Emma Lambert, artist, educator, and founder of Silvergrass Press, shared insights into her practice-based PhD research with bookRoom at UCA Farnham. Her work explores the intersections of publishing, place, and collaboration, posing the evocative question: “Where are you a local?” Through Silvergrass Press, she has created a space for experimental publishing that bridges her artistic research with participatory methodologies and community engagement.
Matt Johnston, a researcher and lecturer at Coventry University’s School of Arts and the Creative Industries, brought a critical lens to the evolving ecology of the contemporary photobook. Over the past decade, his work has examined how the photobook functions within small, dedicated communities and how it might expand to reach new and more inclusive audiences. His talk offered a thoughtful exploration of the photobook as a dynamic medium for storytelling, communication, and critical discourse.
Together, Lambert and Johnston sparked lively discussions with students and faculty around the future of publishing, the politics of place, and the power of visual narratives. The session encouraged students to think deeply about the potential of the photobook as both an artistic and socially engaged practice—one that challenges traditional boundaries and invites new forms of readership and participation.
The talk was a part of MDSVAD’s ongoing commitment to exposing students to global perspectives in art, design, and critical thinking through conversations that inspire reflection and innovation.
