For many months now, the Publications team at the National Gallery of Victoria has been immersed in developing, commissioning and producing an exciting suite of four publications – a limited-edition volume, an exhibition guide, a book for kids and an ebook – to coincide with the launch of Melbourne Now.
Behind the scenes, we can be found busily tapping away at our keyboards and attending meetings with curators, writers, designers, photographers and printers, among others, working to shape the scope of the books.
The past few days have seen the team developing the design – the look and feel – of the Melbourne Now limited-edition book. This will be a special illustrated volume that features a number of major essays and thematic texts exploring ideas around art, architecture, design and cultural practice in the city, as well as many images of related works of art. With the aim of crafting a collectible edition, we have commissioned a few leading Melbourne graphic designers to work on separate sections of the publication – the results will be very unique! Alongside the critical texts the book will also have a number of ‘My Melbourne’ contributions penned by prominent Melbourne personalities, including Sophie Cunningham, Jon Faine and Andrew McConnell.
The Publications team have also been in full swing developing an exciting Melbourne Now book for kids in collaboration with the artist collective Hotham Street Ladies: five dynamic women who create food-related art, such as cake sculptures and street art. This colourful book, for children aged five years and over, will provide a lively narrative about Melbourne, the Hotham Street Ladies and their art, and lots of activities designed especially for kids. Last week we held a photo shoot in which kids had the opportunity to make street art using nothing but paper stencils, icing sugar, piped icing, and hundreds and thousands. The children also had a good time planting herbs and succulents into recycled pots and jars. The results speak for themselves and will adorn the pages of our book.
Please look out for these two titles for sale in the NGV Shop and all good bookstores from November.