Dear contributors to the KIOSK archive,
dear friends, colleagues and associates it has been a long time, since you are supporting the Kiosk archive. Forsome of you it is more than 8 years now. The archive has been growing andexpanding, being shown 21 times since 2001, in 4 continents, basically allover the world. Today, the archive contains more than 6.000 publications bymore than 400 publishing projects and provides a very detailed,comprehensive and encompassing view on independent art publishing activitiesin the first decade of this century. I have been living with this archive for a long time now, travelling to NewZeland, Canada, Turkey, the USA and of course all over Europe, continouslyunpacking thousands of books, installing shows, inventorising etc. To be very honest: I have to admit that I got exhausted and feel, franklysaid, a bit tired of doing all this on my own. The work with the archive hasbeen very time consuming and the expenses did grow with the amount ofpublications (to give you an idea: more than 2,5 tons of books on 6pallettes).So, during the last year, I was thinking about a stationary base for theKiosk, where it could be publicly accessed, continued, and endure for somemore years. Through some lucky chances I have now found the ideal andperfect home for the archive: the Berlin “Kunstbibliothek³, a part of the“Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz³ in Berlin, Europes biggest library onart publications. The library is located at Potsdamer Platz, in the heart ofBerlin, next to the Nationalgalerie, the state library, and the philharmonicconcert hall. A very frequented and very well organised place.With this message I would like to let you know, that in the next 2 weeks, Iam handing over the complete archive (including all informations on thepublishing projects, my private archive, our correspondence regarding Kiosk)to the Berlin Kunstbibliothek. This is a big step for the collection and forme personally. And a new, true “home³ for the Kiosk.When negotiating with the library¹s director, Dr. Moritz Wullen, and thespecial curator, Dr. Michael Lailach, an excellent curator and connaissuerof artists¹ publications by the way, I was concerned in establishing thebest conditions possible for the future of the archive, which we have nowagreed on:1.) The archive will be kept together as a special collection, called “KIOSK Modes of Multiplication³. All the publications will be stored in onecompartment.2.) They will continue to collect our publications (and eventually add newprojects) until the year 2010, so the archive stays lively, vivid and willthen encompass a whole decade of independent art publishing.3.) They will inventorize and catalogue every publication within the archiveand integrate this digital data base in the libraries¹ OPAC system, whichmeans, that people can research within the archives catalogue through theweb everywhere in the world. Needless to say, that even small fanzines willbe part of this database, which usually does not happen. So, this is anamazing thing for all parts of the archive.4.) Dr. Michael Lailach, the curator for special collections will take careof the archive and keep the correspondence up with you. I have met himseveral times now, and I must say, he is a real specialist, a very niceperson, and the ideal care taker for the archive.5.) In 2009, the Kunstbibliothe will host a big (last) exhibition with andon the KIOSK archive. The library runs very beautiful and large exhibitionspaces where an overview on the history of the project and the contributingpublishing projects will take place. We are just discussing right now, whichform this exhibition will take. But it will be a very honourable andall-encompassing final presentation of the archive.6.) On this occasion, they will also publish a comprehensive cataloguepublication on the Kiosk, documenting it¹s development and the individualcontributors.7.) Besides these things, there will also be opportunities for showingsingle individual projects in the vitrines and special cabinets of thelibrary, which are frequented by a lot of users each day.Although being something like the self-acclaimed curator of the KIOSKarchive, I never felt that this would be my project. It has been a hugecollaborative and collective effort by all of us, sharing the same problems(for example distribution and presence) and sometimes the same ideas aboutmediating art in printed form. Through all your contributions, donating somany books to this archive, we managed to create a collaborative platform,documenting the bandwidth and variety of independent art publishing today. So, again, I do thank you all for your commitment and support. When negotiating with the library and making the above mentioned decisions, I was trying to act as a true attorney for the archive¹s needs and purposes. I think, we found a sustainable and very good solution for the future. Areal home for our archive! (And of course, Berlin seems to be the rightplace anyway...)So, how do we go on? What are the future proceedings? Although the Berlin Kunstbibliothek is a pretty big institution with aregular budget, it is not necessarily a rich place. In this sense, I would ask all of you who can, to continue providing books to the archive. I have asked the library to try to re-buy some of the missing elements of the Kiosk archive, books that have been stolen or lost etc., but the budget will not be big enough to buy everything that we publish. So, again, I would like to ask you to keep sending your new releases to the Kiosk archive, which ofcourse has a new address now:
Kunstbibliothek Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
Dr. Michael LailachSammlung
“KIOSK³Matthaeikirchplatz 6D-10785 Berlin
Telefon +49 (0)30-266-3224
Telefax +49 (0)30-266-2958
Of course, from now on, it will be enough to send one copy of each publication (until now, I was always asking you for two copies forexhibition purposes). For all inquieries and information you can always contact Michael Lailach viahis e-mail address. Thanks so much for this. In regard to my own future in relation to the Kiosk archive, I can only tellyou, that of course I will accompany and advise the library and will also involve myself in preparing the exhibition and the publication next year. Apart from this, I will continue to organise exhibitions on art publications(see also below) and keep being involved in art publishing in many ways. So, if you would consider to send me some selections of your future publishingprojects once in a while, I would be the happiest man. And of course, Iwould like to ask you to keep me updated on your activities. Finally, I have a few further facts for you:Since this spring, a small selection from the KIOSK archive is touring theworld, as some kind of an ambassador of the big archive. I am calling theseexhibitons “Beyond Kiosk³. They present ca. 600 selected publications fromabout 300 publishing projects, based on a very personal choice, I admit,discussing an idea of contemporary art publishing and art mediation inprint. The first of these little shows has taken place in January at the ICAPhiladelphia, followed by a presentation at the Bonner Kunstverein in March. I do attach images of those presentations. Upcoming exhibitions “Beyond Kiosk³ will be: Beyond Kiosk III Centre, d¹art conteporain, geneva, Switzerland (openingJune 28)Beyond Kiosk IV - 23rd of September - 31st of October 2008 Les Silos - Pôle Graphisme, Graphic Design Department of the City ofChaumontBeyond Kiosk V - MUDAM, Luxembourg, March 14 to June 8th, 2009I do actually hope to see some of you at any of those occasions. That, I believe, is all for today. It has been a great time working on this thing with you guys. Thanks again for all the support and contributions, discussions andinspirations. I will be in touch again, at least when preparing the book.All the best for now and keep doing what you do. Sincerely, Christoph Keller------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Christoph Keller-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------StählemühleD-78253 Eigeltingen-MünchhöfGermanyTel.: +49 (0)7771 8755-0Fax: +49 (0)7771 8755-11http://us.mc511.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=ck@staehlemuehle.dewww.staehlemuehle.de
