Target Free Thursday Nights at Walker Art Center in January Ponder the Meanings of Text/Messages

The Walker Art Center’s Target Free Thursday Nights in January celebrate the exhibition Text/Messages: Books by Artists with a host of programs devoted to bookmaking and the art of the book. Over the past three decades, the Walker has amassed a significant collection of books by artists, now numbering some 2,000 objects. Usually accessible to the public only by appointment, these items are now brought together in a major exhibition.

Three workshops held concurrently with Text/Messages will encourage visitors to appreciate the many dimensions of the book, from physical to digital, and from conventional to extraordinary. In “TEXT IMGE BK GNR8TR” (January 8 and 15), artist Sam Hoolihan will use text messages sent from Walker audiences’ cell phones as raw material for creating original books. In “Making a Traditional Artist’s Book” (January 22), Minnesota Center for Book Arts instructor Aki Shibata will demonstrate how to craft an accordion-book. And in “Odd Materials: Make an Out-of-the-Ordinary Artist Book,” Shibata will return to encourage participants to construct their own books out of everyday and found objects. In addition to the workshops, a curator talk (January 15) will highlight artists’ books from the Walker’s collection.

Sound Bites gallery talks are also offered throughout the month on select Thursday evenings at 6:30 and 7 pm. Sound Bites illuminate an artist or work of art from the Walker’s world-class collection or one of its special exhibitions. In addition, a performance by Bruce McClure incorporating both 16mm and 35mm projectors, played like musical instruments, takes place on January 15.

Target Free Thursday Nights sponsored by Target.

Target Free Thursday Nights

January 8, 15, 22, 29 (closed on January 1 for New Year’s Day)
Galleries open 5–9; special events follow.
Free

Thursday, January 1

New Year’s Day – Walker closed

Thursday, January 8

Workshop: TXT IMGE BK GNR8TR, 6–9 pm

Star Tribune Foundation Art Lab
Start this project by texting us your opinions on everything from the exhibition Text/Messages: Books by Artists to the weather outside. Artist Sam Hoolihan will lead the curious on a bookmaking adventure using our own homemade photo booth and text messages sent by Walker audiences.

Sound Bites: Tetsumi Kudo’s Your Portrait Series, 6:30 and 7 pm

Meet in the Bazinet Garden Lobby
A Walker tour guide will unpack the figurative elements in Tetsumi Kudo’s art through a dynamic examination of the artist’s portraits.

Thursday, January 15

Curator Talk: Text/Messages: Books by Artists, 7 p

m
Meet in Medtronic Gallery
Exhibition curators point out key artists’ books in the Walker’s collection and discuss the wide world of art they inspire.

Workshop: TXT IMGE BK GNR8TR, 6–9 pm

Star Tribune Foundation Art Lab
See January 8 description.

Sound Bites: Angus Fairhurst’s The Birth of Consistency, 6:30 and

7 pm

Meet in the Bazinet Garden Lobby
Stay on the warm side of the Cargill Lounge’s massive window-wall as a Walker tour guide discusses the sculpture just outside: Fairhurst’s bronze of a self-reflective great ape.

Film: Sound and Light: Projector Performance by Bruce McClure, 7:30 pm

Cinema
Bruce McClure performs live using 35mm projectors along with customized 16mm projectors that he plays like a musical instrument.

Thursday January 22

Workshop: Making a Traditional Artist’s Book, 6–9 pm

Star Tribune Foundation Art Lab
Gather ideas in the exhibition Text/Messages and then create a work of art with Minnesota Center for Book Arts instructor Aki Shibata, who shows participants how to employ a variety of materials within the commonly used accordion-book format.

Sound Bites: Art and Everyday Science, 6:30 and 7 pm

Meet in the Bazinet Garden Lobby
See how the art of Jasper Johns, Paul Thek, and Dan Flavin relates to everyday science.

Thursday, January 29

Workshop: Odd Materials: Make an Out-of-the-Ordinary Artist Book, 6–9 pm

Star Tribune Foundation Art Lab
Is it possible to make a book from an old cell phone, or one that is edible? It is if you think outside the rectangle! Minnesota Center for Book Arts instructor Aki Shibata asks participants to create an artist’s book using found materials and everyday objects. Bring your own materials, or use what’s on hand in the lab.

Sound Bites: Text in Art, 6:30 and 7 pm

Meet in the Bazinet Garden Lobby
A guide leads a gallery conversation about artists’ use of text in their work.