Read To Me

Bodman, S.L.

Abstract

‘Read to me’ is an experiment made by the artist in collaboration with a psychometric reader, to transmit the emotional content of selected narratives through a series of physical objects. Ten objects were selected to read chapters of novels, or short stories to. They were then posted to the reader who relayed their messages back to the artist.

The idea for this experiment was initially inspired during a residency at Visual Studies Workshop (VSW) in Rochester NY, USA in 2002. My fascination with psychic reading was piqued during the month spent at VSW. It was there that I read about the history of the (now discredited) Fox Sisters, who launched their careers as spirit mediums on 14 November 1849, at the Corinthian Hall in Rochester. As I sat at the table reading in the library and archive at VSW, I imagined that the Fox Sisters would have been at a similar table in a similar large mansion house over 150 years ago, thrilling their audiences with their tales and spirit encounters.

Read To Me is touring with an exhibition of the book and a selection of the original objects which were read, from September 2018 – December 2019. Venues to date include Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, NY, USA; Winchester School of Art Library, UK; John M. Flaxman Library at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Collins Memorial Library at the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, USA. Read more about the project at: http://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/readtome/

Produced at the London Centre for Book Arts, 2018, four-colour risograph print (Cyan, Florescent Pink, Yellow, Black) with Esther McManus. Printed on Redeem 130gsm recycled paper, saddle stitched, envelope with dark pink metallic foiled title in 16pt York type. Edition of 100, July 2018, 20 pages, 105 x 148 mm.

• Physical Artefact Type: Artefact
• Publication Date: Jul 9, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 7, 2019
• Keywords: artists' books, risograph printing, psychometric reading, London Centre for Book Arts,
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/864672
• Related Public URLs: http://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/readtome/