Friday 27 December 2013

Artist's Book: Anxious Homes




Subtitled: Cursory-Cleaning for the imminent arrival of visitors, or 
How to Give the impression of a Clean House in under 20 minutes.

The book 190mm x 125mm, pink single-section sewn binding.
The cover is satin card backed with pink patterned paper.
It contains 18 pages on 130gm cartridge paper.
Produced in editions of 10 - First Edition produced in 2001

Anxious Homes, is the antidote to all the 'Life Instructions' that surround us. Far from being outraged
at the patronising tone of 'How to do it' books, I have always found them funny. This book provides a
step-by-step guide of how to appear like you're doing everything properly. It contains explanations in
detail of how-to-get-away-with-it. It is a manual for people with better things to worry about than housework.

There are sections on; anxiety and the home; nearly cleaning floors; the bathroom and kitchen; washing clothes; dealing with emergency visitors; and a chart of serenity and anxiety. Anxious Homes seeks to
take away the homemaker's feeling of inadequacy by promoting shortcuts as if they are perfectly normal.

Anxious Homes was inspired by my childhood experience. As a 10 year old, I remember being amazed
at how my mother used to frantically tidy the house before visitors arrived. When I asked her what was
wrong with letting our relatives see us how we usually lived, she was horrified at the idea.
When I started living in my own home I noticed I had inherited 'pretending to be tidy' from my mother.
When my parents (or especially parents-in-law) visit I rush round picking piles of papers off the floor and making sure the bathroom taps are shiny. Cleaning-up thoroughly is a long job and despite my collection of Good Housekeeping Manuals there's just not enough time to be the ideal woman, when you have good books to read, drawings to make and tea to drink.

Anxious Homes is essential for the busy woman.









Tuesday 17 December 2013

Saturday 16 November 2013

To tweet or not to tweet


I went to a great event at the University of Portsmouth yesterday, 'Blogging for academic purposes'.
I feel inspired to give Twitter a go, not sure quite what is is though so might have to bear with me a bit...
https://twitter.com/JackieBatey

Tuesday 5 November 2013

The 4th Sheffield International Artist’s Book Prize Exhibition

READ has been accepted as part of the The 4th Sheffield International Artist’s Book Prize Exhibition, As in previous years, this year’s exhibition will feature artists' books and will be staged as part of the Off The Shelf Festival in Sheffield in October 2013.

Exhibition dates: 5th October - 30th November, 2013
SIABP, Bank Street Arts, 32-40 Bank Street, Sheffield, S1 2DS, U.K.


The catalogue of this exhibition has also just been published.






Tuesday 8 October 2013

Work in progress

I'm currently working on a long vertical drawing that will be able to fold into an artist's book, working title: Drip Drip Drip.  The drawings will form an imagined cross-section through London from the Bank of England down into the earth past the Underground then past one of the hidden underground rivers and into the Underworld. Hidden within the illustrations are two quotes about economics by Dickens. 
For research I visited the Bank of England Museum, Bank station underground as well as researched the lost rivers of London and engineering cross-sections. Images of the Underworld have long been an interest since writing my degree dissertation on Apocalypse Manuscripts many years ago. I also read The Inferno (Hell and Purgatory) and Paradise Lost (which has given me some great ideas for future projects - thank you Mr.Milton).

Here are some photos of work in progress, I'm using technical pens, Japanese papers and a light box, which explains the yellow tinge in the pics here. I'm planning for the book to be in black and white with one spot colour, maybe magenta, maybe not.







Saturday 3 August 2013

Future Fantasteek! issues 14 and 15 now on ibooks

I've just made Future Fantasteek! Nos. 14 and 15 available to view on ibooks via an ipad.
You can download both issues for free from itunes.

On itunes (if you search 'Jackie Batey' ) you'll also find an interview I did with Grey Art Lab Gallery in Minneapolis earlier in the year for their 'Secrets' exhibition.



Issue No.14
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/future-fantasteek!-no.14/id681350675?mt=11




Issue No.15
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/future-fantasteek!-no.15/id681188775?mt=11



Tuesday 30 July 2013

Future Fantasteek! No 15 OUT NOW


Softback zine laser printed in black & white on cream and blue (for a boy) paper.
A5 size with 20 printed pages, saddle-stitched.
Manilla cover in laserprint black with hand-pulled yellow sérigraphie screen print.
Brighton, July 2013, edition size of 40.

Issue No.15 Here Comes Another One
What's been happening in the BIG WIDE WORLD... Who cares!
Look at the BABY that'll take your mind off things, the Wefare State can cope with one more...

Still free to libraries and zine collections, email me: bateyjackie@gmail.com
Also available to buy online: http://www.freewebstore.org/storepage1952940.aspx

Read on Issuu NOW...


This issue will soon also be available from the ibook store ...





Here's issue no.15 'Here Comes Another One' being printed.
For a change I printed the cover using a 30yr old serigraphie  (French children's mini screen print toy).
It prints a bit erratically (or maybe that was me) using cut out paper stencils.


Here's how they came out, I printed yellow on brown wrapping paper, after laser printing the black first.





Sunday 2 June 2013

PRESS & RELEASE, Phoenix Gallery Brighton

http://www.phoenixbrighton.org/archive/press-release/

As part of the Phoenix Gallery's Press & Release artists' books exhibition, I will be showing everything in the Damp Flat Books catalogue! All 22 artist's book titles, along with 14 issues of my artzine Future Fantasteek! and a selection of sketchbooks. So, if you want to see EVERTHING come and visit the exhibition.
For more images of the exhibition click here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.575928842439904.1073741827.159039400795519&type=1

I will also be doing a short talk in the Gallery as part of the events evening on Sat 25th May.
But, that's not all - I'll be running a zines workshop on Sat 1st June. So come and see lots of lovely books by lots of bookartists.


Photo: Phoenix Brighton
Here's the Gallery info...

"Please join us for the Preview of  PRESS and RELEASE, an exhibition of artists' books, at Phoenix Brighton on  Friday 26 April, 6 - 8 pm.
The exhibition runs until 9 June, and is accompanied by a number of special activities and events including: 

Shaking the Shelf: Performing Books
Saturday 25 May, 7 - 10 pm.

"For one evening only, the books will dust off their jackets and leap onto stage. Iain Paxon spins audio-visual yarns using music, slide projections and fairy tales; Bones & The Aft open their pop-up set and take us on a rock-n-roll bus ride; Carolina Diaz draws together dance and organic forms in a book-inspired dance performance, accompanied by Geoff Leigh; Laboratoro takes us on a page-turning promenade through the exhibition, and Jackie Batey fills us in on her Damp Flat Books which use humour and satire to rant about the glitches of modern life."

Photo: Phoenix Brighton
Photo: Phoenix Brighton
Gallery talk about Damp Flat Books
Photo: Phoenix Brighton
Photo: Phoenix Brighton
Photo: Phoenix Brighton
Photo: Phoenix Brighton
Photo: Phoenix Brighton

Off the Page: An Afternoon of Books
Saturday 1 June, 2 - 5 pm

"Immerse yourself in a lively mix of talks, workshops and collaborative activities, and learn more about resources and networks for book artists. Everyone welcome!

TIMETABLE OF ACTIVITIES

2.00: ILLUSTRATED TALK
Art & design collective Borbonesa (Lee Shearman and Matt Fleming) discuss self-publishing, through printed works and projects created over the past 13 years

2.00 – 5.00: DROP-IN WORKSHOPS and ACTIVITIES
Bibliotherapy with Lucy May Schofield
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.

Concertina Book Making
Focusing on collage and composition, participants will collaborate on a monstrously long book, as well as make their own books to take away.

Photo: Phoenix Brighton

Writing with Xelis de Toro
Develop a text which can be incorporated into your own book

Making Zines with Jackie Batey
Learn simple binding techniques, then draw, cut and paste or write to get your ideas onto paper

Photo: Phoenix Brighton
Photo: Matt Fleming

Workshops with the Sussex Book Arts Collective
Collaborative books, miniature books that go out into the world, and a demonstration of making the concertina format.

The Bookends Lounge with Carol Ann Quin and Kirsten Norwood
Come along to ‘the place where the books never end’ to collaborate, swap and network with other makers of books.

The Press & Release Cafe
Refresh your body and mind with tea, coffee and cakes all afternoon

Plus: The Bookends Lounge, Press & Release Bookshop, artist book courses, late openings, and online projects. Full details and updates can be found at www.phoenixbrighton.org"
Image: Lee Shearman

Tuesday 21 May 2013

HOME is to be exhibited at the V&A


HOME is to be exhibited at the V&A, as part of the display curated by Deborah Sutherland
Building Memories: The Art of Remembering As part of Sky Arts Ignition: Memory Palace.

"It features historical mnemonic approaches to developing memory skills: from classical texts (printed in the European Renaissance) to Victorian manuals and card games, and also presents contemporary visual interpretations of home – an emotionally resonant space where you may mentally store what you want to recall."

It runs from 31st May 2013 - 24th Feb 2014 and can be found in Room 85 at the V&A, London.





Friday 12 April 2013

Project 2013 - Cafe Royal Books

Future Fantasteek! issues No.13 and No.14 are being shown as part of Project 2013.


http://www.caferoyalbooks.com/index.php/project/international-communication-project/

"You are invited to the preview of the 2013 Project.
Books, photographs, and drawings from over 20 countries sharing common themes of communication and dissemination will be displayed at Hanover Project - the University of Central Lancashire. To mark the event I am publishing a series of books: Words, Drawings, Photographs, and Publications. These titles will be launched at the preview event. Words is a collection of essays by leading practitioners and researchers - Sarah Bodman, Jörg Colberg and Lawrence Zeegen. The preview will be preceded by a talk, arranged by Dr Mat Gregory. from Turner Prize winning artist, Martin Creed.

Tuesday April 16th.
Talk: 3.00pm
Foster Building, Lecture Theatre 3, off Kendal Street, University of Central Lancashire, Preston. Spaces are limited and will be available on a first come first served basis.
Preview: 4.30pm - 7.00pm

Install - open for public viewing but partial exhibition 11.04.13 - 08.05.13
Full exhibition 16.04.13 - 03.05.13 10.00am - 5.00pm Monday - Friday

Hanover Project, Hanover Building, off Bhailok Street, University of Central Lancashire, Preston. Refreshments will be available. More details about the 2013 Project, and other Café Royal Projects can be seen here. Both events are funded by the Contemporary Arts Development Group."
Text from Cafe Royal Website.


Monday 25 February 2013

'Message in a Bottle Exhibition' in Minneapolis

Message in a Bottle Exhibition : Secrets, Cyphers, Codes & Mysteries
Light Grey Art Lab, 118 E 26th Street #101, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
http://lightgreyartlab.com/



As a featured artist, I'll be showing eleven linocut images based around themes of lying, secrets and hidden meanings. To see the images in the show: http://lightgreyartlab.com/message-in-a-bottle/

There's also a recorded interview as a podcast available here:
http://lightgreyartlab.com/lgalpodcast/

Opening Reception: Friday January 25th from 7 -10pm
The show runs through February 15th.
Regular Gallery Hours are Wed - Friday from 12 - 7pm
and on Saturday and Sunday from 12-3pm


"We are hosting the work of 40 international artists who will contribute mind-bending, coded works to Light Grey -- filled with secrets, hidden imagery and alternate meanings. Spend a little more time looking through the details in this show and you might just find something surprising.
Our lineup of events at Light Grey between Jan 25 and Feb 15 include classes on codes, secret imagery, mentalism and more. The exhibition will feature a limited edition print for those people that are the first to find the hidden images in the pieces, an interactive decoding piece, and walls and walls of art containing intimate secrets and mesmerizing detail.
Jackie Batey will also be joining us as a featured artist for this exhibition as well as Kali Ciesemier's MAKE 2013 workshop." Grey Art Lab website.

Prints available to buy here:
http://lightgreyartlabshop.bigcartel.com/products

Some photos of the Private View (with thanks to curator Lindsay Nohl).







Wednesday 20 February 2013

Future Fantasteek! Issue No.14 OUT NOW


Softback Zine printed in colour on cream paper. 
A5 size with 20 printed pages, saddle-stitched.
Day-glo cover in either pink, orange or green with day-glo star sticker.
Brighton, Feb 2013, edition size of 40.

Issue No.14 Unexpected Item in Bagging Area
So, why the long face? Have you been eating something suspicious... Damp Flat Products obviously deny everything and unlike Tesco - we're NOT SORRY. BUT, cheer-up! The economy is still circling-the-drain and Americans still like shooting each other (SHOCK), and everyone else wants to blow each other up - from and Xbox. Fancy some Soylent Green?
Still free to libraries and zine collections, email me: bateyjackie@gmail.com
Also available to buy online: http://www.freewebstore.org/storepage1952940.aspx





You can now read Future Fantasteek! No.14 at the following locations:

Artists’ Book Collection, Tate Britain, Millbank, London, UK

Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection, Chicago, IL, USA


Texas A&M University (TAMU), Bryan, TX, USA


UK non-literary publications, 1914-present, The British Library, London, UK

Colorado College Special Collections, Colorado Springs, CO, USA

INIVA - (Institute of International Visual Arts), Rivington Place, London, UK

Library, London College of Communication, London, UK

Jaffe Center for Book Arts, Florida Atlantic University Library, Boca Raton, FL, USA

Bedeteca de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

Reed College Library, Portland, OR, USA

Booklyn (zine collection), Brooklyn, NY, USA

Browne Popular Culture Library, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH , USA

The Library Hereford College of Arts, Hereford, UK

Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, USA

Paper Cut Zine Library, Cambridge MA, USA

Eton College Library, Windsor, UK

Newark Public Library, Newark, NJ, USA

Book Arts & Special Collections, San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, CA, USA

National Art Library, Word & Image Department, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK

Biblioteca Municipal Josep Badia i Moret, Barcelona, SPAIN

Duke University, Durham NC, USA

Centre for Fine Print Research, UWE, Bristol, UK

Project 2013, Cafe Royal Zines, University of Central Lancashire, UK

The Culture Archive, Brighton, UK

And it's also available to purchase in the Bookarts Bookshop, London, UK

or buy online from me directly here...http://www.freewebstore.org/Damp-Flat