TNWK* THE BOOKS

(sources and procedures)

Selection and gifting of 101 books not worth keeping from a variety of sources, resulting in a collection of books that span a century (1897 - 1997) of publishing. Extraction of pages 99 -100 and 101 - 102 from every book. Chance - procedural ordering and collation of all 100 pages 99 -100 into one book and 101 pages 101-102 into another book. Optimum positioning of pages in respect of each other within binding limitations was decided. Binding of both books and titling them in gold lettering: 'pp99 - 100 things not worth keeping' and 'pp101 - 102 things not worth keeping'. 'The Books' were first presented as part of 'shre(a)d(d)ing title' in Utrecht, May 1999 - a performance installation in which the remainder of the 101 source books were shredded. 'The Books' next appeared as part of retrospective screen at Dartington Gallery, March 2000 in which selected shreds were woven into a 6' x 4' screen. Several collaborative readings followed including: retrospective screed, circadian readings for OURNOVEL24HRS , Norwich Gallery, April 2000, Doc 1-1, The Liminal Institute, Berlin September 2000, Enduring Freedom occurrences in Cardiff and a Homebase carpark, The Enduring Freedoms Mystik Writing Pad published Nov 2001, missing riddles website created during a residency at tEXt 2002 festival, Exeter, Cork International Poetry Festival 2003 , retrospective scree(n)d at Bury TEXT Festival 2005 and sheet of paper at Chicago School of Art 2006

*TNWK 1999 - 2007 was a collaborative authorship of poetic and visual practices. Kirsten Lavers and cris cheek brought specialist histories in poetry, site-specific installation and situated cultural practice; their common grounds included performance, bookworks, photography, video and curatorial intervention.