State Library’s splendid La Trobe Reading Room, viewed from the Dome Galleries. 

The Greatest Treasure of Charlemagne the King

 

Sadly, the children’s picture book I illustrated back in 1996, The Greatest Treasure of Charlemagne King by Nadia Wheatley, originally published by Scholastic, is no longer in print in Australia. It’s a shame, because Nadia’s story is wonderful and its message is timeless. 

 

The book is still going strong in Korea, however. The Korean publisher recently renewed its agreement and three copies of the book have just arrived in the mail.

I will always thankful to Nadia for putting my name forward for this venture. Some years ago, I donated the original oil pastel illustrations and working drawings to the State Library of Victoria, aside from two illustrations, one of which I gifted to Nadia and the other to the book’s editor, Robin Morrow. 

A synopsis of the story is on Nadia Wheatley’s website HERE.

Climate Crisis National Day of Action

State Library of Victoria

Saturday 22 February 

Another climate action rally, another terrific turnout. It was great to bump into fellow artist Theo Strasser and his wife, Heather (what were the chances?) and to be surrounded by so many like-minded people.

What do we want? Climate Action! When do we want it? Now!

Shane Jones (foreground, right)

Theo and Heather Strasser march towards Parliament House. 

Alice in the collection of the State Library of Victoria

As the second weekend of house inspections approaches, Alice’s star continues to rise. The State Library of Victoria has added the real estate flyer to their permanent collection. SLV curator Madeleine Say found it refreshingly different to any other flyer she’d seen. She was drawn to the story of ‘Alice’s Wonderland in the heart of Golden Point’ and of course its heroine, Alice, even though, as the leaflet states, she is 'not included in the sale’. 

Huge thanks to our agent Terrence Morse for his creative vision and sense of fun, to photographer Angela Hayward and the team at Biggin Scott Ballarat. We couldn’t be more thrilled that an image of Alice is now held in such a venerable institution. Not bad for a two-year old.

To learn about the State Library of Victoria's extensive Ephemera collection, go HERE.

LEAVES OF ABSENCE acquired by the State Library of Victoria

I’m delighted to announce that my artist book, Leaves of Absence (2017), has been reserved by the State Library of Victoria. The book, a limited edition of 10 plus one artist proof, is pictured in our study at Abbotsford.

Leaves of Absence is the first work to draw its subject matter entirely from my regional work base. Next Friday, 16 March, from 2.30 - 3.15 pm, I’m taking part in Regional Arts Words (RAW) a panel discussion Regional Arts Australia is hosting during Melbourne Art Book Fair 2018 in the Great Hall, NGV International. My contribution will include a show and tell of Leaves of Absence, the seeds of which were sewn in 2015, during a forest walk in the Victorian goldfields town of Newstead. 

For full details of RAW, visit Regional Arts Australia HERE.

Moth Woman Press at TONERPALOOZA II

The Moth Woman Press stall at TONERPALOOZA II Zine Fair, State Library of Victoria
Photo credit: Shane Jones

It was a privilege to be part of TONERPALOOZA II Zine Fair, held last weekend, Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 September, in the elegant Cowen Gallery at the State Library of Victoria. (See also Blog Post Thursday, 21 September, directly below). I was among the second tribe of invited zinesters who participated on Sunday. Fellow stall holders included Gracia + Louise, Marian Crawford, Rosalind Atkins and Miranda Costa.

TONERPALOOZA II was brilliantly coordinated by Sticky Institute and the State Library of Victoria. We had a steady stream of visitors, particularly in the afternoon (it was a Sunday, after all). I've just posted several photos of the event on my sister blog, Moth Woman Press. To view them, go HERE.

TONERPALOOZA II ZINE FAIR

Poster by Rachel Ang

Alas, there will be no rest for me after the deinstall of From the bower (see previous post).

At present I'm feverishly preparing for the TONERPALOOZA II ZINE FAIR at the State Library of Victoria. Coordinated by Sticky Institute to coincide with the current exhibition, SELF-MADE: ZINES AND ARTIST BOOKS, the zine fair will take place in the Cowen Gallery, State Library of Victoria, on Saturday 23 - Sunday 24 September between 10 am - 4 pm. I'll be there with Moth Woman Press on Sunday the 24th.

To mark the event, I've made three new mini-zines, including Her own Society (see below).

All three zines can previewed on Moth Woman Press HERE.

Her own Society, 2017, mini-zine, signed and numbered edition of 100. Published by Moth Woman Press.