The SF Art Book Fair speaks volumes about the value of publishing in the digital age

Thousands of publishing enthusiasts will gather this weekend for an expanded book fair showcasing a wealth of printed materials from independent artists and designers.

An alternative to the digital age, the seventh annual San Francisco Art Book Fair features artist books, art catalogs, monographs, magazines, fanzines, and printed ephemera from 145 publishers, antiquarians, artists, and galleries from the Bay Area and beyond.

Presented by the Minnesota Street Project Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding public access to contemporary art, the Art Book Fair features lectures, book launches, special projects and book signings led by David Senior, Director of Library and Archives at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

The book fair, which attracted over 80,000 guests last year, will also feature works to raise funds for the foundation, including a limited edition lenticular print by Heesoo Kwon and a risograph print by Craig Calderwood.

The free event, which opened Friday after a preview Thursday, continues Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The majority of the book fair’s exhibitors are located at 1275 Minnesota St. in the Dogpatch neighborhood, while publishers and visiting artists also set up shop at nearby 1201 Minnesota St. and a new space at 1150 25th St.