MISS READ: The Berlin Art Book Fair & Festival

Fri, October 11 to Sun, October 13, 2024
Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) Berlin, Germany

Fair Opening Hours:
Friday, October 11, 17:00 – 21:00
Saturday, October 12, 12:00 – 19:00
Sunday, October 13, 12:00 – 19:00

We especially invite you to join us for two special moments:

Saturday, October 12, 15:00
Table Number E025
Book signing with Tineke E. Jansen of the title Tuning In: Darimana?

Saturday, 13:00 – 14:00
Safi Faye Stage (HKW)
Archival Textures: A Conversation on Publishing Archival Traces of Transnational Queer Feminist Solidarity
With Tamara Hartman and Tabea Nixdorff

Join us for a conversation on queer feminist archives, surrounding the question: How can publications become low-threshold archives, and help weave an intergenerational fabric of belonging?

Archives can inform our current vocabularies of resistance and solidarity, by enriching them with knowledges that are continuously obscured by normative perspectives on our bodies, desires, forms of cohabitation and expression. The publication series Archival Textures seeks to make those kinds of knowledges more accessible by way of (re)assembling, translating, transcribing, annotating, and supplementing archival texts.

A special focus will be set on the most recent publication Republishing: Umoja Zwarte Vrouwenkrant, a book that derived from the Black Women’s Magazine Umoja, published between 1985 and 1986 in Arnhem, the Netherlands, and whose legacy has gotten no recognition. The book aims to bring about change here, as the revolutionary magazine was foundational for Black feminist thought in the Netherlands, and documents the pioneering work of Black and queer feminist solidarity-building in the 1980s. The political term Black used by the women of the magazine Umoja, as well as many other Dutch collectives in the 80s and 90s, does not refer to skin color, but rather is an act of solidarity of those who were othered and discriminated against by Dutch society, resisting to be turned against each other. Revisiting and reviving this term in the publication series Archival Textures is to honor this historical act of solidarity and the power of language, as well as the intergenerational knowledge we gain from it. Besides, the Archival Textures books trace transnational alliances and friendships, such as Audre Lorde’s visits to the Netherlands, Germany and the UK and her indispensable impact on Black feminist thought in Europe.

Back cover of Umoja Zwarte Vrouwenkrant, no. 1 / vol. 1, Arnhem, January 1985. Source: Personal Archive Ans Sarianamual

Book Launch and Presentation: (RE)CLAIMING

Tuesday, September 10, 2024
18:00 – 19:30 (appr.), Framer Framed, Amsterdam
Free entry, registration apprechiated
Languages: spoken English and Dutch, Dutch Sign Language

You are invited to an evening at Framer Framed in Amsterdam to celebrate the book launch of (Re)claiming, the second title in the publication series Archival Textures. The evening consists of readings from the book, poetry, a conversation between the co-editors and several contributors to the book, and a Q&A.
The book (Re)claiming presents ways in which various queer and feminist communities and initiatives in the Netherlands have (re)claimed the triangle — along with other symbols, words and stories — and in doing so take up an empowering position in a hostile society. The concept of (re)claiming can signify both a proud identification with and protest against the stigmatisation for which a symbol, word, gesture or story was designed. During the evening, co-editors Noah Littel and Tabea Nixdorff will be in conversation with contributors to the book: authors of archival material Anne Krul and Tieneke Sumter, translator Canan Marasligil and roundtable participant micah marissa schut.

To find out more about the book, please visit the section Publications on this website.

Zine page Zwarte vrouwenvriendschappendag/Day of Black Women’s Friendships, organised by Ingrid Zwartjes, Anne Krul / Vrouwenkultuurgroep ROSA, Utrecht, 1986, Source: Archive Anne Krul, Collection of the International Archive for the Women’s Movement (IAV), Amsterdam: Atria, Institute on Gender Equality and Women’s History

Book Launch and Presentation: POSTING

Saturday, June 22, 2024
17:00 – 18:30 (appr.), KIOSK Rotterdam
Free entry
Languages: spoken English and Dutch

Join us for the second launch event of the Archival Textures series, dedicated to the book Posting. Together, we will celebrate the networked gesture of Posting and the position of the Poster within feminist movements. The medium—a printed poster or book, a photo, video or text uploaded online, or a new platform altogether— matters less than the act of making public what we stand for or what we find important.
Posting brings together an intergenerational roundtable conversation with feminist posters from the archives, alongside an introductory essay by co-editor Carolina Valente Pinto.

The evening will feature contributions by Weia Reinboud and Rymke Wiersma from anarchist feminist press Atalanta, founded in 1980 in Utrecht, Jenneke Arens, a member of the ’80s feminist printing press Las Muchachas, Philippa Driest, who runs KIOSK as a bookshop and leaky press, Tabea Nixdorff and Carolina Valente Pinto, editors of the book.

We will also be selling ​Limited Edition book packages including special prints from the roundtable participants and a riso-printed reproduction of an archival poster. The sales will go to the initiative Post for Mariam A digital poetry zine for Palestine, raising funds for a young poet from Gaza, Mariam Mohamed al Khateeb.

Pre-press work for a poster of Vrouwendrukkerij Las Muchachas [Women’s Press Las Muchachas], 198[?]. Source: Archive Las Muchachas, Collection of the International Archive for the Women’s Movement (IAV), Amsterdam: Atria, Institute on Gender Equality and Women’s History

Book Launch and Presentation: AMPLIFYING

Friday, June 7, 2024
20:00 – 22:00 (doors open at 19:30), Perdu, Amsterdam
Tickets: livestream and theater via Perdu website
Languages: spoken Dutch and English, Dutch Sign Language (Nederlandse Gebarentaal)

This evening will celebrate the book Amplifying, which brings together written manifestations—poems, letters, political pamphlets, essays, an intergenerational roundtable conversation—that trace the beginnings of Black feminism in the Netherlands. Co-edited by Setareh Noorani and Tabea Nixdorff, it is the first title in the publication series Archival Textures. Contributing authors, translators and editors will read excerpts and enter a conversation about writings of the past that can inform our current vocabularies of resistance and solidarity. We will be honored by the presence of Anne Krul, Gloria Wekker and Tineke E. Jansen, who will read from their archival contributions to the book, and of translators Jenny Mijnhijmer and Shira Wolfe. The evening will be hosted by Perdu editor Anne Bosveld, and there will be two interpreters present during the event providing Dutch Sign Language interpreting.

To find out more about the book, please visit the section Publications on this website.

Announcement Vrouwenboekwinkel Xantippe: Audre Lorde signeert [Xantippe Women’s Bookstore: Audre Lorde Book Signing], organized by the group Sister Outsider, 1986. Source: Archive Tania Leon, folder 23, Collection of the International Archive for the Women’s Movement (IAV), Amsterdam: Atria, Institute on Gender Equality and Women’s History

Between Books Düsseldorf Art Book Fair

Thurs 9 to Sun 12 November, 2023
Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Germany

Fair opening hours:
Thurs: 17.00 – 21.00
Fri, Sat, Sun: 12.00 – 19.00

Archival Textures was invited to be part of the Under the Weather book table at Between Books, the new art book fair at Kunsthalle Düsseldorf. Under the Weather is an artist-run reference library and occasional reading room in Düsseldorf, dedicated to researching and exhibiting artists’ books and art publications. For Between Books, Under the Weather brings together five initiatives: Archival Textures, Listening Group, Edition Malade, Pacifist Library, and Unbidden Tongues.

Between Books is the first Art Book Fair at Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, where independent art book publishers, artists, independent publishing/DIY collectives, organizations, associations, zines, and magazines are invited to present themselves to a broad audience in the exhibition spaces of the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf and to show how versatile, exciting and contemporary the medium of books can be.

Invitation Card by Under the Weather, for Between Books, Düsseldorf Art Book Fair, November 2023. Source: Under the Weather, Düsseldorf

Intergenerational Feminisms Symposium

Friday, September 22, 2023
Maastricht University, the Netherlands
Centre for Gender and Diversity

Archival Textures will be present at the Intergenerational Feminisms Symposium organized by the Centre for Gender and Diversity, Maastricht University. We will take part in a panel on Friday, from 14:00 – 15:30, hosted by Noah Littel and Vasiliki Belia. From their announcement:

The roundtable “Visual Practices as Activist Strategies and Counter-Archives” facilitates an intergenerational conversation between early career researchers and feminist elders on the use of visual projects both as activist strategy and as counter-archival practice. Based on concrete visual examples—specifically the exhibition Onderbelicht, zwarte, migranten- en vluchtelingenvrouwen in Nederland, informatie uitwisseling in perspectief at the International Information Center and Archive for the Women’s Movement (IIAV) in Amsterdam (1995); the Lesbisch Prachtboek (1979) and the feminist journal Lust en Gratie (1983-2001); and the Western genre pastiche comic book Calla and Lucy Go West (1981)—feminist elders will reflect on how they have used visual practices to analyze and resist patriarchy, racism and heterosexism. In addition, during this conference we will discuss how visual strategies today—the exhibition Feminist Design Strategies (2021-2023) and the publication series Archival Textures—can provide a counter-archival space to recontextualize historical visual practices, and facilitate intergenerational conversation.

Participants: Carla Schrama (youth worker, activist, co-founder of Café Saarein, Amsterdam), Daniel van Mourik (writer, editor, co-founder of De Feeks, Nijmegen, and former librarian at Atria), Garjan Sterk (researcher, lecturer, coordinator of the interfaculty network Radboud Gender & Diversity Studies), Setareh Noorani (architect, researcher and curator at the Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam), Tabea Nixdorff (artist, typographer and researcher).

From 11:30 until 17:30, you can find Archival Textures posters at the symposium’s book table, curated by Maastricht based bookstore Limestone Books.

Envelope of a letter by Audre Lorde addressed to Tania Leon, 1986. Source: Archive Tania Leon, Collection of the International Archive for the Women's Movement (IAV), at Atria, Institute on Gender Equality and Women’s History, Amsterdam.

Read My World Book Market

Saturday, September 16, 2023
14:00 – 17:00 Tolhuistuin Garden, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Archival Textures will be present at the Book Market of Read My World, the international literature festival in Amsterdam. Come meet us! We’ll share a table with KIOSK Rotterdam and offer posters that give glimpses into the forthcoming books. More about the book market presented by Read My World and Tolhuistuin:

Moving in a changing world: Migration and Diaspora Literature: During the Read My World Festival, you can visit our book market on Saturday afternoon, September 16, in the oasis of Tolhuistuin! This market is entirely dedicated to books and stories about migration and diaspora, themes that concern us all in a world that is increasingly closing its doors. Come stroll and browse along the book stalls, join the book club of Zus n Zo, and meet our curator Lola Shoneyin. Participate in a translation workshop with Jenny Mijnhijmer, listen to the author interviews with Helon Habila and Vamba Sherif, and absorb current knowledge. There is ample space for reading, relaxing, and socializing. The book market is free to visit and also easily accessible.

Information flyer Zit Roze Gebaar nog in de kast!?! [Is Pink Sign Language still Closeted?] by Roze Gebaar, distributed during the Symposium January 26, 1996 at the COC Amsterdam. Source: Collection of IHLIA LGBTI Heritage, call no. cat. (zit/roz) g, Amsterdam: OBA Oosterdok