7th September 2023
Book launch in Oslo
To mark the entry of the book into the world a book launch was held in Oslo at Sentralen on Tursday 31. August 2023. The evening opened with an introduction by cultural producer Hilde Herming, followed by a conversation between Anette Lundebye artist/writer and Berlin-based interdisciplinary visual artist Yane Calovski and concept interlocutor for the project.
Hilde helped to explain the difference between an ‘artist’s book’ and an ‘art book’: "artist books are thought of as a work of art in themselves" in contrast to art books that "tend to showcase works of art created in another medium". In addition to their work as creators, artists become publishers, marketers and distributors – it is an artistic practice. The limited edition is also significant – in this case it is 500 copies.
The conversation between Anette and Yane touched on the aspects such as: what was most challenging about the project - the embroidery and writing - that led to the book; at what point it became a book and its path to publication; some of the influences that have inspired the work; the social-political challenge of speaking about the ableist gaze – and how this contributes to a public discourse.
It was a lovely celebration in company of family, friend and community, and an opportunity to thank everyone who have supported the publication so far!
Finding a Book Title
14th August 2023
You’re working on a project, it’s becoming a book, you need a title… how do you create a title that is compelling, meaningful, suggestive? A title is like a key, a clue, an invitation. This book found its title in a conversation between me and artist Yane Calovski, who has been a concept interlocutor to the project. He was the first person I shared the growing manuscript with and right from the start he championed the work.
Yane and I met in Philadelphia, USA in the context of the Fabric Workshop and Museum (FW&M), where we became and have stayed great friends ever since. Yane also met my brother, Alex, back in the days of FW&M when he came to visit me in Philly. Yane gained a good sense of who my brother was to me and in the world. We both share a strong bond with our siblings.
So when we were discussing, Yane said – this book needs a good title. I nodded agreeing, and for a moment we were transported back to those early days of our friendship when we were learning to know each other and ourselves and being ‘norm creative’ in our own ways. For Alex things were different. To not be judged as less capable, he strived for excellence in sports to defy the normative perceptions of (dis)ability as physically limiting. To be accepted as ‘normal’ he became exceptional.
Talking about this the title ‘Super Special Normal’ emerged. Yane articulated it. I heard it. Boum. That was it. Super Special Normal – almost like a spell – the result of a co-creative moment. There was no doubt. We had found the title, the key, and agreed that it had to be treated as one concept – not three words. And with that premiss Povilas designed the title for the book using a rounded line picking up on the metaphorical thread of the embroidery hoop. Magic all round.
Yane will be joining me for a conversation about the book as artistic practice for the book launch in Oslo at Sentralen on 31st August 2023.
8th August 2023
At the Printers
The stack of paper sheets on the photo is a book in the making! Today was the day that Super Special Normal went to print at ETN Grafisk, a Norwegian printer in Skien that delivers on quality and sustainability through maintaining local craftsmanship, skills and jobs, alongside the highest environmental standards by reducing impacts to the minimum.
Going to print is a big milestone in a book project as we move from digital to paper. I was there to check colours and that everything was to the specifications. It was exciting to see the first prints emerge on the tactile uncoated paper. The book is printed offset with LED-UV technology on a Roland 700 press. With Litho Offset printing, you cannot just change a detail once the colour plates have been made for each page. This means that the design and preparation is crucial to achieving a high-quality result, which an artist’s book requires. This had been expertly done by New York based designer Povilas Utovka, in conversation with me and the printers.
The next steps are folding and sewing the inside pages, which then go to the bookbinders Bokbinderiet Johnson who happen to be the last bookbinder in Norway to still produce hardback covers. The book will be covered with cloth and have a flat spine. The endpapers will be stuck to the cover and the cover title and texts will be embossed with white foil. We have added a satin ribbon to mark a page you want to return to. Very soon we will be able to hold the book in our hands and hopefully have a multi-sensory experience.