JAB 39 The Australian JAB

Abstract

This research output (JAB 39) builds on Mosely’s research portfolio “abbe 2015”, He co-edited this volume of The Journal of Artists Books drawing from academic papers delivered at abbe 2015. This outcome addresses the continuing call from scholars in the field to advance the critical nature of the field with a developing critical terminology and corresponding discourse.

A Keynote presenter at abbe 2015 was Brad Freeman, the founder and editor of the Journal of Artists’ Books (JAB) published in the USA. Leading up to abbe Mosely negotiated with Freeman to publish in JAB papers from abbe that represented an original contribution to the field. Following abbe 2015 Mosely co-ordinated the selection, peer reviewing and editing of academic papers from the event. In total 11 articles from the 14 academic papers presented were accepted by peer review for publication in the 39th volume of JAB, now termed “the Australian JAB”. Mosely was also invited by Freeman to produced a small artists book for the Australian JAB). The book he produced was a 48 page offset printed book that positions a range of terms taken from haptic aesthetics into artists book discourse. The book was printed by Brad Freeman, in full CMYK colour, at the Centre for Paper Book and Print, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, USA. This centre is a leading contributor to the field of artists book discourse. As convenor for abbe Mosely wrote the introduction to the Australian JAB, “Notes on Artists Books from the Antipodes”, In this introduction he provided a basic description of the theoretical framework for the published papers, and the “research question” that shaped the proceeding of abbe 2015.

With an international readership and subscription base to hundreds of libraries and artists books collections around the globe this contribution to artists book research positions the haptic and post literacy as critical elements in the emerging artists book critical discourse.