Book Bombs in Minneapolis!

Book Bombs is will be part of the upcoming exhibition, Readers' Art 11, Urban/Urbane, at Susan Hensel Gallery, in Minneapolis, MN. The exhibition runs from March 4-April 30, 2011, and features 29 artists exploring issues of urban living in artist book form.

Join us for the opening reception on First Friday, March 4, from 7-10 PM, where we will be distributing copies of Book Bombs #4. The weekend following will involve a public print bombing of Minneapolis, taking a quite a new form from some of our bombings past....

Mobility in the Bay Area

Any readers in the Bay Area? Keep your eyes peeled for this print! We enjoyed book bombing in such balmy winter weather, after print drops in Philadelphia blizzards earlier in the year.

San Francisco Print in Progress

The prints that Michelle started arrived in Philadelphia just before Mary left for the West Coast, thanks to the machinations of the postal service -- so Mary worked on them in flight.


Tonight is Book Bombs Retreat night -- preliminary planning for the coming year and preparing for our first West Coast print drop tomorrow. More images to follow soon!

West Coast Prepping for print bombing

For our next print bombing - this time in SAN FRANCISCO - Book Bombs is trying something a little different. The paper and print began on the West Coast by Michelle, and then traveled to the East Coast to be completed by Mary. Here are some images of what Michelle started.

The print is on paper made from Andean Pampas grass seed hair (see posts here and here about using the stalks and leaves of that plant). Above, a close up of a corner of a wet sheet.



A plane image was stenciled onto the wet sheets in paper pulp, made from leftover scraps of paper from our Axis Alley installation.


When dry, a woodblock of pampas grass seed hair was printed.


The prints have now been shipped off to Mary - keep your eyes peeled for how this print evolves.

A new print bombing is coming....

A new print bombing is in the works....stay tuned.

March Print Bombing

This past First Friday, Book Bombs struck out on our third print bombing, striking in and around Rittenhouse Square, Louis Kahn Park, Christ Church Park, and various points in between. We were excited to see that despite time, over a foot of snowfall, and rain, that some of our February prints are still out there (see above). For larger images, click on the images.

And thanks to Emily Currier for the Philadelphia City Paper shout out - check it out here.


Finally, don't forget to march your calendars and join Book Bombs on March 26 from 6-9 at Nexus for our Zine Release Party!

Third Print Bombing and Upcoming Zine Release

In another visit to that undisclosed West Philly location, Book Bombs printed the third print in our series this past weekend. Watch for us this First Friday as we once again bomb the city. This time, we will target areas in and around Rittenhouse Square, Louis Kahn Park, and Christ Church Park.


A preview of the print, printed on paper made from mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris).

In addition, stay tuned for the Book Bombs culmination - the zine bombings towards the end of this month! And join us at Nexus Foundation for Today's Art, located in the Crane Arts building at 1400 North American Street, from 6-9 PM on March 26 for our zine release party! While there, you can also check out numerous other Philagrafika exhibitions and events.

Thanks to Rebecca Gilbert and Nexus for this opportunity for Book Bombs.

February Print Bombing

During this country's infancy, Washington Square was a burial ground for Revolutionary soldiers, inmates from the Walnut Street Prison (no longer standing), and victims of the 1793 Yellow Fever outbreak. In 2010, as snow buried the city, Book Bombs struck out for our second First Friday print bombing. In addition to in and around Washington Square, we also hit Christ Church Park and various parts of Old City. Be on the lookout for these prints!


Printed on paper made from Paulownia tomentosa, an invasive plant originally from China, this print is a tribute to tenacity, both of individuals and of the city itself.







Due to weather conditions, a second print bombing may occur. More to watch for...

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February Bombing

Book Bombs will be out tonight in Christ Church Park and Washington Square, as scheduled, in the snow distributing Print #2. Since we're expecting inches upon inches of snow in the coming hours, we'll save some for after the storm. Stay tuned for the date of more print drops...and maybe you'll find some prints in some more sheltered locations.

Also consider dropping by the Democratic Multiples show in Gallery 224 at the University of the Arts, 321 South Broad, opening 5:30-7:30 tonight, for a Book Bombs handout, and take a peek at our installation in the Window on Broad at street level. Mary has additional work in the Democratic Multiples exhibit, and Michelle has work in We and Stories, same time, same address, 6th floor Print gallery.

More photos coming soon.....

Print #2 Previewed

Book Bombs sets up to print at an undisclosed shop in West Philadelphia.
Showing off the first pass, featuring Paulownia tomentosa on Paulownia tomentosa paper.
And pass number 2....
The prints await a layer of text...and distribution at the end of the coming week!

Book Bombs at Moore and the Window on Broad

Book Bombs had a crazy and sleep-deprived start to their week yesterday with bombing installations at both the Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery's Window on Broad and the Moore Art Shop.




For any of you who will be attending the Gala Opening of PHILAGRAFIKA 2010, please check out our bombing of the Moore Art Shop. And keep your eyes peeled for our second print drop coming the first week of February!



The Window on Broad is located at 333 South Broad Street, near the intersection of South Broad and Pine in Center City. The Moore Art Shop is located at 20th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, near the intersection of 20th and Race.

Gaining Momentum

Book Bombs continues to gain momentum. This week, watch for our installation in the Window on Broad, our bombing of the Moore Art Shop (thanks to Katie Van Vliet) and our upcoming second print drop.


The following weekend is the opening of PHILAGRAFIKA 2010, the international festival celebrating print in contemporary art of which Book Bombs is a part. To learn about other events, activities, and the opening weekend festivities, please visit here.

Book Bombs - Our First Bombing

Under the cover of darkness, Book Bombs donned our thermal underwear and struck out for the first print bombing, striking in and around Love Park, Logan Circle, and Christ Church Park. As you happen on these locations, keep your eyes peeled for our prints. More images to come. . . .