the 2024 bookmark print exchange
sign ups for this exchange are now closed.
//at a glance
theme
the theme is "fable". you may interpret this however you wish.
prints
prints must be 20 x 8cm (or 7.8 x 3.1 inch) and from a traditional print medium.
the maximum edition will be 44, but may be less if there are fewer signups.
key dates
feb 29: signups close (or if 44 participants sign up, whichever comes first.)
aug 31: prints must be posted NO LATER THAN THIS DATE.
fee
the fee is 44$ USD and this includes return postage, 44 bookmark prints (including one of your own) and a fancy box for the prints. your participation is confirmed upon payment.
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//more info
the theme "fable" intends to honour stories with stories.
storytelling is fundamental to the human experience: to tell a story is to enrich ourselves and others with dreams and lore. like the shapeshifting folk heroes who are the focal point of many stories, a story can take many tangible forms and, once they escape the confines of their creator’s skull, take on many more through interpretation and engagement with the story.
prints and books are cousins by virtue of their technological parent. the development of the printing press allowed for the rapid spread of knowledge and stories through the world. if a picture says a thousand words, then how many words does a print say?
the print must be a new, unique piece of artwork not previously used for any exchange. no block recycling. you're better than that.
all traditional print methods are welcome, but no risograph this time unless they will be coated to prevent ink transfer.
experimental substrates and mixing of media is heartily encouraged. with that in mind, substrate for bookmarks should lean more on the rigid side. if you prefer to print on light papers, consider mounting them to something heavier after you've printed.
please, no water based media as these are more prone to leaving marks inside books. (this does not include water miscible inks such as caligo safewash and acrylic inks which become waterproof when dry.)
please, no AI generated imagery for this exchange.
accoutrements such as ribbons for your bookmark are also encouraged, but please keep them on the thinner side for print-packing reasons (this means absolutely no tassels or large beads, or i will personally eat your entire print. use your best judgement. your print is going to be in a little enclosed space with other prints, so if your dangly bit can't fit in the 2-3mm edge buffer or lie flat on your print, use something else.)
each print must be interleaved with 20 x 8cm (or 7.8 x 3.1 inch) sheets of acid free tissue paper or glassine. prints that are still wet won't be included in the exchange, so plan your time accordingly please!
printmakers posting from the northern hemisphere may suffer the pains of posting to my lovely little island in the southern hemisphere. for this reason, to hopefully keep costs a little lower, there will be a postage address available within california, usa, where a co-conspirator will collate all received prints into one parcel headed for australia. this is an opt-in aspect, please note if you want to do this on the form below, but there is no obligation to. it is simply to save you some money if posting to australia costs you too much.
all skill levels are welcome, but as this is a large edition, novice/hobbyist printmakers are urged to consider if they can handle a large print run such as this before signing up. due to international money transfer fees and regulations, the signup fee will likely not be able to be refunded for participants international from australia.
payment is through paypal, and you will be emailed with payment details after signing up. those in australia will also have the option of paying through payid.