Dr Emma Powell

Job: Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design/Illustration

Faculty: Computing, Engineering and Media

School/department: Leicester Media School

Address: Gateway House 6.13, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH

T: +44 (0)116 207 8538

E: epowell@dmu.ac.uk

W: http://www.rejectamenta.com

 

Personal profile

As well as being a Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design, Illustration and Bookmaking I am a printmaker/bookmaker/graphic designer who co-runs we love your books and curates a yearly exhibition open to national and international experimental book artists and students.

I also have a PhD in Sustainable Design from Kingston University. My practice-led PhD was concerned with the use of Rejectamenta (“Things thrown away” - Webster’s 1828 Dictionary) by selected contemporary creators. I completed this in 2009. 

The intent of the PhD research was to challenge preconceptions about the use of waste materials. It shows (through a variety of examples of contemporary creative practice) that items that initially hold negative value can be transformed, through the creative process, to objects that have a positive aesthetic value.

Key research outputs

Exhibition curation

2015 – we love your books online ebb & flow exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2014 – we love your books online home exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2013 – we love your books online point exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2012 – we love your books online minute exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2011 – we love your books online crop exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2010 – we love your books online (e)motive exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2009 – we love your books online closure exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2009 –  Rejectamenta Resolution (PhD work). Exhibition curator and solo exhibitor.

2008 – we love your books online re: exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2007 – we love your books online ABC exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2006 – we love your books online Full Circle/Random Journey exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2006 –  Rejectamenta 3 (PhD work). Exhibition curator and solo exhibitor.

2005 – we love your books Meeting in the Middle exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2004 & 2005 – Is Mail Art Dead? exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

2001 –  Rejectamenta 2 (MA work). Exhibition curator and solo exhibitor.

2000 –  Rejectamenta (MA work). Exhibition curator and solo exhibitor.

1999 –  Withdrawn (MA work). Exhibition curator and solo exhibitor.

1998 –  Encapsulation (MA work). Exhibition curator and solo exhibitor.

Catalogues in Collections 

All of these catalogues were produced for we love your books in conjunction with Melanie Bush, unless otherwise stated. 

Tate Britain Library – re: catalogue (2008). 

In The Avant Writing Collection, John M. Bennett Collection at The Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State Library, USA – digital / printed copies of re: catalogue (2008) 

In the Special Collection,The University of Northampton Library – CROP catalogue (2011), (e)motive catalogue (2010), closure catalogue (2009), re: catalogue (2008), ABC catalogue (2007) also with Louise Bird, Full Circle/Random Journey catalogue (2006) also with Louise Bird, and Meeting in the Middle catalogue (2005) also with Louise Bird. 

Publications / Articles  

(s)he/sh(us)h bookwork featured in Chen, J, 2013. 500 Handmade Books Volume 2. Lark Crafts, New York, USA. p85.

Powell, E, 2013. The Point of  We Love Your Books. The Blue Notebook. Vol 7, Number 2 (Peer reviewed article – April 2013).

Powell, E, 2010. Rejectamenta. The Blue Notebook,Vol 4, Number 2. (Peer reviewed article about my PhD). 

Powell, E, 2009. Rejectamenta Collection. Kiosk Issue 3 p70-72. (PhD work in a research publication produced by Kingston University). 

The Artist’s Magazine, 2009. Eco Friendly Studios Get the Green Light. Work featured in the online version of the article. 

Bush, M & Powell, E, 2008. We love your books 2008. Bound and Lettered.Vol 7, Number 4 p28–32. (International Book Arts publication). 

Exhibited work

June 2015 onwards: bookwork exhibited at the we love your books online ebb & flow exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

June 2014 onwards: bookwork exhibited at the we love your books online home exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

November 2013: Rejectamenta Slide Book exhibited at Love British Books 2013 , a group exhibition, Palace of Congress, Tirane, Albania. 15 th –17 th Nov 2013.

June – October 2013: participating artist in EC Arts The Salon Project , Highcross, Leicester. An arts project with local artists and students from DMU – based in a disused hairdressing salon.

June 2013: To Make a Point: Broadcast exhibited at the we love your books online POINT  exhibition. Exhibition co-curator.

February 2013: one of 500 contributors to The Brooklyn Art Library’s scenarios of… project and their encyclopedia of work spaces project.

November 14 th –Dec 14 th 2012: (s)he/sh(us)h exhibited at the we love your books minute  exhibition at The University of Northampton. Exhibition/catalogue co-curator and designer.

Oct – Nov 7 th 2012: Rejectamenta Slide Book exhibited at Love British Books 2012 , group exhibition at The University of Northampton.

June 2012: Rejectamenta Slide Book exhibited at Love British Books 2012 , a group exhibition, in Yerevan, Armenia as part of the Yerevan International Book Festival 2012.

May 2012: bookwork submitted to The Chronicle Project . Exhibited at the Brooklyn Art Library, Brooklyn, New York.

Spring 2012 to present day: featured artist (including a bookmaking teaching pack) on www.startimagining.co.uk/other/inspiration/emma-powell
A national recycled materials / crafts / sustainability initiative aimed at school kids.

November – December 2011: cropcropcrop, CROP & WIND exhibited at the we love your books CROP exhibition,The University of Northampton. Exhibition/catalogue co-curator and designer.

November 2010: selected bookworks and (e)motive catalogue (2009) exhibited at 5 th  Manchester Artist’s Books Fair, with Melanie Bush.

October 2010: erosion, obliteration & accretion exhibited at we love your books (e)motive  exhibition at  The University of Northampton. Exhibition/catalogue co-curator and designer.

September 2010: erosion, obliteration & accretion exhibited at we love your books (e)motive exhibition at artworks-mk, Milton Keynes. Exhibition co-curator.

November 2009: bookworks and closure catalogue (2009) exhibited at 4 th Manchester Artist’s Books Fair, with Melanie Bush.

May – October 2009: bookworks exhibited at Sharjah University, United Arab Emirates. Joint exhibition containing a selection taken from the 2008 re: exhibition .

August – September 2009: rejectamenta collection & CLOSURE exhibited at the we love your books closure exhibition, artworks-mk, Milton Keynes. Exhibition/catalogue co-curator.

 9 th –28 th January 2009:  Rejectamenta Resolution at The University of Northampton. A solo exhibition of the complete body of PhD work.

November 2008: bookworks and re: catalogue (2008) exhibited at 3 rd Manchester Artist’s Books Fair , with Melanie Bush.

3 rd –14 th November 2008: re: exhibition toured to The University of Portsmouth.

18 th July–23 rd August 2008: bookworks and Meeting in the Middle catalogue (2005) shown at Unfolding , The Art Shop & Gallery, Abergavenny, Wales.

12 th July–23 rd August 2008: rejectamenta 1 & rejectamenta 2 , visual reference, rejectamenta resource & re:use pocket book exhibited as part of we love your books re: at artworks-mk, Milton Keynes. Exhibition/catalogue co-curator and designer.

9 th –29 th May 2008: rejectamenta 1 & rejectamenta 2 , visual reference, rejectamenta resource & re:use pocket book exhibited as part of we love your books re: exhibition at The University of Northampton. Exhibition/catalogue co-curator and designer.

11 th & 12 th April 2008: selected bookworks shown at The Society of Bookbinders 4 th  Biennial Training Seminar, at Loughborough University.

November 2007: created series of 10 re:use rejectamenta resource books for 2008 re: exhibition and final PhD submission.

September 2007: exhibited range of bookworks at the 2 nd Manchester Artists’ Books Fair.

Summer/Autumn 2007: devised re:use pocket book for re: exhibition.

Autumn 2007:  Peace exhibited in a group exhibition of altered books curated by Celia Jackson, The Flock Gallery, School of Art, Media and Design, University of Wales, Newport.

Summer 2007: 100 bookmarks submitted as part of Sarah Bodman’s Bookmarks V  project. Centre for Fine Print Research, University of West England, Bristol, UK. exhibitions

Summer 2007:  Regenerator exhibited as part of Sarah Bodman’s Regenerator Project , Centre for Fine Print Research, University of West England, Bristol, UK.

May 2007: mixed media screenprints exhibited at Art from Detritus . Synagogue for the Arts, Tribeca, New York, USA. Curated by international artist Vernita Nemec.

May 2007: R is for Regenerator exhibited at the we love your books ABC exhibition. The University of Northampton. Exhibition/catalogue co-curator and designer.

May 2006: Rejectamenta 3 . Fletcher Foyer Gallery, De Montfort University. Solo exhibition.

May 2006: mixed media screenprints exhibited at Art from Detritus . Synagogue for the Arts, Tribeca, New York, USA. Curated by Vernita Nemec.

May 2006: rejectamenta slides 1 , rejectamenta slides 2 , print patterns & rejectamenta book exhibited at the we love your books Full Circle/Random Journey exhibition. The University of Northampton. Exhibition/catalogue co-curator and designer.

May 2005: bookworks exhibited at the we love your books Meeting in the Middle  exhibition. The University of Northampton. Exhibition/catalogue co-curator and designer.

May 2005: mixed media screenprint exhibited at Art from Detritus . Synagogue for the Arts, Tribeca, New York, USA. Curated by Vernita Nemec.

2005: Is Mail Art Dead? Exhibition travelled to Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. Co-curated with Laurent Antonczak.

Summer 2004: Is Mail Art Dead? exhibition held at The University of Northampton.
Co-curated with Barry Wenden.

May 2004: mixed media screenprint exhibited at Art from Detritus . Synagogue for the Arts, Tribeca, New York, USA. Curated by Vernita Nemec.

June/July 2003: work exhibited in the group exhibition 6 . The University of Northampton.

April 2001: Rejectamenta 2 . The University of Northampton. Solo exhibition.

October 2000: Rejectamenta . Upstairs Gallery, The City Gallery, Leicester. Solo exhibition.

December 1999: exhibited in Open Exhibition at The City Gallery, Leicester, UK.

December 1999: Withdrawn . The Ark, Environmental Resource Centre. Solo exhibition.

August 1999: Consuming Habits at Phoenix Arts, Leicester (joint exhibition).

December 1998: Encapsulation at The Ark, Leicester. Solo exhibition.

December 1998: Winner of seasonal card competition at The City Gallery, Leicester.

Areas of teaching

  • Graphics
  • Illustration
  • Bookmaking 
  • Printmaking

Qualifications

  • March 2009  PhD awarded 16th March 2009. 
  • December 2000 Awarded MA in Design, via Independent Study, De Montfort University. 
  • July 1989 Awarded PGCE and PGDip in Art and Design Education, Leicester Polytechnic. 
  • June 1988 Awarded BA Hons Graphic Design. Leicester Polytechnic. 
  • Summer 1985 Foundation in Art and Design. Herts College of Art and Design, St.Albans. 

Forthcoming events

We love your books – co-curator of yearly experimental book arts exhibition