‘In Ramallah, Running 2010′ by Guy Mannes-Abbott
Manuscript in first draft, 5 of 14 scrolls/parts
In Ramallah, Running is now contracted to appear in February/March 2012 with Black Dog, more details/announcements to follow [24.04.2012 UPDATE: publication pushed back into summer 2012, watch for update very soon].
I’m very happy because the book was conceived and developed independently and will appear within the kind of urgent time frame that is appropriate to its subject and hard to achieve without compromise -or at all. I finished my 20,000 word series of e.things -a unique conjuring of place as well as the people of Ramallah and almost the whole open-air camp that is Ramallah District- in mid-September 2010 [after my Residency at al Qattan Foundation in Ramallah]. The series is made up of fourteen parts, alternating running within the limits of the city and walking out from it to, along, beyond and off limits, discovering how mobile they are. How they really work.
e.things as a form were crucial to this project because they’re the only way I could say what needed to be said. Often exhibited or published in a visual art context [with the best visual minds of my generation!], they’ve grown into a highly singular body of texts; the shortest of which is a single line called ‘go’ from 1997, the longest is this series; In Ramallah, Running. [Yes! a ‘greatest hits’ selection of published -with some unpublished- e.things does need to be finalised and placed with the right publisher soon, in either one or two slim volumes…] Indeed, this project took inspiration from an earlier series called ‘walking 1-10’ which became a programme of artist’s videos by Fiona Banner, Jeremy Deller, Cerith Wyn Evans etc. [see my archived website]
Since completing the manuscript, Samar Martha [ArtSchoolPalestine] and I invited a special group of International artists to respond directly and indirectly to the texts and are delighted to have contributions from Jananne al-Ani, Francis Alys, Emily Jacir, Paul Noble, Khalil Rabah, Mark Titchner and Sharif Waked with more due soon from Olaf Nicolai.
In Ramallah, Running [2010] My own physical/mental manuscript map with Adania’s text in Arabic on my studio wall
We also sought writerly contributions/responses and have received biting texts from Najwan Darwish and Adania Shibli which are currently being translated into English. Finally, we’re very proud to have the great Jean Fisher writing a substantial Introduction to the book too. Apart from the calibre of contributors, some of my closest friends will be together in the book.
There are a lot of things already in the pipeline and much more to come. I’ll link to all of that and the publisher’s page/contacts in time…
Meanwhile, thanks all and hooray!
NOTES FROM A FRUITSTORE 
Hello, Neat post. There’s a problem together with your site in web explorer, would check this… IE nonetheless is the market leader and a good element of other folks will pass over your wonderful writing due to this problem.
thank you, wordpress were telling me to update safari which i have… pls update on any probs
[…] paddle and so -since I’ve been in e.things mode much of this year, most obviously with In Ramallah, Running- it’s been a real joy to discover such close inspiration and shared intents and to have made […]