AtRandom
Founded in 2006 / Organized by Jon Sueda and Sean Donahue
AtRandom is a community sponsored public gathering of designers, artists, writers and researchers within the Los Angeles area. These events provide a forum for our local community to take part in a critical discussion about design and visual culture in a context unattached to any one educational, professional or disciplinary institution. There is no agenda to legitimize our occupation or provide a venue for networking. Our only goal is to instigate a stimulating dialogue and investigate design in our community though lectures, exhibitions, and other happenings.
AtRandom events have no standard configuration and manifest themselves in forms unique to each specific event and dialogue. Both large and small, real and virtual, planned and spontaneous, critical and comical, each event will provide a platform for unique voices to share their work while facilitating access to fruitful discussions.
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AtRandom #3
Public Libraries: Personal Libraries Made Public – Public Libraries Made Personal
A one time only library collection and panel lecture exploring contemporary perspectives on the crafting of the book.
PANEL PARTICIPANTS
Stuart Smith / Getty Publications
Willem Henri Lucas / Willem Augustus, UCLA DMA
Tahli Fisher-Harkham / Family Bookstore
May 31st, 2008
Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock
Los Angeles, California
AtRandom #3 Public Libraries: Personal Libraries Made Public, Public Libraries Made Personal, was inspired by the past of the historic building that we’ve held our events in for the last 2 years. For one night, we turned the Eagle Rock Center for the Arts back into the local “public library,” which it was many years ago. Designers from around the globe each offered guests of Public Libraries access to 5 titles or more from their personal libraries that inspire, insight and/or influence their work. Making AtRandoms’ library not singularly concerned with indexing but rather a collection of practice, inspiration, curiosity and delight.
For the duration of the event, visitors were able to spend time with and actually handle each publication and document. For the precious additions to the library, there was a librarian on hand to present books and schedule viewings. Guests were expected to wear the official AtRandom archival gloves provided upon entering the library as well as adhere to strict set of library rules.
To cap the event and place the library firmly in a contemporary context, we hosted three presenters Stuart Smith / Getty Publications, Willem Henri Lucas / Willem Augustus, and Tahli Fisher-Harkham / Family Bookstore, who discussed their recent work crafting, publishing and curating the contemporary bound sequence.
Library contributors: (each conributed 5 books from their personal collection)
Stuart Smith, Willem Henri Lucas, Tahli Fisher Harkam / Family Store, Anne Burdick, Alex De Armond / Werkplaats Typografie, Sean Donahue, Ed Fella, Catherine Guiral, Simon Johnston, Mr. Keedy, Zak Kyes, Victoria Lam, Sophine Lim, Mark Owens, Brian Roettinger, Jon Sueda, Gail Swanlund, Martin Venezky, Lorraine Wild, Michael Worthington
