Tuesday 30 August 2011

Paper Sculpture in Central Library

Another has appeared in the Central Lending Library on George IV Bridge.

Paper sculpture: Central Library

Taking the form of a book with a magnifying glass mounted atop it (made of paper of course!) it was left on a shelf and was unreported for at least a couple of days.

Paper sculpture: Central Library

For Central Library ‘A Gift’ @Edinburgh_CC This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas…. LIBRARIES ARE EXPANSIVE

The word "expensive" has had the E crossed out and replaced with an A. No question of the creator's views on library cuts... The tag then notes, "Words on book - Edwin Morgan". No talk of Rankin this time!

Paper sculture: Central Library

Paper sculture: Central Library


In the news:

Scotsman article, 30 August 2011

Library blog post, 31 August 2011

A plastic cover has been placed on it and for the time being at least it is on display where it was left.

Paper sculture: Central Library

And here's some coverage from STV.

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Paper Sculptures at the Book Festival

Two more appeared today at the Edinburgh International Book Festival!

One, addressed to @edbookfest (the Book Festival), was left on one of the signing tables in the Bookshop.

Mysterious paper sculptures at the Book Festival

The tag on this reads:

To @edbookfest 'A gift' This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas...... & festivals xx

It includes a teabag filled with cut out letters, on the tag of which are the words "by leaves we live". The cup on the top has a swirl of words which read " Nothing beats a nice cup of tea (or coffee) and a really good BOOK", and on the 'tray' next to the cupcake it says "except maybe a cake as well".

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2011

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2011

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2011

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2011


The other, addressed to @edincityoflit (UNESCO Edinburgh City of Literature), was secreted about their stand in the entrance tent.

Mysterious paper sculptures at the Book Festival

The tag reads:

To @edincityoflit 'A gift' LOST (albeit in a good book) This is for you in support of libraries, books, words, ideas.... "No infant has the power of deciding..... by what circumstances (they) shall be surrounded.. Robert Owen

Intriguingly, this is crafted from a copy of The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinnerby James Hogg.

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2011


This book is not only a favourite of the City of Literature team but is also known to have been an influence on Ian Rankin's work. So far quite a few of these sculptures have overt links to Mr Rankin, suggesting this is no coincidence. As Ian was due on site later in the day and had not yet met any of these creations face to face, the @EdinCityofLit team introduced him to their new baby.

@EdinCityofLit paper sculpture, modelled by @beathhigh

Former local Guardian beatblogger Michael MacLeod and all round top journo was on the scene to file a swift report. The Book Festival's blogger also shared with the world, and @edinCityofLit's Anna has a mention of them...

     Guardian article, 24th august 2011

     Edinburgh International Book Festival blog post, 24th August 2011

     Anna Not Karenina's blog post

 

Once the latest additions to the family have found offical homes I will update with further images and information...

Thursday 4 August 2011

Monday 1 August 2011

Festivals 2011: Building a Book Festival

Every year Edinburgh undergoes a number of drastic changes. Buildings are put to very different uses for one month only and new venues appear around the city. In recent years people have started to get very excited by the appearance of the big purple cow in Bristo Square, seeing it as a very clear indication that the festivals are about to descend on us.

But what few notice is the miracle in Charlotte Square: the city that is the Edinburgh International Book Festival grows there in three weeks, only to be dismantled at the end of the Festival season... By the end of July it's clear that something is afoot, although it's yet a far cry from the finished product.

Book Festival - in progress
Book Festival - in progress

Something I hadn't realised is that the placement of the many and varied buildings around the square is something that has evolved over the 28 years since the festival started. Each tent is squeezed up between the trees to make as much use of the space as is possible!

Book Festival - in progress

I had hoped to create a thorough series of the build this year but time, and the weather, foiled me. So instead I went on site on the day when the books were due to start coming in, a remarkable undertaking when you realise how many they have! When I arrived most of the buildings were there, it was only lacking the entrance, the Spiegeltent and the yurts which are used to house the authors, press etc. The bookshop tent was all but complete; the shelves were all there, all it needed were books!

Book Festival build

The children's bookshop tent was slightly further behind, with workmen still finishing the shelving, but this seemed a minor matter.

Book Festival build

The site was a hive of directed activity, the displays were getting the finishing touches...

Book Festival build

... the main theatre was getting the last bits of tech installed...

Book Festival build

... there were chairs and tables just waiting to be placed...

Book Festival build

... and the last of the walkways were getting covered.

Book Festival build

At last the moment arrived and the first load of books arrived. The initial set up takes three lorries loads of books. Over the course of the festival some are taken away and replaced, as different events will cause demand for different stock. This is all rotated through a secure container on site and a huge warehouse out of town. Now there's a timelapse I should do!

Book Festival build

As each pallet of books was unloaded it was delivered to one of the bookshops and unwrapped.

Book Festival build

The boxes are then taken to the appropriate section by the bookshop staff, where they mount up at a fair pace!

Book Festival build

Once the first delivery is in the unpacking starts and shelves start to fill up.

Book Festival build
Book Festival build

And then more boxes arrive...

Book Festival build

... and are delivered to the bookshops...

Book Festival build

... and the shelves fill up...

Book Festival build
Book Festival build

And all the while every box has to be painstakingy flatpacked for later - after all, not everything gets sold and they will need to get them out again in just a few weeks!

Book Festival build

It was a dizzying thing to watch!

I'll be going in again before the Book Festival starts but I expect it will be all ready to go. Then it's time for the fun and I'll try to keep you appraised of what's been happening there.