What is Existent Books?
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The Beginning
Existent Books publishing initiative began five years ago in 2015 with very humble beginnings. Ingrid Schindall, the founder and director of IS Projects, opened the studio in September of 2014 with a mission to cultivate a love and appreciation for print and book media in South Florida. After graduating from Maryland Institute College of Art with a BFA in Printmaking and Book Arts, Ingrid went on to become an assistant printer at David Krut Projects in Johannesburg, South Africa. It’s there that she developed her artist’s book collaboration skills while working with artist, Stephen Hobbs, to create and produce the fine art pop-up book, Be Careful in the Working Radius. This project pushed her capabilities as it had to go from optimistic idea to fully produced edition in only 3 months with no prior interaction or preparation. The book was a major success and has since been collected by the Smithsonian, the Jack Ginsberg Collection, and several other major artists’ book collections.
Fast forward to opening IS Projects, Ingrid set up a space in which future collaborations would flourish and began investigating the local print/paper/book culture and met Edwin Beauchamp at the Miami Zine Fair. Edwin’s illustration and graphic design work stands out in Miami and has been featured on the Miami Zine Fair Branding for years. After some time running into each other at exhibitions and print related events, Edwin approached Ingrid wanting to collaborate on a book with IS Projects. This sort of collaborative project got Ingrid’s wheels turning and she decided to not only create a book but build out the framework for an artist book publishing initiative - thus Existent Books was born! (She even got Edwin’s advice on the Existent Books logo!)
How Far it’s Come!
left to right: ingrid schindall, onajide shabaka, amy galpin, michelle a. m. miller, rachel gustafson
We broke new ground this Summer expanding Existent Books with support from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation after winning the Knight Arts Challenge award in Winter 2019. Grant support went towards filling out the program with a paid two-week artist residency for our next two collaborating artists, Onajide Shabaka and Michelle A. M. Miller, and inviting two guest curators, Amy Galpin, Chief Curator of the Frost Art Museum, and Rachel Gustafson, Assistant Curator of the Norton Art Museum, in for a studio visit with our artists during their residency.
ingrid and michelle miller looking at screen prints
onajide setting lead type from the collection
Onajide and Michelle both had fruitful residencies exploring the possibilities of screen printing and letterpress printing, while developing book structures that will purposefully contain the concepts explored within their content. As we move into production on these new books, we’re excited to offer an upcoming chance to pre-order for those itching to get first dibs on the edition. We plan to share many more details, anecdotes and shots from their residency experience in a future blog post.
So What Is Existent Books, Exactly?
Existent Books is a semi-annual publishing initiative which brings artists to IS Projects to experience fine art printmaking and letterpress printing. These artists then design an artist-book that is inspired by our collection of historical letterpress type and image cuts or new printmaking techniques learned at IS Projects. As its found its footing, there’s been some adjustments to the initiative over the years but, originally, Existent Books was meant to focus on publishing books inspired by the studio’s extensive collection of lead and wood type. For example, Edwin’s book, and the first Existent Book publication, features Univer type. However, as the studio has grown and the projects have evolved, we’ve shifted focus to taking inspiration from all the techniques that the studio has come to offer: screen printing, relief, intaglio, letterpress, foil stamping, die cutting, pop-ups, etc.
Since the beginning, the artists we’ve chosen to work with have been invitational only. Initially, Ingrid wanted the project to be semi-annual and alternate between a local and visiting artist (which is how the first two publications functioned - Edau from Miami and then Beth Sheehan from New York). However, she quickly realized how many local artists there were in South Florida alone and how working exclusively with them could ultimately better serve our community. By the third publication, the project decided to stay close to home, working with South Florida based artists only. From then on, selecting artists was driven by those who were either working in print and book or whose work would translate well into book from, thus luring new artists toward the medium.
Existent Books is unique in that it specifically publishes limited edition handmade artist books produced with traditional printing and binding techniques. With a mission focused on building awareness and breaking down barriers to entry in artist book publishing as well as collecting, Existent Books is invested in collaborating with a variety of artists, including those working in different mediums and with limited to no experience in printmaking or book arts. To date, the project has included artists whose primary practice includes printmaking, illustration, painting, sculpture, graphic design, video, architecture, fiber and performance.
onajide examining watercolor screen prints
Christian proofing color swatches
During residency, artists work closely with the lead collaborator and IS Projects staff to hone in on which techniques and materials would best fit their vision, collaborating through demonstrations and feedback on design execution while creating test prints, color samples and plenty of mockups. Working within a supportive and public-access studio such as IS Projects allows artists-in-residence the opportunity to be surrounded by other artists utilizing the space regularly, encouraging community-building and increasing the chances for organic artistic exchange with local creatives.
The main goal of Existent Books is to help artists create books that would not have been possible without the production and financial support of a fine art print shop, and now with grant funding, and artist stipend. Ultimately, each completed edition is proof of the project’s success. Existent Books encourages contemporary artists to contribute to the ongoing history of book arts while stimulating the evolution of the medium and breaking down barriers between artist book publishing. All projects ave been made in editions of 60-100 with price points ranging from $20 - $300, thus creating books with approachable price points for new collectors and art enthusiasts looking to grow their collections.
Meet the Books!
disarray by edau, fall 2015
devoted by beth sheehan, spring 2016
swap shop by noah levy, fall 2016
nearing by jen clay, spring 2017
mini golf by brian butler, fall 2017
Textual by elysa D. Batista, spring 2018
the unmade room by christian feneck, summer 2019
Convergence by Michelle AM Miller, Summer 2020, coming soon!
Antillean Lacunae: Points of Departure by Onajide Shabaka, summer 2020, coming soon!
Over the coming weeks and months, we look forward taking a deep dive into each of our nine artist book publications, sharing photos and stories from the collaboration and production process along with more insights into how each of the artists translated their existing practice into an Existent Book.
Stay tuned, friends!
Sammi