Between 29 to 31 August, the Contemporary Art Centre (CAC) Reading Room will host the second informal gathering of book lovers, Paws, Chairs, Hooves, and Pages. The event is organised by the CAC in collaboration with the bookstore juodas šuo.
The three-day programme features workshops, readings, creative activities, music and, of course, all manner of books! It is dedicated to book enthusiasts of all kinds: readers, collectors, creators, and publishers.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can purchase books, browse archival publications, enjoy delicious coffee, buy freshly baked goods, and meet in a cosy atmosphere.
The event is free of charge. All are welcome!
WEEKEND PROGRAMME:
Friday 29 August
12:00–20:00
- Book sales by bookstore juodas šuo and friends – publishers Arklys (LT), Six Chairs Books (LT) and Kuš! (LV)
- Visitors will be able to enjoy complimentary coffee and buy fresh pastries and sandwiches on site
juodas šuo – a travelling adventure bookstore with a carefully curated selection. It not only maintains a thoughtful catalogue of what’s on its shelves but also revives old publications. With its tail wagging, it has also stepped into the art field – collaborating with cultural spaces, organising discussions, and addressing topics such as consumerism, DIY culture, and other pressing issues.
The publishing house Arklys was founded in early 2024 as an initiative by students of the Graphic Arts Department of Vilnius Academy of Arts (VAA). In collaboration with artists, it creates a space for textual and visual books in diverse forms. By publishing small-edition works, Arklys thoughtfully considers every aspect of the book as an art form – from layout, design, printing, and binding to the final result: a unique, conceptual, and high-quality handmade book.
Six Chairs Books – an independent art and theory bookstore, a small-scale publisher, and an online platform presenting some of the most compelling examples of artistic publishing and self-publishing.
Kuš! is a comics publisher from Latvia, founded in Riga in 2007. It is best known for its signature pocket-sized anthologies and the mini-kuš! series. Kuš! aims to popularise comics in a country where this medium is almost non-existent and to promote Latvian comics abroad. Kuš! doesn’t just publish paper-back comic books, it also organises exhibitions, workshops, residencies, comic jams and other comic-related events.
17:00
- Free workshop organised by Arklys
Participants will create a unique artist’s book: by leafing through pages of poetry, they can compile their own collection of poems and reinterpret the text using printed letters (sorts). They will also be introduced to Japanese bookbinding and other, perhaps less familiar, creative methods that expand the possibilities of the book as an art form.
Registration here
17:00–20:00
- Curated music programme by Palanga Street Radio
Saturday 30 August
12:00–20:00
- Book sales by juodas šuo and friends – publishers Arklys (LT), Six Chairs Books (LT) and Kuš! (LV)
- Special guests – artists Ieva Stankutė (whose book About the Belly Button won the main award at the 2023 Book Art Contest) and Blue Helen
13:00–16:00
- Live poetry by Domantas Bagdonas
Domantas Bagdonas – a performer, slam poet, and Instagram video creator. His work intertwines themes of humour and love, playing with words, meanings, and poetic resonances.
16:00–18:00
- Readings featuring Eat Shit Judge, and Ieva Stankutė. Open mic – everyone is welcome to share their own or others’ work
Eat Shit Judge is the shared identity of Marijonas Verbel and Samuels Ozoliņš. Under this name, they publish seasonal Rose-tinted glasses zines and write short reviews about art, pastries, and toilets. Their texts are honest, critical, and question the hierarchies of the art world.
Ieva Stankutė – an artist working in photography, book art, and interdisciplinary practices. She experiments with materials and forms, exploring themes of motherhood, relationships, and intimacy. She has published an original artist’s book and participates in exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad.
17:00
- Zine workshop
An introduction to zine-making methods, learn the basics, and a chance to connect with like-minded people.
The workshop will be led by Lukas Dovydėnas
Lukas Dovydėnas was born in Vilnius in 2000 and uses the pronouns he/they. He graduated with a BA in Fine Arts from the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague and is currently pursuing an MA in Sculpture at VAA. He creates sculptures about posthumanist nature, using discarded, secondary objects and materials. He is also actively involved in community-based activities rooted in DIY principles.
Registration here
19:00
- Performance myliu (‘I love’) by Domantas Bagdonas
The performance myliu is a cycle of endless lessons on the ability to love, to fall in love, and to love anew. According to Bagdonas, it is like a tour through the rooms of one’s own love – one’s feelings. ‘We’ll laugh and wipe away a tear,’ says the author.
Saturday 31 August
12:00–18:00
- Book sales by juodas šuo and friends – publishers Arklys (LT), Six Chairs Books (LT) and Kuš! (LV)
16:00
- Linocut workshop
Participants will be introduced to this traditional printmaking technique, learning how gouges work and how a print is born. During the session, participants will be free to carve and create their own personal ex libris. Everyone is invited to bring a favourite book and imprint their first carving inside it.
The workshop will be led by DEGA.UPĖ (Upė Lučiūna) – an interdisciplinary artist living and working in Vilnius and beyond. She researches 21st-century witches and holds a BA in Graphic Arts (Illustration) and an MA in Sculpture from VAA. She also leads creative workshops and develops educational programmes.
Registration here