After Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair (LAABF) canceled its 2020 edition, scheduled to open on April 3, over coronavirus concerns last week, the nonprofit has launched a robust online response to support exhibitors after the fair’s cancellation.
The LAABF website’s more than 350 exhibitor pages will be regularly updated to include direct links to purchase artists’ books as well as curated reading lists, music lineups, and content related to the Classroom and the Plaza Stage lineup, two of the fair’s programs. Printed Matter may also live stream some programming off-site that we were meant to be presented at the fair.
“Our small team puts all of ourselves into the production of the Fairs, and into this community, for whom we care deeply, and we would love to give them the best opportunity to share their work,” said Sonel Breslav, director of fairs and editions at Printed Matter.
LAABF has seen an outpouring of support following the cancellation announcement, including by individual admirers of the fair. Jordan Spencer, a curatorial assistant based in the Midwest, started a public and collaborative spreadsheet to collect information on the books that would have been exhibited.