you are invited to a book launch for:

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Teststrip
a history of an artist-run space (1992-1997)
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Thursday 6th March
6.00 - 7.30pm
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Gambia Castle
First Floor, 454 Karangahape Rd.
Auckland, New Zealand
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DJ McNamara will be present
$25 launch price
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This book presents a history of this killer artist-run space in the form of an archive of ephemera and photographs. If you were there, you won't remember...

"In 1992 eight artists (a mix of recent graduates and more experienced artists) frustrated with the lack of exhibiting opportunities from public art institutions and dealer galleries took on the lease of a modest floor at 10 Vulcan Lane in the heart of Auckland's CBD and opened Teststrip gallery with a group show of their work. The collective followed this with a series of solo shows and short-run publications. Encouraged by the response, they resolved to extend the program by inviting other artists to exhibit in exchange for a nominal fee to help pay the rent. At the end of 1994, due to the growing gentrification of the CBD, Teststrip was forced to move to a new building at 454 Karangahape Road, Newton, which gave the opportunity for the collective to reconsider operations. With funding from Creative New Zealand the group upgraded the two-gallery space, formalised their publication series, the Teststrip micrographs, employed an administrator and worked with a designer to develop a graphic identity.

Teststrip broadened the kinds of projects they undertook, in particular working with Australian artists and curators and holding a series of shows by Los Angeles artists. In their final year the collective strengthened their connection to the wider arts community with the inclusion of music, theatre events and exhibitions of work in jewellery and ceramics. These events, projects, installations, screenings and performances were documented and this publication is an extension and consolidation of the aims and values of Teststrip. The Teststrip gallery model has influenced subsequent artist-run galleries around New Zealand, and several members are still part of these collectives." ('Introduction', Teststrip, Auckland: Clouds, p146.)

The book is edited by the Teststrip board and includes re-published texts by: Stuart McKenzie, Danny Butt, Lara Strongman, Stephen Zepke, Simon Cuming, Mark Amery, Chris Kraus, Sylvère Lotringer, Tessa Laird, Unfelicitous Maggot, Ruben Reyes, Mathew Hyland, David Townsend.

'Teststrip' is published by Clouds and available from selected bookshops for NZD$50 (inc. GST)

For further information and images of the book visit www.clouds.co.nz/teststrip

For retail trade distribution enquiries please contact:

Clouds publishing
PO Box 68-187
Newton, Auckland 1145
+64 9 309 2604
hello@clouds.co.nz

Thanks to Gambia Castle, Creative New Zealand, Chartwell Trust