The Bibliotherapy Artist's Book Library

2011-05-23T13:33:00.001-07:00

BABL is a mobile library, home to over 150 artist made books and publications, which tours the country offering bibliotherapy and a unique reading experience to anyone in need of a dose of handheld art and a pair of listening ears.

BABL goes to BABE Bristol

2011-05-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

BABL's visit to the Bristol Artists Book Event (BABE) at the Arnolfini was simply lovely. Thank you to the stranger who escorted me to the centre of Bristol rather than just directing me on a map, and to each and every visitor to the Library who stole precious moments of their sunny bank holiday weekend to chat and read with me in Dolores. We were received with such kindness and intrigue on our maiden voyage and more artists donated some fantastic new titles to the library while we were dockside. It was a long drive home but we made it without a recovery vehicle in sight!

Cladding

2011-05-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

4 days of cutting and installing bespoke 6mm birch ply panels in the blazing April sun. She's starting to look a lot more like a home for books and me.

All hands on deck

2011-05-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

Wire brushed, de-rusted, insulated, breathable membrane ready for cladding. phew. A productive bank holiday weekend thanks to SW, GC and of course SP.

BABL at the 'Bookmarket' Edinburgh

2011-05-23T07:47:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled that BABL has been invited to take part in the Fruitmarkets' Bookmarket in Edinburgh. It's such a treat to be taking the more mobile library (on mini wheels) to the city for the evening. Do stop by to the gallery where you can also hear John Byrne read from his new book. Super.

Palette inspiration for BABL

2011-05-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

Palette inspiration for the next stage of BABL's development. An afternoon of washing and waxing, measuring and drawing up plans. There's a lot of decisions to make in terms of creating her library-live interior.

My funny Valentine

2011-05-23T07:37:00.001-07:00

We celebrated our one year anniversary this week with a jaunt out reaching 60kmph, air in her tyres, a bottle of cold prosecco and a killer sunset.

From Here to A

2011-05-23T07:15:00.001-07:00

BABL is heading to Dover tomorrow as part of 'From A to B'. You will find me in Market Square between 11am and 5pm on Friday 19th and Saturday 11th September. BABL will be housed in a unique purpose built temporary structure made to resemble the H-Van Library, who's not able to be there. Pop by if you feel like a chat, an unusual read and a ginger beer.

BABL

2011-05-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

BABL is a mobile library, home to over 100 artist made books and publications, touring the country offering bibliotherapy to those most in need of a pair of listening ears and a unique reading experience.

My Funny Valentine

2011-05-23T06:36:00.001-07:00

We celebrated our one year anniversary this week with a jaunt out reaching 60kmph, air in her tyres, a bottle of cold prosecco and a killer sunset.

Success through Effort

2010-10-19T04:42:00.001-07:00

With clothes and bric a brac donations from H, S & B, and a steady stream of curious locals we raised a wondrous £250 for the H-Van's internal restoration. That's two rolls of 2BDA insulation for starters. Thank you to everyone who came, bought, ate and donated.

Destined for great things

2010-10-06T13:14:00.000-07:00

Countdown

2010-09-28T02:10:00.001-07:00

After 4 long months of engine and bodywork repair and restoration, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. My H-van, Dolores, will be returned to me safely in just 2 days time. She'll make the long Dorset to Manchester journey and be transformed from buttercup yellow to a fine 'British Standard Light Grey' with a clotted cream trim.

Hunter/Gathering at The London Art Book Fair

2010-09-27T13:24:00.001-07:00

I raced down to the Whitechapel gallery for the London Art Book Fair last weekend to gather some more artists' books for the BABL. I found some excellent material at Kaleid Editions and The Museum of Everything to add to the library and also managed to squeeze in a lino print workshop with the lovely Nick Morley, in which I hope the result will be catalogued under the 'in need of humour' section when it's finally dry and sent to me. I returned with a full case of inspiration.

'Place' at Hastings

2010-09-21T02:39:00.000-07:00

The BABL made its way to Warrior Square, St. Leonards on Saturday and on to Rock-a-nore car park in Hastings on Sunday as part of 'Place', Coastal Currents 2010. They were beautifully bright days, if not a little windy, and as usual I met some very special people. I shared the library with many a curious local from confident young rock fans to charming whipet owners. I was offered kind donations for the bibliotherapy service and accepted a gift of a fine sussex apple from a keen bibliophile. Touched by the kindness of strangers and the generosity of spirit on the South East Coast, I headed north once again to prepare for the autumnal plans for BABL.

From A to B

2010-09-08T08:09:00.001-07:00

It was a wonderful event which attracted an interesting and curious crowd. I made some lovely day-long friends who kept me busy prescribing appropriate publications for all manner of themes. The Bibliotherapy Artist's Book Library was part of 'From A to B' artists interventions, performances and exhibitions across Dover town centre and coastline.

In good hands

2010-08-25T17:12:00.001-07:00

From Manchester I took a trip to Dorset via Sussex to check on the progress of Dolores. She was in the safe and knowledgeable hands of Le Cube Utile, north of Bridport. She resembled a patch work quilt but I managed to look past her current aesthetic and decide finally on the new colours for her full re-spray. A palette of four soothing pantones reflect her purpose. Duck egg, clotted cream, nude and cocoa with the potential for a hint of antique gold. It shouldn't be too long now.

On the move

2010-07-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

I spotted a mobile library packed with books and friendly librarians in Yorkshire last week. Climbing aboard to inspect the cunning shelf angles and storage solutions, a wave a envy swept over me and I longed for my wheels to transport precious BABL to and from the many outings of late. Buses aren't made for babl-ing, (certainly not between Todmorden and Mytholmroyd). I visited the offices of Sweet & Maxwell, the sponsors of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival, for freshly baked cake a talk about the project and a lunchtime dose of bibliotherapy for the workers. I loaned many titles to an enthusiastic audience who with hope went back to work a little lighter in spirit.

Libraries, Picnics & Buses.

2010-06-29T03:00:00.001-07:00

On Monday I took my Bibliotherapy Artist's Book Library to Newcastle where I parked up outside the library and opened the boot to tempt the heavy hearts of Blaydon to share their woes with me in the blazing sun, while I prescribed them some reading relief. I also described and read from some of the wonderful books in BABL to an inspiring visually impaired book group.

On Saturday BABL travelled to London to the W e l l c o m e P i c n i c in Cumberland Market, where the local Camden Community had a beautiful day in the sunshine sharing delicious food. I managed to gobble a sandwich between bibliotherapy consultations and the constant stream of curious visitors, though the shady oak tree and light breeze kept my woes at bay.

On Sunday I headed to Yorkshire to perform BABL on a super double decker route master bus as part of the Hebden Bridge Arts festival. Despite the fateful football cries from the pub, I was kept busy prescribing artists' books to those who were captivated by words not goals. BABL will be on the bus once more this Sunday 4th July for a free perusal between 2pm - 6pm.

Facelift

2010-06-07T05:33:00.000-07:00

As Dolores and I awaited the very nice man from the AA to tow us to safety, I made some crude notes on what she needed in way of repairs to make her the dream Bibliotherapy Artist's Book Library vehicle extraordinaire. The interior renovation will follow on completion of her body work restoration in July. It's a slow journey but it feels more worthwhile with each passing day, as the touring plans gather momentum.

a day in the life

2010-05-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

Stripping

2010-05-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

A Delores bank holiday day in the lock up with 4 splendid helpful pairs of hands, some screwdrivers, drills and a fair few surprises. She's almost stripped and ready for her 'Quite Fit Fitters' team assessment. Bookcase/Bed/Boudoir measurements to be done this weekend.

Sleep Furiously

2010-04-23T02:33:00.000-07:00

'Between these melancholy tableaux, the visual palate is cleaned with single-colour panels, and with weird speeded-up sequences. One repeated image was a real madeleine for me: the sight of the mobile library trundling around the winding roads, a vital source of reading, thought, ideas ... everything. Trefeurig is full of people who love books. I couldn't help remembering the mobile library that used to appear in the village of my own childhood (Letchmore Heath in Hertfordshire): a purple bus, shaped like an elongated tallboy wardrobe on wheels, which, Tardis-like, had a miraculous stock of books, far more than appeared possible from the outside. It gave you the feeling, when you effortfully climbed the big steps to get in and stood in its narrow aisle between the two great walls of books, that its centre of gravity was that little bit too high and that the whole vehicle would topple over if it took a corner at anything over 15 mph - and might well do so at rest, if you moved around inside too quickly.'

Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, Friday May 2009.

Reading for Reading's Sake

2010-04-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

While Delores was receiving some overdue tlc I took BABL to the Wigan Words Literature Festival and the Reading for Reading's Sake event in Salford. Two wheels were not quite as useful as four, but nonetheless it proved a perfect opportunity to gather momentum for the summer tour.

Delores

2010-03-16T07:12:00.000-07:00

She's yellow, long and perfect for BABL. I am now the proud owner of a Citroen HY Van, a 1971 ex French Fire Engine , converted to a camper in 1997. She needs some work, an interior makeover, a face life of sorts, a re-spray but she's sound and strong and hums along beautifully, ready to carry the Bibliotherapy Artist's Book Library to far flung rural communities. This is an exciting day.

Van-tasy

2010-02-02T06:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the boot of a car isn't quite big enough. Babl's premier outing at the 'Art boot fair' during the Manchester International Festival had people queueing for consultations. There was something about the safety and comfort of a static vehicle that induced a free stream of confessions throughout the day. People were invited to use the back seat of the audi 100 as a 'silent study' area lined with cushions and tissues, to engage with their book prescriptions. We all braved the unpredictable Manchester weather but I finally had to close the boot and turn away the remaining patient public as the books threatened to be blown away in the wind.

As wonderful as the audi was, the library has grown out of it and needs an inviting environment to protect both the books and audience. I am searching for the perfect van which will see me safely through the B-roads of Britain over the coming year. With somewhat naive plans to begin the tour on the most depressing day of the year, January 25th, I soon came to realise that finding and funding a van to house the library would take me a little longer. The harsh winter weeks of January also gave me rationale that a Spring set off might be more appropriate. The van needs to be converted to accommodate the bespoke collection of artists' books which keep them snugly in place until needed. My van-tasy comes in the shape of a Citroen H Van, a most distinct vehicle with a heritage of supplying bread and clothes to rural French communities since the 1950's as mobile shops.

The Babl van will provide communities with a dose of art, literature, listening and a wee dram of hope.

Special Delivery

2010-02-02T05:55:00.001-08:00

As November 2009 drew to a close, parcels from far and wide began arriving at my door. Wonderful contributions from artists mounted up, all sure that their publications would be of therapeutic benefit to the reader. I was thrilled at the response and gradually began to file the completed Symptom Reference Cards and categorized the books into a non dewy decimal system (more of an emotional classification). Some of the books submitted have crept into the BAB Library already and had mini outings but most are waiting patiently to reside on their year long shelf when the tour begins.

For the Love of Libraries

2010-02-02T04:01:00.000-08:00

Initial thoughts to tour BABL to the library-less and gallery-less towns in the UK have since evolved. After my involvement in several library based projects over the past 6 months I am convinced that by working with Britons libraries BABL will reach a wider and more diverse audience than by following the rural path of established mobile libraries. The threat to public libraries is rife in the UK, with increasing pressures to improve visitor figures or face closures. A recent project working with the stunning Manchester Central Library has inspired me to use the incredible spaces that libraries offer the public for quietness, reflection and knowledge to temporally house BABL.

The Bibliotherapy Artist's Book Library

2010-02-02T03:01:00.000-08:00

*A call to artists for entries for submissions to the BABL

In June 2009 I created the Bibliotherapy Artist's Book Library (BABL), in the belief that reading books and engaging with art have huge mental health benefits. I have a modest collection of Artists' Books which I have used for the past 8 years to inspire other people to write, illustrate and make their own books through lecturing and teaching workshops. Where this has been hugely satisfying, I have grown a little weary of late. I want these books to exist elsewhere. I want them to be discovered by strangers, live outside of the institutions they are often housed. Breathe - no white gloves, no glass cabinets. Just me, a cabinet of artists' books, four wheels and the open road.

Someone somewhere can read something that makes their heart lighter and a tiny difference is made to someone's day.

2010 sees the touring of BABL begin. Last year some successful outings were made to a car park in Ancoats, an antique shop in Hastings, and an arts for health conference. Some of 2009's bibliotherapy.