Inspired by The Book Thing, a long-running book exchange in Baltimore, Maryland, [storefront] partnered with Wessel & Lieberman Booksellers for The Free Book Incident, which explored what can happen when books are made available for free.
Photo: Joe Iano / Olson Kundig
Free Book Incident at [storefront] Olson Kundig
Seattle, Washington
Here, books were more than pages and binding; they were a catalyst for a series of events, from readings and bookmaking classes to writing workshops. A team of interns from Olson Kundig designed a kinetic bookshelf that offered a variety of settings in which visitors could browse for books. The goal was to create an engaging environment that promoted access to books and allowed visitors to interact with them and one another in surprising ways.
A series of events from readings, performances and bookmaking classes to writing workshops and book clubs took place during the months of January and February 2013.
It is not a book store (there is nothing for sale); it is not a library (there is nothing to return). The Incident is a place for exploration, engagement, ideas, activity, conversation—and ultimately, alchemy—all of it generated by the decommidification of books.Wessel & Lieberman Booksellers, Inc
Collaborator
Garden House
Atherton, California
Dynamite Shed
Ketchum, Idaho