Last week I posted my sketches from Melbourne Rare Book Week days 1-3 . And now it is all done for another year. I had planned a mid-week blog, but time got away.
I will feature some sketches here but the entire 30 sketches from the week will be on my Flickr site for you to look at. click HERE. Flickr is a photosharing website. All of my sketches go there and I have organised some of them into themes in Albums. There is one for each MRBW,
THE WEEK
Now We Are Ten : A book collector’s reflections on a decade of Melbourne Rare Book Week
Speaker: Emeritus Professor Chris Browne
Since its inception in 2012, MRBW has become an important festival in Melbourne’s cultural life. The current Program Director will reflect on the evolution of MRBW from the original concept to this tenth iteration of the festival. He will take a book collector’s view of its importance, as well as its international significance as a model for similar festivals. Appropriately, the event is co-hosted by The Melbourne Athenaeum Library, one of the original, ongoing partners of MRBW.
It was so lovely that I was included in the talk as part of the history of MRBW. I have been with then officially as sketcher on location since 2106.
It’s Cold and Old and Rarer than Gold : Collectables from the Heroic Era of Antarctic Exploration
Ephemera Society of Australia Speaker: Tony Shields
Tony Shields has been a stamp and coin dealer since 1970. Every day he handles wonderful pieces of history and art which he researches and loves. Since childhood, he has been fascinated by the stories of Scott and Mawson in the Antarctic and has sought stamps and other items depicting the experiences of these incredible explorers. Come and share Tony’s enthusiasm and knowledge of collectables from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, 1820-1921.
Rare Sports Books and Ephemera : A panel discussion on interesting items from the MCC Library
Melbourne Cricket Club Library
Panelists: Gideon Haigh, Cheryl Critchley, Kasey Symons, Greg de Moore, David Studham and Trevor Ruddell
The panel of sports historians, journalists and librarians will present selected highlights from the Library in its 150th anniversary year and they will discuss their significance in the history of Australian sport. Learn about the variety of items held in the collection, which goes well beyond the boundary of cricket, even stepping over the boundary line of Australian Rules Football into other sporting arenas. The event will finish with a Q&A session.
Albrecht Dürer’s Innovations in Book Illustration : Albrecht Dürer’s Innovations in Book Illustration
National Gallery of Victoria Speakers: Dr. Petra Kayser, Hansen Associate Professor Jenny Spinks and Professor Charles Zika
This session focuses on illustrated books and related prints by German Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), drawn from the NGV’s rich holdings, including examples of his early work as a book illustrator, the Apocalypse in a Latin and a vernacular edition, a range of devotional books and illustrated scientific treatises. The speakers will discuss the technique and historical context of their production to highlight Dürer’s ambition and originality, as well as the breath of his knowledge.
THE RARE BOOK FAIR
The Melbourne Rare Book Fair is the major annual book fair of ANZAAB and one of only a few rare book fairs in the Southern hemisphere. Now in its 53rd Edition, the Melbourne Rare Book Fair again featured rare and wonderful books, manuscripts, ephemera, prints (and much more) from the best rare book and antiquarian dealers across Australia and New Zealand and from overseas. It was a gathering of buyers, sellers and lovers of books not to be missed.
I sketched Thursday night and on Friday. As I stood back and sketched I observed and listened. It was lovely to see a steady flow of all types of people exploring the Fair. For some, it was a curious or tentative first visit and others were regulars, greeting old friends and looking to add to their collections, big or small. I purchased a lovely book for the price of a dinner out.
And the BIGGEST surprise, when I entered the FAIR, my sketch from last year on the wall !!! I did not see them on Thursday night when I entered after the launch. So it was a big surprise to enter the door and see it. This is the cloakroom. Professional photos were taken with me in the photo, but this was on my phone.
It was a wonderful, amazing week of sketching and meeting new people and catching up with old friends. I am becoming a familiar face with the partner presenter orgnisations and the booksellers. See you all lnext year.
In the meantime, you can follow my daily sketches on Instagram alissaduke1 or Facebook Allissa Duke Art.