Stockland Martel

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Each year, we produce a collection of our photographers’ work in the form of a limited-edition book. Our latest volume, SMart Book 2010, has just been completed, and we’ll be unveiling it tonight from 6 to 8 at the Gallery @ Stockland Martel. The book represents the culmination of a lot of hard work over the past year, and we’re all very excited to show it off.

We’ll also be exhibiting highlights from SMart Book 2010 tonight, and many of the photographers will be coming in for the event. (If you haven’t already RSVPed, please email us at thegallery [at] stocklandmartel.com. We’d love to see you there.)

This year, we did our photo annual as a split run: One edition features a cover by Hans Gissinger, while the other is by Craig Cutler.

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I’ve posted both versions of the book—in their entirety—online: http://issuu.com/kristinafeliciano/docs/smartbook_gissinger_cover and http://issuu.com/kristinafeliciano/docs/stocklandmartel_cutler_cover.

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SMart Book 2010 was designed by our longtime collaborators design:mw, an award-winning design firm based in Tribeca. I asked founders JP Williams and Allison Muench Williams about how they approached this project. Here’s what they said:

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Stockland Martel offers a wide range of talent, and each artist brings a unique perspective to an image. So this year’s SMart Book is all about the artists’ personality and individuality.

We used a variety of design devices to bring this idea to life and create a truly beautiful book for 2010, including…

• An “iconic” quote on each photographer’s opening spread that feels bold, yet friendly and approachable. We coupled that with generous white space to allow the page and the image to breathe.

• Two covers that are different but have a common thread. We wanted the covers to speak to the idea that each artist possesses an “individual spark of creativity” when making a picture.

• Mirror end papers, to emphasize the idea of personality/individuality. Photography is all about looking and discovering, and that action is a very personal process for both photographer and viewer.

• A flash of neon orange on the spine, in order to set SMart Book 2010 apart on the shelf.

• A timeless typeface. Like a timeless image, the typeface should reflect the moment but remain enduringly beautiful. This is MW’s design mantra!!!

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Thanks, JP and Allison (and Stacy Barnes, who works with them and who helped me with this post). Looking forward to seeing you tonight!

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