Sarah Maxey talk - poetry in graphic design

In connection with the current Sir George Grey Special Collections exhibition -- For the love of books -- graphic artist and publisher Sarah Maxey will be giving an illustrated talk on Friday 30 January at 1pm, at the Central City Library, Auckland. 

Following the talk, there will be a chance to view and explore artists' books, hosted by exhibition curator Georgia Prince.

Ref: Sarah Maxey typography.

Sarah Maxey's work has graced publications worldwide, including the New York Times and many literary books. She has won numerous awards, most recently the 2011 Purple Pin, the highest graphic design accolade in New Zealand and a Certificate of Excellence from the International Society of Typographers.

Ref: One of the postcards in Sentimental Journey, a project involving Sarah Maxey, Kris Sowersby and Kate Camp.

One of the projects Sarah will focus on in her talk is Sentimental Journey, a collaboration between a poet (Kate Camp), a book designer (Sarah Maxey) and a typeface designer (Kris Sowersby) based on the Surrealist game The Exquisite Corpse, using expressive typography.

Below are some examples of Sarah Maxey's book cover designs showing some of her hand-drawn typefaces and illustrations. 

Ref: C K Stead, Dog poems, Auckland: Auckland University Press, 2002. Book cover design: Sarah Maxey.

Ref: Geoff Cochrane, Acetylene, Wellington: Victoria University Press, 2001. Book cover design: Sarah Maxey, after the Harvest Neil Young album cover.

Ref: Vincent O'Sullivan, Further convictions pending: poems 1998-2008, Victoria University Press, 2009. Book cover design: Sarah Maxey.

Ref: Chris Price, Brief lives, Auckland: Auckland University Press, 2006. Book cover design: Sarah Maxey, Collage: Brendan O'Brien

Ref: Anne Kennedy, Sing-song, Auckland: Auckland University Press, 2003. Book cover design: Sarah Maxey.

Author: Zoë Colling, Sir George Grey Special Collections