NOTE: This blog is maintained as an archive of a project produced in 2011 & 2012. For current information please go to www.francisburger.com

This site is intended as a weblog of the IPP, a sporadic, idiosyncratic investigation of independent publishing in South Africa - launched at Blank Projects, Cape Town, in September 2011. Visit or follow this page for updates on the project's trajectory and to view research paraphernalia as it happens. For more information email independentpublishingproject@gmail.com

2012, 08 May - 01 June: Research office at the Parking Gallery with Research Art

2012, 15 March - 26 April: Workshop and exhibition at Goethe-Institut Library with Josh Ginsburg, Jared Ginsburg, Ryan van Huyssteen, Jacques du Toit, Georgia Munnik, Talya Lubinsky, Ndaxola Nkalashe, Shannon Ferguson, Mika Conradie, Michael Maqungo, Sebastian Borckenhagen, Rangoato Hlasane, Alphabet Zoo (Mini Ngoyi, Isaac Zavale), CUSS (Jamal Nxedlana, Ravi Govender, Zamani Xolo & Nikki Comninos) and others.

2011, 8 September - 1 October: IPP launch with a temporary library and workshop at blank projects with Josh Ginsburg, Stuart Cairns, Sebastian Borckenhagen, James King, Athi Mongezeleli Joja, Christian Nerf, Nathan Gates, Trasi Henen, Jared Ginsburg, Kyle Morland, Lance Herman, Bianca Baldi, Unathi Mkonto, Emalie Bingham, Ryan van Huyssteen, Sjaka Septembir, Jamal Nxedlana, Ravi Govender, Zamani Xolo, Lalya Leiman and Amirah Tadin of CUSS Monthly, and others.

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16/08/2011

General project info


THE INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING PROJECT, facilitated by Jonah Sack and Francis Burger. September 8th to October 1st, 2011, at Blank Projects, Woodstock, Cape Town.

The Independent Publishing Project is aimed at gathering people and objects around the idea of self or small-scale publishing within South Africa. Functioning as an installation in two parts, the project will run at Blank Projects in September 2011 as both an interactive exhibition of collected works and a working studio aimed at producing new collaborative publications.

Combining contemporary and historical examples, the books, booklets, zines, take-aways and leaflets collected through the project advocate independent publishing as a first rather than a last resort. Looking at independent or small-scale publishing as both a medium and a strategy, our interest in these items is part sentimental, part tactile and part political. Consumable but not commodified, these works traverse closely-knit networks as if by word of mouth, existing as intimate instruments of personal agency and freedom of thought. They create a space.

They’re also just good to carry around, to look or read, and to think about.

Additional participation is encouraged and welcomed. 

General call for participation

We’re seeking participation in the following ways:

1. Networking- pointing us in the direction of people who are up to these sorts of things, have been in the past, or want to be in the near future. 

2. Working with us and others in the space - working across disciplines (independently or collaboratively) on publication oriented projects within the space during the exhibition run.

3. Collecting - we’re collecting items in two parts, firstly from practitioners who have their own works to be exhibited as part of the exhibition, and secondly from interested parties who have personal collections that they’re willing to share in part (aimed at loaning items that have had a personal impact, things that arrest or speak to you and advocate the idea of independent publishing in some or other way, basically, instructive objects that will enthuse/inspire/excite/agitate).