On April 11, under the barrel-vaulted ceiling of Fleet Library, crowds of people gathered around tables, flipping through art books and print displays as artists explained the meaning and motivations behind their work.
The UNBOUND Art Book Fair — which also features affiliated lectures and panels — draws around 2,000 people annually to the Rhode Island School of Design to explore and purchase art created by students, community members and regional artists, according to Angela DiVeglia, an instruction and outreach librarian in special collections at RISD and a member of the UNBOUND planning committee.
The event aims to “inspire conversations around cultural publishing in the Providence community,” according to the RISD UNBOUND website.
“I just love people coming away with the sense that print culture in New England is very, very lively,” DiVeglia said. “There are a lot of people doing exciting things who want to share them with each other.”
To earn a table at the event, the 48 exhibitors submitted applications in February, which were scored on cohesivity and originality. The committee — which is made up of employees from RISD, Brown and Providence libraries, local artists and students — aims to curate a mix of new and returning vendors, said DiVeglia.
RISD graduate students Dominique Greene, Mahrukh Khizar, Karen Hu and Itzanya Bravo run Printed Candy Collective, a vendor at this year’s event. The group creates “feminist revolutionary prints,” Greene said. She said that their “Fuck White Supremacy” print was one of the most popular items. It was a “good way of getting people who are on the same wavelength to come by and talk to us and talk about our practices,” she added.
“It’s been really cool to meet people who are attracted to our work,” Greene said. “There are really important things happening in the world right now, and together, we’re trying to figure out how to make statements and support people through our art.”
Another event vendor, Orbis Editions, which is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, collaborates with artists to publish books and other artistic works. Orbis is dedicated to “publication and performance,” aiming to “bring people together around the work,” said Jessica Hankey, who works for the publication.
Hankey noted that in-person connection “drives fairs like these.”
“There’s a hunger that you’re seeing more for people to be able to interact in person and tangibly interact with works as opposed to everything on an illuminated screen,” she added.
As an artist, Sally Johnson — a graduate student at the University of Rhode Island — said that it was “really great” to see how the event was “a big connection of people just wanting to make art more accessible.”
“I don’t get out a lot, and I’m not really good in crowds, but I think being surrounded by people who are like-minded made it a little easier,” she said.
Tim Lehnert, a Cranston resident, came to UNBOUND to explore local art. “I came here not intending to spend any money,” he said. “But of course, once you’re here, you end up spending money.”
Rebecca Haas, a tourist from Washington, D.C., said she was excited to enter the Fleet Library since access is typically limited to students. “It’s a beautiful building, but also it’s just been really good to talk to some of the artists,” she said.
DiVeglia said that ultimately, she hopes the event is a place where “humans come in and talk to other humans.” She added that she loves seeing artists and community members connect over printed art.
“I think that’s really fun and exciting, and something that we don’t always get an opportunity to do,” DiVeglia said.
Izabella Piatkowski is a senior staff writer covering the Rhode Island School of Design.
