Final opportunity for people to create books as art for Regent 24 hour book sale

With less than one month until the inaugural Books As Art exhibition at the Regent 24 Hour Book Sale, crafters are being urged to get busy upcycling used unsalable books into artworks.

Artists and crafters have until the end of May to confirm their entry in the exhibition. All entries will be judged by a panel and will be displayed during the 24 Hour Book Sale, exhibitors can also choose to sell their artwork.

Books As Art entries will be judged by a panel headed by Dunedin Public Art Gallery Director Cam McCracken with support from artist Nicola Jackson and Otago Polytechnic art lecturer Bridie Lonie. Entries will be judged in the following categories:

• Best in Show
• Runner Up
• Junior Section (primary and secondary school students)
• Under 25
• People’s Choice (judged by popular vote during the exhibition)

As well as the glory of the title, winners will receive a double pass to a show of their choice at The Regent Theatre this year and a pack of literary gifts from the Dunedin City of Literature office.

Those entering their artwork can still pick up used, unsaleable books for their creations at the Regent Theatre, Otago Polytechnic Hub on the corner of Forth and Union Streets, University of Otago's Information Services Building and The Athenaeum. Entrants must complete the online entry at www.regenttheatre.co.nz by Thursday 31 May.

Books As Art will be open to the public on Friday 8 June from noon to 7pm and on Saturday 9 June from 9am until noon. Visitors can vote for their favourite Books As Artcreation and purchase those that are for sale. A percentage from sales will go toward supporting the Regent Theatre’s community ownership.

Regent Theatre Trust of Otago board members and Books as Art organisers, Jennifer Anglin and Matthias Schorer believe Books As Art is a great opportunity to reuse books which are too badly damaged to be sold, ensuring they have a new life.

Jennifer said, “We’ve been inspired by a similar exhibition in Dunedin’s sister city, Edinburgh and can’t wait to see Dunedin people apply their creativity to give new life to used books. It’s the perfect challenge for a City of Literature. Books can be upcycled into beautiful art – whether its origami type page folding, intricate sculpted pages or using pages to make or cover items.”

Books As Art at The Regent Theatre has caught the attention of the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature who sent this note: ‘Dunedin’s Books As Art initiative is an excellent way of giving a new lease of life to old and damaged books. In Edinburgh, there are many talented artists creating new visual art out of books, and one particularly fascinating story emerged through the work of the Mystery Book Sculpture Artist, who left their first paper sculpture at the Scottish Poetry Library in 2011. More sculptures were then discovered that year at a number of key literary and artistic organisations in Edinburgh, but the identity of the artist was always withheld. To this day, we still don’t know who the artist is. The sculptures were and still are an enchanting insight into the city’s love of literature, and we are excited to see this inspiring art form draw a connection between our two cities of literature.’ Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature

It is hoped The Regent Theatre Books As Art exhibition and sale will become an iconic part of Dunedin’s cultural fabric just as the Regent 24 Hour Book Sale is.

More information, including an entry form, is available on The Regent Theatre website www.regenttheatre.co.nz.

ENDS.

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