Canada’s longest-running international art book fair returns to Vancouver for its 14th year Friday.
Jonathan Middleton, co-manager of the Vancouver Art Book Fair, says visitors shouldn’t expect to find the same kind of books they might at a Chapters retailer.
“You know, you’ll get things at the book fair that you just will never find anywhere else,” said Middleton.
“Sometimes, even online, you can’t find these publications. So, that’s the thing that’s kind of amazing is the celebration of art in book form.”
What you may find, Middleton says, is everything from small-run photocopied DIY zines to elaborately printed and bound museum catalogues.
“There’s really treasures at both ends of the spectrum. You’ll find scrappy zine projects that are really someone’s passion project, and other ones where that’s been something that’s like a historic overview of something.”
His advice? Plan to spend a few hours walking the aisles.
“Prepare to load up, because you’ll find things that will surprise you.”
The Vancouver Art Book Fair runs this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre in Yaletown.
More details can be found on the fair’s website.