In conjunction with the exhibition Text/Messages: Books by Artists, 35 Minnesota artists who make book-related multiples set up shop at the Walker for a day of merriment last Saturday, February 21. The event was a overwhelming success with over 1200 people in attendance.  Multiples Mall was a collaboration between the Walker Art Center community and public programs department and mnartists.org with support from the Walker Art Center Gallery Shop, Rain Taxi Review of Books and The Minnesota Center for Book Arts.  The exhibiting artists represented a wide range of approaches to the book-related multiple concept from Bill Gorcica’s interactive station which allowed attendees to customize their own book to the elegant craft of Regula Russelle’s pieces to the collaborative sketchbooks, stickersheets and posters of local artist collective Hardland/Heartland. 

From my personal perspective (as one of the organizers and also an attendee) it was wonderful to be in a room full of local artists, talking with one another, swapping artwork and meeting other community members. I took the opportunity to meet several artists whose work I have admired and met several new artists as well. It was hard to be in the room for most of the day and not spend a fortune on all of the pieces I would have liked to add to my collection.  Judging by the long lines at the checkout table throughout the day, I was not alone.  My biggest regret is not grabbing one of Josh Journey-Heinz’s very cool handcut 3D vinyl albums before they sold out.  That’s a hint Josh…we need to talk.

Overall there was warmth throughout the day that was refreshing and energizing. For me, it was a potent reminder of the vibrancy, strength and talent within the local artist community. We hope this will be a model for future collaborations between mnartists.org, The Walker and the local artist community.

participating artists:

Raighne and Megan Hogan, 2D CLOUD
Brian Aldrich
Emmet Bryne
Ryan Dorshorst, Synthetic Infatuation
Wendy Fernstrum, Fernwerks
Bill Gorcica
Hardland/Heartland
Lacey Prpic Hedtke
Sam Hoolihan
MC Hyland, Double Cross Press
Josh Journey-Heinz
Chad Kloepfer
Sean Lynch
Andrea McKay
Ed Choy Moorman, Bare Bones Press
Rachel Melis
Kelly Meister
Sarah Morean
Abigail Mullen
Paulette Myers-Rich
Brian Ness
Mylinh Trieu Nguyen
Regula Russelle, Cedar Fence Press
Noa Segal
Chip Schilling, Indulgence Press
CB Sherlock
Chuck Smith
Richard Stephens, supersession press
Elizabeth Workman and Erik Brandt