Artists are invited to submit works for a new Book Art exhibition to be held in 2025, entitled ‘Letting in the Light’. Liverpool Book Art, Printmaking Today, and the Society of Wood Engravers (SWE) are together curating an exhibition of artists’ books to coincide with the 87th annual SWE exhibition. Both exhibitions will run from May to August 2025 at Kirkby Gallery, Knowsley, Liverpool City Region. The aim is to encourage exchange and cross-over of ideas and techniques between book artists and printmakers.

The title of the exhibiton is 'Letting in the Light'. Relief printmaking techniques, such as wood engraving, are subtractive: every mark is white, you are letting in the light.

Wood engravers have to think like photographers: "Where is the light source, where is the light falling?".

This theme has been chosen to make the connection to the Society of Wood Engravers (SWE)  exhibition, which will run concurrently.

There are many similarities between contemporary book art and wood engraving.

In both, fine art is created with great imagination and technical skill, while both can be denigrated as 'craft'. In both, too, self-publishing is the norm.

However, the call to participate is open to all forms of printmaking and bookmaking.

We invite all printmakers to tackle the creation of an artist's book for this exhibition and to have this work exhibited alongside established (and new) book artists.

We will also accept existing works that fit the theme for consideration.

Artists are encouraged to think about the theme 'Letting in the LIght' as broadly as possible.

It might be a book about light, windows, openings, the sun, stars, circadian rhythm or the light spectrum, or even more fundamentally - light as an indicator of reality (see for an inspirational example Joanna Kavenna's novel 'A Field Guide to Reality').

Or you could consider the theme more metaphorically.

We are living in turbulent times politically, economically and socially, with the threat of climate breakdown looming: how do you let in the light - with hope, joy or humour?

Or you may wish to consider a more personal response about finding light in times of poor mental or physical health.

We are excited to explore the possibilities of parallels, exchange, and cross-over, particularly between artists working in book art and wood engraving.

In both these fields there are traditions (e.g. structures in books, subject matter in wood engraving) as well as individuals exploring new possibilities in their respective fields, whether in terms of production techniques and technologies, subject matter or other aspects.

However, we would emphasise again that this Call is open to all forms of printmaking, which can form the basis of an artist's book.

Both this exhibition and the SWE show will be selling shows.

Artists can provide multiples as 'stock' to be sold by the team at Kirkby Gallery throughout the exhibition, with the sale of unique works finalised at the end of the show.

There will also be opportunities for artists to propose workshops, with fees to be paid.

You can submit images of up to 3 pieces of work within a single submission. Separate submissions will incur additional submission fees. We expect to select a maximum of 1 work per artist in order to present a diverse range of works.

By uploading these images, you give your permission for Liverpool Book Art to use them on the website, social media pages and in publicity for the fair and exhibition. (We won't use any images from artists if they are not selected.)

Important Dates:

• Call closes on 12th January NB This is the deadline for proposals, not completed work!
• Selection of works by 26th January; notification of acceptance c. 27th January.
• 27th Jan - 26th April: Creation of works, if relevant.
• Delivery of selected works to Kirkby Gallery by Saturday 26th April.