The Debut of Rehearsal Art Book Fair: TO BRING A BOOK FAIR BACK TO BOOKS
7:30PM
The debut of Rehearsal Art Book Fair will take place on Sep 15 and 16, 2023 in Lower East Side, New York City. The Book Fair will unfold within the theater space and bathhouse-converted classrooms of University Settlement—an historical community hub that has supported immigrant workers and low-income families since the 19th century.
Co-organized voluntarily by independent bookstore Bungee Space (a photography, image study- and image criticism-focused art book store based in New York) and Accent Sisters (a speakeasy literature bookstore and publishing studio based in New Jersey), Rehearsal Art Book Fair seeks to explore and present the essence of independent art and literary publishing within highly capitalized and/or censored contexts, featuring over 45 independent publishers, collectives, and individuals from both local New York and around the world. The opening night begins with the VIP preview and an open mic stand-up event Publishing Punchlines: Poos from the Press that brings together publishers, editors, and industry professionals for a night of laughter and storytelling on Sep 15, 2023. This unique event provides a platform for publishing insiders to share their funniest and craziest anecdotes, mishaps, and encounters.
Additionally, a special exhibition Sam iz Dat: (independent/underground) publications by Chinese-speaking Creators with over 200 curated Samizdat titles from mainland China will be presented as part of the Book Fair program, also in the US for the first time. This signifies our appreciation for the consistent practice of bookmaking as personal Rehearsals and Revolutions.