Printed Matter’s NY Art Book Fair returns to MoMA PS1 this weekend. The free event, which runs September 16-18, brings together artists’ books, catalogs, monographs, periodicals, and zines from over 370 international presses, booksellers, artists, and indie publishers. It’s definitely a challenge to get through everything on display, plus the crowds can be a little insane. If you are planning on venturing there, the below might come in handy. It’s a list of 10 things to do and see at the fair.

Exhibitors:
THE THING
We always look forward to visiting THE THING’s booth at NYABF. The artist-run publisher is known for its quarterly magazine where each issue is conceived of by a different contributor and published as a useful object. Past issues have included a vinyl window shade by Miranda July, pillowcases by John Baldesseri, and a boomerang by Gabriel Orozco. THE THING also releases special artist-devised projects outside of its quarterly. Among these are a limited edition switchblade by James Franco, a cutting board with crying instructions by Starlee Kine, and shoelaces by Ken Kagami. For this year’s booth THE THING has new unreleased projects by Johanna Jackson and Experimental Jetset, Kagami’s smiling body parts bath towel, and a collaboration with KADIST, curated by Joseph del Pesco featuring Euan Macdonald and Canadian artist Michael Snow.

Issue 31 by Ken Kagami

Vacancy Projects
Vacancy Projects, a LA-based creative studio founded by artist/designer duo Kristofferson San Pablo and Mary Vu, deals in artist-designed speciality items, like zines, prints, t-shirts, etc.. We’re hoping to pick up one the company’s 1-800-JAMESTURRELL t-shirts this weekend. Also in stock are nifty Felix The Cat pins, “The One With” tote bags, and other clever things.

Vasta
Based in New York City, Vasta specializes in erotic arts. At this year’s fair, the publisher is bringing along periodicals, ephemera, and sexpapers, as well as launching Doctor Seek And Mister Hide, a limited edition artist’s book by Mirka Lugosi and Gilles Berquet.

RAW MEAT
RAW MEAT’s stand is sure to attract attention. Specializing in works by current emerging Queer artists, the publisher had a man wearing only a sequined thong and full face mask situated in their space in the Xe(rox) & Paper + Scissors area during the opening night preview.

Special Exhibitions:
Room Services by Oscar Murillo, Mandy El-Sayegh and Yutaka Sone
Artist Oscar Murillo, in collaboration with Mandy El-Sayegh and Yutaka Sone, is staging a live multi-day drawing and printing performance at the fair entitled Room Services. Presented by David Zwirner Books, the piece finds the three artists coming together to produce new graphic works based on unbound book materials. You’ll find the artists working in the space on Friday, September 16, 12 – 1 PM & 2 – 4 PM and Saturday, September 17, 2 – 4 PM.

FLASH FLASH FLASH
At this year’s fair, you can walk away with a Kim Gordon on your arm. Gagosian Gallery is setting up a make-shift tattoo parlor onsite where you can get branded with designs by the former Sonic Youth bandmate, as well as, Devendra Banhart, Douglas Gordon, Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, Max Hooper Schneider, or Richard Wright. Fernando Lions and Gill Goldstein of Brooklyn’s Flyrite Tattoo are committing the artwork to people’s flesh throughout the weekend. Each tattoo is a limited edition. Once six people have a tattoo, that’s it for the design. It’s $250/tattoo and reservations must be made in advance here.

Design by Devendra Banhart

Zine Tornado
Perhaps the craziest thing at this year’s fair is Maia Ruth Lee and Peter Sutherland’s Zine Tornado. A glass box with zine pages whirling around, visitors can pay $10 to step inside, grab what they can, and then staple the pages together. Over 100 artists, including Rob Pruitt, Petra Collins, Ryan McGinley, Peter Coffin, and Josh Safdie, have contributed to the project, so you could walk off with a zine worth some serious dough when all is said and done.

Performances and Book Signings:
Book Signings
One the great things about the NYABF fair is the opportunity to hob nob with creative folks. Throughout the weekend, artists and authors can be found at stands and tables delivering their John Hancocks and engaging in general chit chat. Highlights among those scheduled to appear include Kim Gordon (DESTE Foundation Booth M04, Friday at 3:30pm), Hariton Pushwagner (Desert Island Comics table, Friday at 4pm), Olaf Breuning (Silent Sound Booth T04, Saturday at 4pm), Petra Collins (SFAQ Booth N63, Sunday at 1pm), and Toby Mott, who will be signing copies of Showboat: Punk/Sex/Bodies (Dashwood Books Booth O15, Sunday at 2pm).

Kim Gordon

Tarot Readings for the Future of Artists’ Books by Zebadiah Keneally
Attend a group tarot card reading courtesy of artist Zebadiah Keneally. Part of The Classroom, a curated series of conversations, workshops and other artist-led activities, the session finds the artist using his patented “Tarot” deck: Lunch Is Very Important: All the Secrets to Life You Didn’t Know You Already Knew, to answer people’s burning questions. The performance/talk takes place on Sunday at 6pm.

Zebadiah Keneally, Tarot Card Readings. Image courtesy of Blonde Art Books.

Performances in the Courtyard
The outdoor area at MoMA PS1 will be filled with music during the fair. Printed Matter, Inc., Know-Wave and 8-Ball are curating this year’s line-up.


The NY Art Book Fair runs through Sunday, September 18 at MoMA PS1. For hours and additional information visit the fair’s website.