The alligator mural at 28th and Sisson Street has been a favorite of mine since the first time I got off 83 at Exit 7 and headed East toward Remington. The trio of gargantuan reptiles stretch along the rough concrete canvas crawling mouths ajar, sentinels of something compelling, wild, and on the loose. I’m not pitching a creature feature about irradiated monsters escaped from the nearby Maryland Zoo. I’m alluding to the adventure found on the other side of the mural, Open Space. Formerly a body shop, the building was overhauled by 14 artists and friends little more than a year ago bringing an energetic art and performance space to Remington. This is a recap of my visit to Open Space during the 2nd Annual Publications and Multiples Fair.

Photo and story by Michael Faulkner.

As I stepped through the doorway I was met with light that streamed through large industrial windows revealing a white room filled with the wares and works of over twenty-five publishers, pressers, and creators of art books, zines, and all manner of micro publications. The stage had been set for interpersonal exchange as the crowd people buzzed around the tables sharing ideas and indulging their imaginations.

Photo and story by Michael Faulkner.

Eric Bos

I found painter and curator, Eric Bos, one of the original 14 members of the Open Space collective, contentedly enveloped by a plethora of media and browsing guests in the Open Space Library. The library, a new addition to the art space, will facilitate ongoing public access to a selection of local and independent small press publications.

Photo and story by Michael Faulkner.

Chris Day

Chris Day of Closed Caption Comics, Lost Ghosts Records, and founding member of Open Space, was displaying posters and more of his artwork in the main room at a table near Baltimore record labels, Fan Death Records and Friends Records. Upon meeting Chris, the joy of creating and sharing with others in this relaxed, spontaneous environment became apparent. Creativity was alive and kicking and I didn’t mind the jolt.

Photo and story by Michael Faulkner.

Carey Chiaia and Neal Reinaldo

I met founding members of Open Space and spearheads of the event Carey Chiaia and Neal Reinaldo upstairs in conversation with guest speaker Matt Keegan. That afternoon Matt gave a talk on North Drive Press and related projects. NDP is an annual art publication that provides artists with the opportunity to get their work distributed. This year Carey and Neal, in a collaboration with Wildfire Wildfire, brought poets Eileen Myles and Jeremy Sigler to read from their works.

Photo and story by Michael Faulkner.

Nick Gottlund

Nick Gottlund of Gottlund Verlag, which publishes artist books and limited edition multiples, returned again this year. He commented on how the fair had grown in vendors and attendees. Gottlund Verlag was established in Kutztown, Pennsylvania but currently shares office space with Wildfire Wildfire in Baltimore as well.

Photo and story by Michael Faulkner.

Spencer Compton and Kate Khatib

AK Press, one stop shop for all of your radical literature needs and a long established collective that publishes and distributes anarchist media, was also among the many vendors.

Photo and story by Michael Faulkner.

Chris Berry of & Jimmy MacMillan

Baltimore record labels, Fan Death Records and Friends Records also received invitations to participate this year. Chris Berry of Fan Death Records was happy to be be part of the fair saying “it has been a really cool experience seeing what other people have done.”

Jimmy MacMillan of Friends Records, which used artwork found at a similar fair for the label’s first release, said after coming last year as an attendee, he was fascinated. “I just like the idea of people who do their own printing. It’s not something you can go anywhere else and see.”

Photo and story by Michael Faulkner.