The 8th International Works on Paper Fair (IWOPF 2001) at Fox Studios, Sydney in July this year is an event devoted to the display, discussion, exchange and sale of every conceivable kind of work of art on paper. Sponsored by Moccona Coffee IWOPF is the only dedicated works on paper fair held in Australia and alternates biennially with the Melbourne Contemporary Art Fair.

The Fair will be officially opened by the Governor of NSW, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC on Wednesday July 25 from 6pm. The Art Gallery Society of NSW will co-host the official Gala Opening Night as a special fundraising event towards the acquisition of a work of art for the Art Gallery of NSW collection.

Founder and organiser Akky van Ogtrop started the fair in 1989. Akky arrived in Australia from Holland in 1974 as a dealer, printmaker and art historian. She worked with Stadia Graphics, Australia’s first specialist works on paper gallery then when the gallery closed in 1988, she organised the first IWOPF to promote collecting of works on paper and to educate people in the techniques of printmaking. Twelve years on, IWOPF ’01 brings together art collectors, galleries, dealers and publishers with works of art on paper from all over the world. The exhibition will feature drawings, computer generated images, photographs, collages, original limited-edition prints, watercolours, original vintage posters and illustrated and artists’ books.

IWOPF is a great opportunity for audiences to sample the wares of dealers from Australia and abroad who specialise in prints and drawings. The work is always diverse and full of surprises and all artworks on display are for sale. IWOPF will also host a one day symposium (across the road from Fox Studios at the College Of Fine Arts), with a variety of high profile speakers discussing collecting, marketing, buying and producing works of art on paper. There will also be on site demonstrations of printmaking techniques and methods of conservation and restoration. For the second time, IWOPF will host an Emerging Artists stand exhibiting the works of five emerging artists from colleges around the country. A panel of judges will select the most exciting new talent for this event.

Galleries and print workshops from New York, London, Cologne, Korea and Amsterdam will be represented at the Fair alongside many local galleries from all around Australia. Participating galleries include Poster America (Santa Fe), Galerie Wack (Germany) Dover Street Gallery (UK), Lyrebird Press/Ugg Boot (Qld), Australian Galleries (Vic), Watters Gallery, Vintage POSTERS Only (Vic), Michael Nagy Fine Art (Sydney), Utopia Art Sydney, Grahame Galleries + Editions (Qld), Berkeley Editions (Sydney), Port Jackson Press (Melb), Stella Downer Fine Art Dealer, Beth Hamilton Galleries (Syd) The Australian Art Print Network, Australian Contemporary Art Projects, The Print Council of Australia, Artworks Parmur Australia and Steendrukkerij Amsterdam.

EVENT: 8th International Works On Paper Fair (IWOPF ‘01)

DATES: Wednesday 25th July – Sunday 29 July, 2001

VENUE: Byron Kennedy Hall, Fox Studios Australia, Moore Park, Sydney, NSW

PRICES: $12 (includes catalogue) / $8 concession

WEB address: www.turtlelane.com.au/IWOPF

email: vanogtrop@advacom.com.au

IMAGES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST via email or as colour transparencies and b/w photographs).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: phone Merran Doyle, More Publicity (02) 9908.4644 or 0419 999 607 or email: merran@morepublicity.com.au