We’re pleased to announce the second printing of A Book About Colab (and Related Activities), edited by former Printed Matter Director Max Schumann. The expansive project traces the output of Collaborative Projects Inc (aka Colab), the loose and highly energetic gathering of young New York artists active downtown from the late 1970s - mid 1980s.

Advocating a form of cultural activism that was purely artist-driven, the group brought a democratic “by and for artists” ethos to creating artworks, curating shows and engaging in discourse that responded to the political themes of its time: the recessions of the 1970’s, Reagan-era budget cuts and nuclear armament, the housing crisis and gentrification in New York City, and other pressing social issues.

With extensive documentation of the printed material and media steadily produced in the course of its collaborative undertakings, as well as a mix of reflections and anecdotes, statements, manifestos, and excerpts from the ‘Colab Annual Report,’ the book displays the diverse aesthetics and concerns of the group as it embarked on The Real Estate Show, The Times Square Show and many other notable projects across all formats of art-making. The book also explores Colab-adjacent initiatives such as Fashion Moda, the New Cinema, and ABC No Rio, which derived their vitality from shared members and reflected the spirit of that expanded community.

A Book About Colab (and Related Activities)
Edited by Max Schumann
Published by Printed Matter Inc., 2015 Second printing, 2024 1500 copies 260 p., 24 x 17 cm.
Offset printed, softcover, with wraparound poster jacket
$39.95 – purchase here