Stephen Spurrier

Artist
Ugg Boot Press
Lecturer
University of Southern Queensland
Toowoomba

How precious is the artist's book?
In this presentation Stephen will discuss the philosophical and practical issues associated with the making of Artist's Books - what is the most appropriate structure of such books to provide the best outcome in terms of integrity of the work when exhibited? Many artists believe that their books are often exhibited in a curatorial environment more geared to other visual arts media - how do we solve this problem without being too precious?

Issues of preciousness also confront the artist when working in collaboration - "Am I reworking or defacing the other artist's imagery/concept?" Stephen will discuss this issue on a number of levels using his own collaborations as examples.

Stephen Spurrier has been exhibiting since 1996 and has held 26 solo exhibitions. He began making artists' books in 1996, inspired by the Second Artists' Books and Multiples Fair in Brisbane that year, and established his publishing business UGG BOOT PRESS in Toowoomba during 1998 which he now runs with well known identity Mary Collins. A recent major collaborative Artists' Book project where he worked with thirteen other artists, Little Treasures was recently exhibited at the University of Western England, Bristol, UK (2004). Prior to this the work was exhibited at Grahame Galleries in Brisbane and RMIT Gallery in Melbourne.

Stephen's work is in State Galleries and in many other public collections including Parliament House in Canberra, Artbank and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Stephen was awarded the Hutchins Prize in 2000 for the Artist's Book The book of First Aid and how not to use it and received an Australia Council Development Grant of a Studio residency in Barcelona for 2002. He has recently completed a series of editioned Artists' Books The Barcelona Diaries based on this experience one of which is in the collection at Artspace Mackay.

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