TO BRING A BOOK FAIR BACK TO BOOKS. The Debut of Rehearsal Art Book Fair, taking place on Sep 15 and 16, 2023 in New York City, seeks to explore and present the essence of independent art and literary publishing within highly capitalized and/or censored contexts.
Derived from the French word “rehercier”, “rehearsal” means “to practice” or “to repeat, to understand anew.” We invite independent presses, editions, collectives, and individuals from both local New York and around the world to join this fair. The book fair unfolds within the theater space and reimagined bathhouse-converted classrooms of University Settlement—an historical community hub that has supported immigrant workers and low-income families since the 19th century. This setting mirrors our reality as low-income immigrants and grassroots revolutionaries.
Additionally, a special exhibition Sam iz Dat: (independent/underground) publications by Chinese-speaking Creators, over 150 titles of curated Samizdat from mainland China will be presented at Rehearsal Art Book Fair, also in the U.S for the very first time. This signifies our appreciation for the consistent practice of bookmaking as personal Rehearsals and Revolutions. We aspire for her significance and impact to endure far beyond the mere existence of the exhibition, leaving behind valuable reference materials for future research.
The fair is co-organized voluntarily by Bungee Space (a photography, image study- and image criticism-focused art book store based in New York) and Accent Sisters (a speakeasy literature bookstore and publishing studio based in New Jersey).
Your help will support Rehearsal Art Book Fair possibly happen annually.
Learn More: https://rehearsalartbookfair.org/