BABE   1st - 2nd April 2017 

'It's back! The sixth biennial festival of artist book making, featuring the work of bookmakers and small presses from around the world. Since 2007, BABE has established a great reputation as a relaxed and friendly event to meet and chat to book artists about their work and buy works of art. With more than 80 makers taking part, and prices start from just a few pounds, there will be something for everyone. Expect performances, interventions, talks and workshops across the weekend too. Featuring artists from all over the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Norway and South Korea. BABE 2017 includes a mini exhibition, performances, interventions, book making workshops and more! See the series of events happening throughout the weekend. Organised with Sarah Bodman (Centre for Fine Print Research, UWE) and Tom Sowden (Bath School of Art and Design, Bath Spa University).'

BABE 2017 was chock full of books. This event was a steamy cacophony of visually stimulating artists' books from absolutely everywhere. Big books, small books, books made unusual materials, wordless books, textured books, sculptural books etc. If you could dream it then it was there.

Kate Bernstein at BABE2017 after her talk:
Discourse and Delight a multitude of books

Kate Bernstein bookartist gave an intellectual and accessible illustrated talk, 'Discourse and Delight - A Multitude of Books, describing her current practice and showed inspiring images of the newest additions to her book family. Like Kate, many artists at the Arnolfini event spoke passionately about the work they were showing. I particularly liked the large format fold-out silkscreen piece by Tom McDonald and Tania McCormack - textural and splashy.

Tom McDonald and Tania McCormack