Printed Matter Art Book Fair
Raised on song and story
Orchestrated by John Ryaner
Maria Editions
Featuring:
Annika Ström
Cooper Union Workers Film Group
David Blandy
Hamza Halloubi
Jacob Dwyer
Keren Cytter
Laure Prouvost
Luzie Meyer
Yong Xiang Li
Live here from February 24th / New York time 5pm (UK time 10pm)
until February 28th New York time 12am (UK time 5am)
'What is Soul', (Passage of the Soul, Part III), David Blandy, 2002
“Raised on song and story, heroes of renown.” Pete St. John, 1970
Sea shanties were invented so that sailors at sea would keep calm. The chances of the ship sinking and the crew drowning were very high. The shanties were sung and the sailors would stay calm. Sailors are told to always look forward and never look back. As long as sailors look forward they see the vast and never ending ocean. If sailors happen to look behind they see the monstrous waves creeping up behind them, sometimes hundreds of feet in height. It’s a strange phenomenon that as long as the ship is sailing forward with the waves, the waves the ship is on seem invisible and go unnoticed. It’s only when sailors look back that they realize what they’re going through. Similarly, lullabies are sung to distract children. A child is faced with the wants and needs that accompany being alive. A song is sung to soothe the child. The child has little control and must rely on another person to satisfy their basic needs. The lullaby reminds the child that they are not alone.
Stories are as old as humans. We need stories to teach and to learn and to grow. Pictures and words and songs were invented so the generations could pass on stories. Through oral traditions, songs and stories have been kept alive in cultures for thousands of years. The tradition of storytelling precedes all forms of writing and picture making, and even the earliest known farming practices.
Often songs and stories are overlooked parts of video art and experimental film. Our world has gone rogue. What stories shall we tell our children of this turbulent time and what songs shall we sing to soothe our souls. Please enjoy this selection of videos.
- John Ryaner
Printed Matter is launching its first Virtual Art Book Fair (PMVABF), presenting more than 400 exhibitors from over 40 countries. Since 2005, Printed Matter’s Art Book Fairs have hosted international exhibitors featuring a wide variety of published works—from zines and artists’ books to rare and out of print publications, and contemporary art editions. Held shortly after the 15th anniversary of the inaugural NY Art Book Fair, this online Fair gathers our NY and LA Art Book Fair communities and expands the Fairs’ reach to welcome more exhibitors and visitors than ever before.