Opening: The Book Lab at the EEL Gallery.

The opening reception for The Book Lab will take place this Wednesday, March 7, from 6-8 PM at the EEL Gallery in 1 Spadina crescent. The exhibition will present a selection of artist’s book works and zines, alongside an installation by Shannon Garden-Smith.

Curated by Andrew Rutherdale and Ellyn Walker, The Book Lab will provide an overview of work made by artists who are interested in printed media. The opening is an excellent opportunity to connect with people who are part of the University of Toronto’s art community. Snacks and light refreshments will be provided.

The library and the gallery share a number of common features. They are spaces of production where both pedagogical and experimental discourses are formed. They are communal areas where dialogue between groups and individuals is fostered and knowledge systems are disseminated, consolidated and divided. They are psycho-spiritual spaces in which people are able to achieve moments of individuation, self-reflection and self-actualization. The Book Lab will explore possible intersections between these spaces and the activities that occur within them. It will also examine the way that the library forms structures of hierarchy and order while simultaneously attempting to dismantle and reassess its workings. The Book Lab will try to frame a new conversation about libraries, books, art and the spaces in between.