Only in its fourth year of existence, the Los Angeles Art Book Fair of 2016 welcomed thousands of art book lovers during its three day exhibit at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.
Well organized and teeming with entertainment, Printer Matter’s Los Angeles Art Book Fair was another huge success, with its ideal location, hundreds of unique vendors, and streamlined circulation of visitors.
Organized by Printed Matter, the 2016 Los Angeles Art Book Fair took place from February 12th to February 14th at the Geffen Contemporary at Museum of Contemporary Art, with a specially ticketed preview on the evening of February 11th. Hundreds of exhibitors, including New York’s Guerilla Girls and zines by Carroll Dunham, gathered in the gallery space to celebrate independent and unique artistic publications, both old and new.
Visitors to this year’s Los Angeles Art Book Fair were slightly deterred by the long lines at cash registers, which often ended in more frustration if the vendor happened to be cash only – as many were. However, the organizers of the event thankfully planned ahead for this dilemma, as with many others, by lining up rows of ATM’s at the entrance, serving as both a warning and a savior to those who only carried credit cards.
The organization of the entire event was well thought-out and carefully planned, as each room had its own theme or area of focus, such as zines, short magazine-like publications. Visitors maintained a constant flow throughout each room that prevented any traffic jams or discomfort for the thousands of visitors each day.
The careful planning of the event was evident throughout, with easily visible maps on many walls displaying not only each room’s theme, but also each individual booth and a key with every single artist’s name. This streamlined the visit for those who only came for a single booth or artist, and also made it easier for visitors to explore each artist.
Throughout the space, areas were sectioned off based on subject matter and publication type, such as the upstairs photography area, and the presentation rooms such as The Classroom, where a series of conversations and workshops on art and literature took place.
The location of this year’s Art Book Fair was essential to the popularity of the event, as the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA is not only a gallery space, but a space in the center of Little Tokyo, a cultural hub for upcoming artists and those interested. Surrounding the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA are other museums, such as the Japanese American National Museum.
However, the location did create some parking issues for visitors as there is limited street parking and charge-per-hour lots remained full throughout the day, making it difficult to find parking for the exhibit.
The 2016 Los Angeles Art Book Fair also featured attractions other than artists’ booths, with food trucks and other entertainment lined up on the small pedestrian street outside the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. Vendors such as The Library on Wheels set up shop for book and art lovers alike, while different performers took the stage to entertain the crowds outside.
Printed Matter’s 2016 Los Angeles Art Book Fair, which ended on February 14th, was a huge success, with thousands of visitors, expert organization, and lively entertainment.
Open to the public for free from February 12th through the 14th, with a special preview from 6-9 PM on the 11th, the 4th annual Los Angeles Art Book Fair was located at the Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Little Tokyo.
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