Outputs (59)

Artist’s Book Yearbook 2022-2023 (2022)
Book

Articles and essays: BOOKS BOXED – Imi Maufe asks – What happens when a book is boxed? and discusses the use and potential of box structures in artist’s book design; In the first of two pieces, David Solo reports on the – Book Art Review (BAR) Conve... Read More about Artist’s Book Yearbook 2022-2023.

BABE – The Lost Weekend Arnolfini, Bristol – online (2021)
Exhibition / Performance

Sat 17th April – Sun 18th April 2021 Bristol Artist’s Book Event at Arnolfini presented works by over 160 book artists and small publishers from around the world, online over the weekend. We had submissions of books and videos from artists and pub... Read More about BABE – The Lost Weekend Arnolfini, Bristol – online.

Ed Ruscha Books & Co (2019)
Exhibition / Performance

“Books & Co.” presents Ruscha’s legendary artist books together with those of more than 70 contemporary artists from all over the world—from Russia to Japan to the Netherlands, including artists' book by Tom Sowden, who have responded directly and di... Read More about Ed Ruscha Books & Co.

RE: Follow-ed (after hokusai) (2015)
Exhibition / Performance

Co-curated by Tom Sowden and Michalis Pichler. An exhibition of artists' tribute books to Ed Ruscha.

BABE – The Fifth Bristol Artists Book Event (2015)
Exhibition / Performance

Curated event including 113 artists, publishers, dealers and presses from the Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sicily, Spain, South Korea and the UK, attracted 7150 visitors and held at the Arnolfini, Bristol, 11-12 April 2015.

Artists' books at the Centre for Fine Print Research (2015)
Journal Article

An article on artists' books at the Centre for Fine Print Research.

PAGE.PRINT.POST: 50 years of Artists Books (2014)
Exhibition / Performance

PAGE.PRINT.POST: 50 years of Artists Books curated by Debbie Hill and Geoff Wallis, offers a rare insight and overview of the development, range and ambition of the Artists Book over half a century. Featuring books, postal art and other 'alternative... Read More about PAGE.PRINT.POST: 50 years of Artists Books.

Click, swipe, download, share: Digital artists’ publishing (2014)
Journal Article

In this article, the British artist Tom Sowden looks at some of the ways in which other artists are publishing their books digitally. From hypertext works to ebooks to blogging; artists are beginning to utilize purely digital publishing tools as a me... Read More about Click, swipe, download, share: Digital artists’ publishing.

Click, swipe, download, share (2014)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Tom Sowden was keynote speaker at the Beyond the Book conference, organised by Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Exeter University. During this talk Sowden looked at how and why artists are using digital publishing tools to produce books. For the purposes... Read More about Click, swipe, download, share.

How to be a book artist (2014)
Journal Article

Tom Sowden is an artist and a lecturer on the MA Multi-disciplinary Printmaking course at the University of the West of England. Commissioned by Artquest to shed some light into the complexities of working with book art, this article is a vital compe... Read More about How to be a book artist.

BABE – The fourth Bristol Artists Book Event (2013)
Exhibition / Performance

Curated by Sarah Bodman and Tom Sowden with the Arnolfini Bristol this event showcased 105 artists, publishers, dealers and presses from the UK, The Netherlands, Belgium, USA, Canada, South Korea and Italy with 7530 visitors.

Re-reading the page (2013)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Sarah Bodman and Tom Sowden are based at the Centre for Fine Print Research, UWE, Bristol, where they explore many aspects of artists’ publishing: from the conception and history of the artist’s book to creative processes and output, current developm... Read More about Re-reading the page.

Various small books: Referencing various small books by Ed Ruscha (2013)
Book Chapter

As part of his ongoing research into the artists’ books produced by Ed Ruscha Tom Sowden was invited to contribute to VARIOUS SMALL BOOKS: Referencing Various Small Books by Ed Ruscha published by MIT Press (pages 86-87 and 166-169). In the 1960s and... Read More about Various small books: Referencing various small books by Ed Ruscha.

'Fifty Two Shopping Trolleys', 'Salad Dressing', 'Homeless People' and 'Some of the Buildings on the Sunset Strip'. (2013)
Physical Artefact

As part of his ongoing research into the artists’ books produced by Ed Ruscha in the 1960s and 70s, and how these have influenced a huge raft of copycat books since, Sowden produced his homage to one of Ruscha’s most famous books, 'All of the Buildin... Read More about 'Fifty Two Shopping Trolleys', 'Salad Dressing', 'Homeless People' and 'Some of the Buildings on the Sunset Strip'..

Some thoughts on the artist’s book in the 21st century (2013)
Book Chapter

The most ambitious and diverse survey of the book arts published to date, Book Art Object 2 serves as a record of the third biennial Codex Book Fair and Symposium, "The Fate of the Art," held in Berkeley, California in 2011. The event showcased conte... Read More about Some thoughts on the artist’s book in the 21st century.

Follow-ed (after Hokusai) (2013)
Book Chapter

I can't stop making books in the style of Ed Ruscha. It has become an obsession, and my failure in trying to replicate an Ed Ruscha book, while always trying to succeed, is entirely part of the appeal to me. I don't live in 1960s California and my... Read More about Follow-ed (after Hokusai).

Drawing with fire: The art of laser cutting paper (2013)
Book Chapter

This paper explores some of the laser cutting methods used by artists, in particular from an Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project (Paper Models: investigating laser-cutting technology to develop new artists' books and paper-based creat... Read More about Drawing with fire: The art of laser cutting paper.

A manifesto for the book: Book - artist's book - artist's publication - book art? (2013)
Book Chapter

This paper was based on the results of a two-year research project led by Sarah Bodman and Tom Sowden, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, March 2008-February 2010. This project investigated the context and future of the artist's book... Read More about A manifesto for the book: Book - artist's book - artist's publication - book art?.

Codex Event 8 (2012)
Exhibition / Performance

An Australian and British collaborative research project into pulp-printing, installation and artists’ books between Sarah Bodman, Paul Laidler, Tim Mosely, Monica Oppen and Tom Sowden. Codex Event 8 tackled the ‘urban jungle’, its physical mass... Read More about Codex Event 8.

Un Manifesto para o Livro (A Manifesto for the Book) (2012)
Journal Article

A Manifesto for the Book was first published as a free online download as part of the findings from a two-year AHRC funded research project on the future of the artist’s book in the digital age(http://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/canon.htm). The manife... Read More about Un Manifesto para o Livro (A Manifesto for the Book).

Codex Event 8: An Australian and British Collaboration of pulp-printing, installation and artists’ books with Sarah Bodman, Paul Laidler, Tim Mosely, Monica Oppen and Tom Sowden 2011-2012 (2012)
Journal Article

A co-authored article by all the artists for Imprint journal, Australia, September 2012. Sarah Bodman and Paul Laidler from the Centre for Fine Print Research (CFPR) at UWE, Bristol, UK joined Tim Mosely in Brisbane at Queensland College of Art (Q... Read More about Codex Event 8: An Australian and British Collaboration of pulp-printing, installation and artists’ books with Sarah Bodman, Paul Laidler, Tim Mosely, Monica Oppen and Tom Sowden 2011-2012.

The Blue Notebook: Journal for artists' books (2011)
Other

Vol 6 No 1 October 2011 A themed issue on Books and Travel. Essays: Katie Herzog’s cycling librarians hold their ‘unconference’ on wheels; Steven Daiber’s series of collaborative adventures with artists in Cuba on the making of Privacidad: Pri... Read More about The Blue Notebook: Journal for artists' books.

BABE – The third Bristol Artists Book Event (2011)
Exhibition / Performance

Curated by Sarah Bodman and Tom Sowden with the Arnolfini Bristol. Artists book event which showcased 100 artists, publishers and presses from the UK, France, Belgium, Russia, USA, Canada, South Korea and Spain with 5724 visitors.

Follow-ed (after Hokusai) (2011)
Exhibition / Performance

Follow-ed (after Hokusai) is an exhibition of books inspired by the American artist Edward Ruscha, collected and curated by Tom Sowden and Michalis Pichler, at the Winchester Gallery, University of Southampton. This exhibition is part of Print Mat... Read More about Follow-ed (after Hokusai).

Salad Dressing (2011)
Book

Salad Dressing is a cover of Ed Ruscha and Mason Williams’ 1969 photo novel Crackers . Ed Ruscha’s original book Crackers became the script, score, instruction and inspiration for this new performative bookwork by artists Performance Re-enactment... Read More about Salad Dressing.

Surplus to requirement (2010)
Exhibition / Performance

Tom Sowden invited to curate a selection of Bristol-based book artists’ works for a collaborative project with the Righton Press group at Manchester Metropolitan University. Each artist produced a page to print, and a ‘sketch’ page on the theme o... Read More about Surplus to requirement.

Paper models: laser symposiun (2010)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

A one-day symposium on Wednesday 15 September 2010 for seventy-five delegates presented the results of the AHRC funded research project, Paper Models: Investigating laser cutting technology to develop new artists’ books and paper-based creative pract... Read More about Paper models: laser symposiun.

Drawing with fire: an exhibition of laser cutting by book and paper artists (2010)
Exhibition / Performance

Curated by Tom Sowden as part of the practice-led AHRC funded research project ”Paper Models: investigating laser cutting technology to develop new artists’ books and paper-based creative practice for arts, crafts and design” and to coincide with a o... Read More about Drawing with fire: an exhibition of laser cutting by book and paper artists.

Arnolfini bookshop showcase exhibition (2010)
Exhibition / Performance

Tom Sowden curated exhibitions of work at the Arnolfini created by SME's and sole traders who have worked with the CFPR through the bureau service and residencies on prototypes, bespoke designs and artefacts. The work on show was just a small selec... Read More about Arnolfini bookshop showcase exhibition.

The art of laser cutting paper (2010)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Tom’s talk discussed how artists are using the laser-cutter as a creative tool, with examples of artists works on paper and artists’ books.

The Blue Notebook: Journal for artists' books (2010)
Other

The Blue Notebook launched with Vol.1 No.1 in October 2006 as a peer reviewed journal, published twice a year. The journal is published in two formats: an electronic colour version to be accessed at any time online, and a paper, black and white versi... Read More about The Blue Notebook: Journal for artists' books.

The art of the book: journals then and now (2010)
Exhibition / Performance

An international traveling exhibition of artist book journals, diaries and letters. “The Art of the Book: Journals Then and Now” is a collaborative project between the Department of Art and Art History at UMSL, the CFPR at the University of the West... Read More about The art of the book: journals then and now.

A Manifesto for the Book (2010)
Book

What will be the canon for the artist’s book in the 21st Century? In an arena that now includes both digital and traditionally produced artists’ books, what will constitute the concepts of artists’ publishing in the future? This project was funded... Read More about A Manifesto for the Book.

Scott’s Flight: Migrating East (2010)
Physical Artefact

Sarah Bodman and Tom Sowden were invited to make a collaborative book 'Scott’s Flight: Migrating East' a unique reconfigured book, cut with figures of Ospreys for the 4th round of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Biennale for the Artist’s Bo... Read More about Scott’s Flight: Migrating East.

Ruscha rip-off, rip-out (2010)
Journal Article

A Portfolio by Tom Sowdon as part of the special section on photo-bookworks in Vol. 37, No. 6 of Afterimage, the Journal of Media Arts and Cultural Criticism, published by Visual Studies Workshop, NY. The photo essay details a selection of the bo... Read More about Ruscha rip-off, rip-out.

The cover of a book is the beginning of a journey (2009)
Exhibition / Performance

The exhibition curated by Bodman and Sowden presented a range of publications by artists including: Angela Bulloch, Sophie Calle, Don Celender, Douglas Huebler, Alison Knowles, Jonathan Monk, Ed Ruscha and Lawrence Weiner. These books could all be pe... Read More about The cover of a book is the beginning of a journey.

BABE – Bristol Artist’s Book Event 2009 (2009)
Exhibition / Performance

Co-hosted event organised by Sarah Bodman and Tom Sowden at CFPR and Peter Begen and Suzie Claiden at Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol. A two-day event showcasing 83 national and international artists, presses, colleges and publishers, exhibiting hundreds... Read More about BABE – Bristol Artist’s Book Event 2009.

Public Presentation and Demonstrations, BuchDruckKunst (2009)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

A talk, and series of public demonstrations over 3 days by Sarah Bodman and Tom Sowden at the invitation of Jurgen Bönig, Director of the Museum der Arbeit, and Wibke and Stefan Bartowiak of Bartkowiak’s Forum Book Art - organisers of BuchDruckKunst.... Read More about Public Presentation and Demonstrations, BuchDruckKunst.

What do artists do? (2009)
Other

Participating artist in year long Arts Council funded research project lead by Phyllida Barlow to establish a working environment where a selected group of [16] artists could engage with the processes of making artwork with no prerequisite outcomes.... Read More about What do artists do?.

Follow-ed (2009)
Journal Article

Invited Journal Article, The Bonefolder: a peer-reviewed e-journal for the bookbinder and book artist, Volume 6, No. 1, Fall 2009, ISSN 1555-656, pp 15 – 18 From Sowden’s own practice of producing artists’ books in homage to Ed Ruscha, he has been c... Read More about Follow-ed.

I am comedy. 'Out-takes' (2008)
Exhibition / Performance

Public screenings of artists work involving themselves explicitly as either narrator or actor exploring the human condition and their own identity through humour. Many of the artists in this project use humour as a diversion for more hidden philosoph... Read More about I am comedy. 'Out-takes'.

The future of publishing (2008)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Sarah Bodman and Tom Sowden were invited by Tate Shaw, organiser of the event, to present research into the future of the contemporary artist’s book in the digital age from their AHRC funded project. In an arena including digital and traditional arti... Read More about The future of publishing.

Artists’ books abroad (2008)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Presenting an overview of artist's book publishing in Europe and further afield: contemporary artists’ books, Internet publishing projects, altered books, performance books, and use of digital and traditional production methods.

Artist’s Book Yearbook 2008 – 2009 (2007)
Book

In the 2008-2009 issue of the Artist’s Book Yearbook, we have new writers’ contributions from the UK, Mexico, France and the USA, and artists’ pages by contributors from the UK, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Chile and the USA. Essays by: Colin Sackett,... Read More about Artist’s Book Yearbook 2008 – 2009.

Sitting Room: An Exhibition of Artists’ Books (2006)
Exhibition / Performance

Sitting Room was conceived between curators Tom Sowden and Lucy May Schofield. The show presented artists’ books in a re-created sitting room within gallery spaces, allowing the majority of books to be handled and read by the viewers. Exhibition... Read More about Sitting Room: An Exhibition of Artists’ Books.

Artist's Book Yearbook 2006-2007 (2005)
Book

The 2006-2007 ABYB includes essays by: Betty Jo Irvine and Sylvia Turchyn: Women's Studio Workshop, USA; Clifton Meador: The Nameless Dead; Mike Nicholson: Story Life; Guy Begbie on the 1st International Korean Artist’s Book Fair; Mette Ambeck: Pap... Read More about Artist's Book Yearbook 2006-2007.

Artist’s Book Yearbook: 2003-2005 (2003)
Book

The issue includes: Reformations by Susan Johanknecht; Size Matters by Dr Stephen Bury (The British Library); Ron King and the Circle Press Retrospective at Yale Center for British Art, USA Elisabeth Fairman; Artist’s and their books in Germany (Ulr... Read More about Artist’s Book Yearbook: 2003-2005.

What’s In The Box? Volume II
Exhibition / Performance

Published as a collection of artists’ books curated and edited by Tom Sowden. Each project involves MA Printmaking students, UWE staff and invited artists who are asked to contribute 16 pages for an artist’s book. Each book is digitally printed f... Read More about What’s In The Box? Volume II.

What’s In The Box? Volume I
Exhibition / Performance

Published as a collection of artists’ books curated and edited by Tom Sowden. Each project involves MA Printmaking students, UWE staff and invited artists who are asked to contribute 16 pages for an artist’s book. Each book is digitally printed f... Read More about What’s In The Box? Volume I.

Some of the Buildings on the Sunset Strip
Physical Artefact

Some of the Buildings on the Sunset Strip was included in the exhibition Lost Highway 41 Revisited Blues, Street Road, Pennsylvania, USA, March - October 2013. Street Road's third exhibition, Lost Highway 41 Revisited Blues, was an exploration of... Read More about Some of the Buildings on the Sunset Strip.

Shine on
Physical Artefact

On 23/04/15, we, the WBN United Artists made our annual World Book Night tribute. This year we chose Stephen King's magnificent horror novel The Shining. We matched the models to text excerpts from the New English Library paperback edition of The Shi... Read More about Shine on.

What’s In The Box? Volume III
Exhibition / Performance

Published as a collection of artists’ books curated and edited by Tom Sowden. Each project involves MA Printmaking students, UWE staff and invited artists who are asked to contribute 16 pages for an artist’s book. Each book is digitally printed f... Read More about What’s In The Box? Volume III.

What’s In The Box? Volume IV
Exhibition / Performance

Published as a collection of artists’ books curated and edited by Tom Sowden. Each project involves MA Printmaking students, UWE staff and invited artists who are asked to contribute 16 pages for an artist’s book. Each book is digitally printed from... Read More about What’s In The Box? Volume IV.

What’s In The Box? Volume V
Exhibition / Performance

Published as a collection of artists’ books curated and edited by Tom Sowden. Each project involves MA Printmaking students, UWE staff and invited artists who are asked to contribute 16 pages for an artist’s book. Each book is digitally printed from... Read More about What’s In The Box? Volume V.

Ø - Cherry Blossom Island Tree
Physical Artefact

A collaborative artist’s book by Sarah Bodman and Tom Sowden was exhibited at Doverodde Book Arts Festival, Doverodde, Denmark, Saturday 9th May 2009, with the production of the book en-route documented as a collaborative video work available to view... Read More about Ø - Cherry Blossom Island Tree.

Toast: A night on Weevil Lake
Physical Artefact

A collaborative artist's book and movie produced on World Book Night, Saturday 5th March 2011, in tribute to Douglas Coupland's novel The Gum Thief, an evening of nothing being cooked, Chinese food having to be ordered in and eaten off of paper plat... Read More about Toast: A night on Weevil Lake.

Artists’ books in the digital age
Book Chapter

Within the last 15 years there has been a rapid growth in artist book production. In part this has been due to increased awareness of the book as an art object which in turn influences teaching practice in art schools, but I believe it is also largel... Read More about Artists’ books in the digital age.

Fiftytwo Shopping Trolleys in Parking Lots
Physical Artefact

Fortynine Coach Seats Travelling Along the M4 and Fiftytwo Shopping Trolleys in Parking Lots were included in the exhibition DIY (Visits Chicago): Photographers and Books, held at the Center for Book and Paper Arts, Chicago, USA. This exhibition w... Read More about Fiftytwo Shopping Trolleys in Parking Lots.

Fortynine coach seats travelling along the M4
Physical Artefact

A reproduction of Sowden's original book (2003) from the series of artists' books produced in homage to Ed Ruscha, Fortynine Coach Seats presents each of the 'stages' from a series of performances enacted on a coach travelling between Bristol and Lon... Read More about Fortynine coach seats travelling along the M4.