This weekend over 100 artists, presses, and galleries will convene in Baltimore for Open Space’s Sixth Annual Publications and Multiples Fair.
The fair is a celebration and survey of artist publications, prints, and objects produced in multiples, with related lectures and programs. It runs from noon to 6 PM on Saturday and Sunday. I’ve had the pleasure of helping to organize this event and I encourage all art and culture enthusiasts to check it out.
The fair was started by the original Open Space crew in our old location in Remington. The first year it featured 13 vendors in the gallery space and a slew of music performances throughout the weekend. Planned the same weekend as the Baltimore Museum of Art’s Contemporary Print fair (which features a selection of print artists whose work reaches blue-chip price points), Open Space’s first fair contrasted with the BMA’s fair and set the tone for the years ahead. OS’s unique vibe, combining a serious curatorial attitude with a righteous will to party, made for an enthusiastic and fun event. But most importantly, it gave the greater self-publishing community an opportunity to show that they, too, have chops. This year, the BMA has been very supportive of our efforts. They worked with Open Space to throw our fairs the same weekend and created “Print City” to help promote the fair’s satellite events all over the city.
(c) Karl Connolly Photography
Having grown more every year, we’re bringing this year’s fair to a new location – the Baltimore Design School – located behind the Copycat in Station North. The state-of-the-art facility is a public arts + design middle/high school inhabiting the revamped shell of the old Coat Factory. This weekend, the school’s cafeteria will be stuffed full of art zines, prints, comics, apparel, ceramics, and more. For those looking to grow their art collection, the event provides a great chance to do so. PMF takes pride in the quality of works on display and extremely reasonable prices.
The school’s amphitheater and library will also become stages for programming throughout the weekend, including a talk with the legendary punk publisher V. Vale, and a performance by the dance duo, Fluct.
It’s been great to be a part of Open Space over the years and help the fair grow into what it is today. The event has come to be a rallying moment for the city’s lively DIY art community, and through it, I’ve met so many amazing people. Hope to see you there!
For more information visit openspacebaltimore.com/pmf.