(image copyright Su Blackwell)
(For an explanation of the Book Week premise, see yesterday’s post)
WARNING: This post may not be for the faint of heart!
If you are anything like me, and I know that many of you are (May God have mercy on your souls), the merest willful damage to a book is tantamount to abuse. I have never quite gotten over my childhood habit of anthropomorphizing objects. While my talk of trees and books and the various Objet d’art that inhabit my world and the relationship I have with them is more poetic license than waking delusion, there is still a very small part of that young lad who assumes that books, like people, have feelings too. Thus today’s Book Week post features art that is something of an enigma for me: I admire the work and am inspired by the creativity and at the same time I feel pangs of guilt over my attachment to each piece.
Today rather than spending a tremendous amount of time discussing each image, I am going to briefly showcase the artist and then allow you to enjoy their work.
Though it may be incongruous with the images, to keep the mood light (after all, I don’t want my Book Week posts making anyone cry) I will include various inspiring/funny quotes about books or reading between photos.
Prepare yourselves.
And we’re off.
(The 12 Dancing Princesses, click image for a larger version)
The first artist in today’s post was a serendipitous discovery courtesy of the recent Friday Favorite darling Anne-Julie Aubry. A visit to her blog not only revealed a tantalizing new Snow White picture (go look), it also introduced me to a new artist that fit in with this already planned post: Su Blackwell.
(The Wizard of Oz, click image for a larger version)
Much of the work of Su Blackwell certainly fits in with the fairytale and fantasy themes of the Once Upon a Time II Challenge.
The artist herself describes her work:
It is the delicacy, the slight feeling of claustrophobia, as if these characters, the landscape have been trapped inside the book all this time and are now suddenly released. A number of the compositions have an urgency about them, the choices made for the cut-out people from the illustrations seem to lean towards people on their way somewhere, about to discover something, or perhaps escaping from something. And the landscapes speak of a bleak mystery, a rising, an awareness of the air.”
Enjoy!
(The Castle)
“Once I planned to write a book of poems entirely about the things in my pocket. But I found it would be too long; and the age of the great epics is past.”
~G. K. Chesterton
(The Lake and the Boat, click image for a larger version)
“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”
~C.S. Lewis
(Magnolia Tree)
“‘Tis the good reader that makes the good book; a good head cannot read amiss: in every book he finds passages which seem confidences or asides hidden from all else and unmistakably meant for his ear.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
(Alice–A Mad Tea Party, click image for a larger version)
“A well-composed book is a magic carpet on which we are wafted to a world that we cannot enter in any other way.”
~Caroline Gordon
(Alice: Through the Looking Glass)
“Whenever you read a good book, it’s like the author is right there, in the room talking to you, which is why I don’t like to read good books.”
~Jack Handy
(The Land of Far Beyond, notice the people walking the path? Click image for a larger version)
“We read to know we are not alone.”
~C.S. Lewis
(Wintry: The World of Ice, click image for a larger version)
“A book should serve as the ax for the frozen sea within us.”
~Franz Kafka
(The Secret Garden, click image for a larger version)
“You know you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.”
~Paul Sweeney
(The Beginning of Something…, a commission for Vogue magazine. I want to see the rest!)
Su Blackwell is an incredibly talented artist, to be sure. Like previous Friday Favorite Thomas Allen (who would fit in quite will with today’s post) her work is as much about the wonderful creations as the way that they are lit and photographed/presented. I am so impressed by her work. You should certainly not be satisfied with these mere morsels. Go and visit her site to see many more examples of her unique vision.
(The Old House, click image for a larger version)
But wait, there’s more!!!
_________________________
I first discovered Brian Dettmer’s Book Autopsies through the Endicott Studio blog. I was recently reminded of them when I was touring their archives and was waiting for the perfect opportunity to share them. That opportunity has arisen with the birth of this post.
I am in awe of the amount of delicate labor that had to go into the creation of each of these works of art.
From Aron Packer’s Gallery site:
Enjoy these as well!
“From the moment I picked your book up until I laid it down, I convulsed with laughter. Someday I intend on reading it.”
~Groucho Marx
“He that loveth a book will never want for a faithful friend, a wholesome counselor, a cheerful companion, an effectual comforter.”
~Isaac Barrow
“Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement; then it becomes a mistress, and then it becomes a master, and then a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster, and fling him out to the public.”
~Winston Churchill
“Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”
~Francis Bacon, Sr.
Brian Dettmer’s creations are wonderful, are they not? Clicking on the links will show you many more examples of his intricate, delicate work. He is the kind of artist that I would love to hand a favorite art book to (a secondary copy, of course. 😉 ) and commission him to go nuts with it.
I am especially fond of the later two images with the books folded round into cylindrical shapes. I am so amazed at the creative mind that would envision something this unconventional.
Wow!!!
I hope you enjoyed the second day of Book Week. As I mentioned yesterday, participation in each post puts your name in the drawing for an ever-growing prize pack (this will be my first big giveaway of the challenge folks!). Feel free to comment on any aspects of this post that you want. If you go the extra mile like Rampant Bicylcle and Stephanie and Blue Bicycle (maybe it was a bicycle thing?) did yesterday and post links to something related to the post then I will put your name in the drawing hat twice for each day that you do so. To eliminate multiple links to the same stuff, the first one to post the link gets the double entry credit.
“Read in order to live.”
~Henry Fielding
This stuff is absolutely amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it and I can’t imagine having talent like that. I can’t imagine wrapping my brain around a project like that to create something so intricate and beautiful but I can certainly appreciate it. I must admit that it was a bit upsetting to see those vintage copies of Alice harmed in the making, but it was for a good cause 😉 I can only hope that some of the other books were some of those insufferable “classics” that I was forced to read in high school such as Moby Dick that I just couldn’t get into for the life of me…though I feel guilty for saying even that.
Dettmer’s stuff just blows my mind. I love the description of them…”book autopsies” It’s perfect.
I’m truly in love with these!
Thought a few people might enjoy this video where they’ve mixed print (NOT DEAD!) with music video (dying a slow death). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXM5LGfpmrE
There are a couple good videos from the pop-up book kings, Robert Sabuda & Matthew Reinhart, on YouTube, but I thought I’d be kind a let others post them 🙂
I think I’ve seen a few of your aforementioned artistic renderings on various blogs, but I’ve never seen the artists name mentioned…. Thanks for your wonderful and informative posts!
Thanks Tasses, that was a fun video. Certainly fitting in well with the theme. I was cracking up.
I look forward to checking out the others you mentioned as well.
Chris: I feel the pain! I never had to read Moby Dick but I have a soft spot for it simply because of the running Moby Dick gag in the comic series Bone.
I had to pass the link for this to my friends.
have you checked out this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Art-Artists-National-Museum/dp/1568986092/
Wow. Some of those are just amazing. Well, I guess they all are. Some people have such patience.
Also, I totally agree with CS “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me” 😉
I am always amazed at the creativity of people – and their imagination. I would never have thought of turning a story book into a story picture – my favourite was the secret garden – is a favourite story as well 🙂
Well, as you look, and then look some more.. and then stare..these things are certainly amazing! They are something you can look at for long periods of time and wonder “how the heck did someone do this?”
But strangely.. they are like something I would see in a museum.. oddly attractive, love to look at it, but I don’t really want to take it home.
I guess it’s just not my taste…well, not to “have and want”..but very interesting to look at and ponder “how the heck did they do that?”
I saw Su’s work yesterday on Anne-Julie’s blog. I think they’re absolutely delightful. There really is a sense of escapism about them. It’s almost like the books have come alive and I like how the characters and images are created from the very words and pages they were printed on. I think this would look amazing on a mantle properly lit of course. I don’t feel too sorry for the books, some of them may have been on their way out. When I worked at the library we threw away so many books, some certainly deserved to be since they had been subject to spills and other grossness but some were just old. Maybe Su could have saved them! 🙂
The Secret Garden on is my favorite. Mesmerizing – so intricate. I love it. You’re broadening my horizons :).
Okay, as if you needed another reason to think me a heathen…but I’m going to admit that I thoroughly enjoyed these amazing works of art without a single pang of guilt. The way I look at it…first a beautiful, living tree gave its life to become a priceless treasure, the book, which without what a bleak world this would be. And in the unbelievably creative minds and talented hands of these artists, the book gave its life to become yet another priceless treasure, the visual piece of art. A sort of reincarnation.
I find each and every one of these pieces mind-blowing. And as much as I’m generally drawn to trees, in this case, I think my favorites of the ones you showcased would be Su Blackwell’s Alice creations.
Thanks again, Carl, for another inspiring start to the day.
I love Robert Sabuda – the first artist is kind of taking his work to the next level. I love the 12 Dancing Princesses piece. The carved books are amazing. I’m wowed by the detail. Amazing.
Wow! I love it . . . and I’m fortunate that I don’t have a thing about damaging books, as much as I love them.
But these pieces – wow!! Wow! Thanks.
I too despise cruelty to books, but when litero-philic (?!) art like this is created..I can make an exception!
The Secret Garden is certainly my favourite!
Wow, people are so creative. But I’m like you Carl, I kind of feel that books have feelings too!
These really are wonderful. I’ve tried my hand at altered book art from time to time, but could never come up with anything this beautiful in a million years! The International Society of Altered Book Artists has a web site with more examples:
http://www.alteredbookartists.com/
But I admit, I probably would never take a pair of scissors to any copy of Alice, no matter how tattered!
jshall: Great link, thanks! I have often thought about altered book art as well and yet I could never overcome that “i cannot do this to a book” feeling. Maybe someday.
Vasilly: They have to, don’t they?
Mariel: I know, you cannot help but like it.
Andi: I’m one of those odd ‘keep each book pristine’ people which is probably one of the reasons I adore and cringe at the same time.
Susan: the 12 dancing princesses is one of my favorites as well.
Debi: Don’t go spouting off logic here! 🙂 I understand. I think the altered books I like the most are the ones that Thomas Allen does and they hurt the most too because I collect old pulp fiction books. Still, I am tempted to try this kind of thing.
Corinne: I really like Secret Garden as well. I wish there was a bigger image of it so I could see it better. Did you see the second Secret Garden creation on her site?
Ashleigh: I’m so glad Anne-Julie posted this artist. I certainly understand what you are saying about doing this sort of thing vs. destroying books. I’m being a tiny bit facetious about the guilt, but only a tiny bit. I do feel like this sort of thing is ultimately worthwhile because they give these books a new life. I like the ‘escapism’ idea as well. It reminds me of the Jasper Fforde novel Lost in a Good Book and the Jon Sciezca/Lane Smith book Summer Reading is killing me.
Deslily: I’d love to see all of these up close as well, to see them from multiple angles. I could certainly own some…but I’d have to get a much larger house to own all the various kinds of artwork I want.
Sally: people’s creativity is amazing, isn’t it.
Fence: That is a great quote. I was so thrilled to discover it.
Dark O: No, I hadn’t seen that book. It is great! Thanks!
This art is wonderful, but at the same time, I could not imagine cutting up a book!
I tend to anthropomorphize also. I blame The Velveteen Rabbit. Usually cutting up a book would make me sad, but I think the whimsy of the art is what makes me love it.
Oh wow. These rip my heart out in two ways. They are so cool to look at! But they desecrated a book! Wow. Just…wow.
Wow! Both of these artist’s are incredible. I love there work. Carl, you must send this post link to Thomas Allen. I think he and these artist’s are kindred souls. Thanks for this post!
One of the Hot things to do in crafting blog land is to recycle old books into purses. I haven’t made one yet, but when I’m flea marketing, I’m always on the lookout for a book that the insides are bad, but the cover is still good. I just can’t destroy one to craft with.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8700272
Oh wow.. The only sad thing that comes to mind seeing books in this state is that now I can’t read them!! I am careful of my books, I try and try to keep them nice, but after they’re read so many times, it is almost inevitable that the binding will crack, folds and creases appear in the cover, and they change from my nice new book into an old well-loved friend. When looking at my bookshelf, you can tell which books are my favorites, just by how worn the covers are!
I am in awe of the delicate hand it must take to create such fragile works of art. These are things that would be very interesting to have around in the home for a long time.. as the paper ages, it must give them an entirely new character.
The Twelve Dancing Princesses and the Alices are my favorite.
When I look at them all there is just a sense of awe–awe that such a thing is even possible.
Willful destruction of books aside, I LOVE the Alice ones. It’s amazing what the Blackwell does with paper.
It IS sad to see books cut up, but you can certainly do beautiful things with the paper!
Fans of paper cutting art might enjoy the shockingly detailed work of Kako Ueda: http://www.kakoueda.com/
Now, for extra fun, imagine what you could do if Ueda and Robert Sabuda made pop up books together. 😉
By the way, Mr. Sabuda has a collection of simple pop-ups you can make at home available on his site: http://www.robertsabuda.com/popmakesimple.asp
I’m probably repeating here, as I’m too lazy to read all the comments, but I have to say (and why am I not surprised), I agree with Debi. As a librarian, I have to discard books regularly, especially being a medical librarian, where out-of-date information can actually be risky. Also, being a state-funded institution, I’m pretty limited in what I can do with the books, so they often get recycled. So when I see these pieces of art, I feel like these otherwise unwanted books (I hope!) are getting a new lease on life. Makes me wonder what I could do with some of these medical imaging books (if I were an artist, that is – if I tried to do anything with them, it would look like a kindergartener was set free with scissors!).
Su’s work is incredible – Ann-Julie’s website has been a trove of wonderful new artists.
There is a Houston-area photographer who has an on-going series that might be of some interest –
http://www.carabarer.com/gallery.php
Can’t wait for tomorrow’s post!
Ken: That is a great site!!! I love how she talks at length about each picture. This is something that I always look for both on websites and in art books. I like hearing about the author’s inspirations, their intentions with a piece, etc. I also like hearing about the technical aspects of creating their work. This is a site I’ll be spending some time on as much for the works as for what she has written. Thanks again Ken.
Somer: My wife works at a library as well, for a university, and I know they toss or sell cheaply various books all the time. Makes me think someone should start some sort of online repository for artists to reach out in their communities to get these books for projects like this. Would also be a great idea for schools as well!!! Hmmm….
RB: Wow, that one artist’s work is amazingly detailed. It reminds me of laser cutting work I’ve seen on cards. Robert S’s stuff is really fun and would be fun to do in a kid’s art class with the throwaway books from the library that people are mentioning!
Melissa: The Alice ones are great aren’t they? I suspect the Secret Garden one is really cool up close as well. I can tell, barely, that there is a figure in the garden.
Becky: they are awe-inspiring to be sure.
Asara: You sound like me. Although I probably take it a step further. I’m not sure folks could tell which books are my favorites because I’m pretty careful with them even after multiple re-reads. I sound obsessive, but it is a habit that I don’t even consciously think about. Hey, maybe that kind of delicate hand work can be translated into doing something like this! 😉
Carrie: Those book purses are great!!! Yet another reason that being a guy can sometimes suck. We don’t get the good clothes and the cool accessories.
Jeff S.: Good idea, I’ll shoot him the link.
Heather, Sarah, Kailana: Glad to know I’m not alone in my mutual love and horror at the work!
It amazes me how people can look at something (like paper) and see the possibilities (like a boat on a lake). Then be able to sculpt and transform it into something different. I fell in love with the Peter Pan sculpture on her website; it’s already sold, though.
I did have to suppress a little “eeek!” when I saw the actual words and pictures of Alice and her tea party. The book is in a happy place, right?
Rachael: It is indeed. I’ve said it a few times already in the comments but I really really wish there were some more detailed pictures of her creations on her site. I would love to see each of these in a more close-up view.
Both of those artists do amazing and beautiful work, and as much as I usually recoil from damaging books I think, in these cases, that the art is well worth it. Usually when I think of altered books I think of things like the ones on the site jlshall linked to or the ones on http://karenswhimsy.com/altered-books/. Some of them do use the underlying book (for example, the Dreams and Delights book), but for the most part I wonder why they didn’t just start with a blank book because the text doesn’t contribute much to the final piece of art.
After seeing these, I’m tempted to try some book art of my own. Maybe if I start with my outdated textbooks I won’t feel too bad about it.
I love Blackwell’s book sculpture stories! Absolutely wonderful, especially the use of light, that’s what I think makes them really wonderful. I love the autopsies too, although I had a heart attack when I first saw them. Books are wonderful as books, but I adore that they can also be wonderful other things too.
Stormfilled: Brian Dettmer’s works are stunning. Oddly enough I was looking through the latest issue of Hi Fructose last night and saw that they had a feature on Dettmer. If anyone is looking for more examples of his work and a brief article I suggest picking this up, it is still on magazine shelves.
Nicole: I’ve felt the same way you do about those kind of altered books. Don’t get me wrong, when they are well done I really like them, but I too don’t always understand the need to use an actual book. However if it is truly rescuing the book from the trash bin then I am fully in support. I’ve wanted to do some of those kind of altered books in the past but I would want to incorporate the book itself somehow.
Where do you find this stuff?? Tres cool, although it would kill me to cut up pages from a book!!
Wow, these are amazing… especially the Alice pieces. The idea of inflicting damage to books normally does make me want to cry, but I love what Debi said about these being like pieces of art reincarnated.
The Paul Sweeney quote is great too! It perfectly summarizes how I feel when I finish a favourite book.
I agree with you Carl, damaging a book is tantamount to abuse. I used to read my paperbacks with the page close together so as not to put creases in the spine. I could never understand people, whom I would lend books to, who would give me them back all dog eared with broken backs. Did you not see the condition it was in when I gave it to you????
Nice post, as always. 🙂
I had to come back to give you a big congrats Carl on getting your your own post over at the Endicott Blog for book week!!! Well deserved my friend 🙂
Chris: How cool is that?!!? Thanks for the heads up. I’m thrilled to be mentioned on such an amazing site.
Stuart: I do the same thing when I read paperbacks. I got this ‘book care obsession’ because my first foray into sci fi was reading my uncle’s books and I always wanted to be sure to return them in the same condition so that he would allow me to borrow more.
Nymeth: Debi hit the nail right on the head, I agree.
I liked the Sweeney quote too. I intend to do a post about re-reading books at some point and no doubt that quote will resurface!
Stephanie: That has to be a trick question, right? Because today I took great care to give credit to both places where I found these wonderful artists. 🙂
I always enjoy your posts on artists and their work – great stuff!
Brian Dettmer has an exhibition of new work opening this weekend at Kinz, Tillou + Feigen Gallery in New York: http://www.ktfgallery.com/current/?object_id=147&project_id=417
ahhhh……. i have seen and saved a number of these book sculptures – i am continually amazed at their intricacy and delicate precision ….. and the variety of artistic expression. oh how i long to be a book artist!!
ok – you might have me hooked here …. the link:
http://bluebicycle08.blogspot.com/2008/04/book-week-ii-endpapers.html
enjoy!
lady blue
and more ….
http://bluebicycle08.blogspot.com/2008/04/endpapers-from-drawger-gallery.html
http://bluebicycle08.blogspot.com/2008/04/blog-post_29.html
fondly,
lady blue
Ha, since I haven’t been on a bike in years, you can’t blame my link yesterday on that! 🙂 I’ve seen some of this book art before and am blown away by how creative some people are!
Thanks so much for the invite!!! I can’t believe I’ve not stumbled upon your blog in my travels.
AMAZING artist features, and I’m just astounded at this work…Su Blackwell work knocked me on my bum this morning, and now Brian Dettmer has opened my mind even further. I’ve been messing about with very intricate paper cutting for ages now..decoupage and all sorts of crafts have risen up around the need for me to do SOMETHING with these little ephemeral bits and cuttings. But my absolute first love is written word in all forms, with a special passion for vintage books with antique typeset and illustrations.
Last week I about fell off my chair when I discovered books.google. Knew it existed, but had NO idea I could actually download in original form amazing books…hundreds of years old, in some cases. My love affair with books has always been limited by my budget (alas!), and now I’ve got a way to get my absolute FILL of antique books!!! All the old pen and ink victorian sketches I can handle!! Anyway…needless to say, I was thrilled with the discovery. Of course, theres no substitute for the actual “leather in hand” turning pages, musty smell of old library of an ACTUAL book…but its certainly better than never having opportunity to experience these books at all.
I agree wholeheartedly with previous poster that it would be nearly impossible for me to have enough faith in my vision for a specific project that I could justify cutting up a book that has managed to survive a century or more.
I’m incredibly drawn to the art of those particular artists, though….and feel that it is very possibly the perfect combination of delicate paper cutting and antique books that will allow me to express myself the way i’ve always dreamed.
So, I’ll do some investigating and see if I can find some specifics on the actual techniques used in these book cut sculptures. But until I have a lot more faith in my ability, I’ll be working on google books printed on faux vintage stock…that way no books will be harmed in my creative endeavors! Of course, means I need to get happy with some bookboard and leather.
I can’t wait to explore other profiles you’ve done in the past. Links to the side look incredibly intriguing. Feel like I’ve found a new source for incredible inspiration on the net, and that can only take me further along in my creative journey.
Thanks so much for maintaining this fantastic resource for artisans and book lovers!!
orachel
MoonWorks
orachel54 at yahoo
ACk!
Should probably give link, huh?
http://www.books.google.com
If you’d like ONLY books you can download in pdf, select “Full view only” under search. Taking the link “more about this book” will lead you to info page re:book…you can see a number of pages/illustrations from book. Click “more”, and many others open. BTW, all full view downloadable books are in PUBLIC DOMAIN…so have at it! I’ve been thrilled with search results for “botanical” and “fairy”.
Wow! Have never seen anything so amazing as this work. New life to an old book. I also give life to worn out books!
…and I thought my mother’s tendency to fold pages in half to mark her place was sacreligious to books! As amazing as all the art work is, my favorites are the ones in the first half, particularly The Secret Garden and Alice In Wonderland. In fact, that’s a really good use of anyone’s copy of Alice, which is far less enthralling in text form if you ask me.
Bellezza: I think you should give The Annotated Alice a try. I think it would give you a new appreciation for just how complex the story really is.
And folding book pages to mark your place….I shudder just to think about it!!! 🙂
Retrograndma: Such a great blogger name! I loved seeing your book purses when the link was posted here earlier today. Great stuff! Thank you so much for coming by!
Orachel: I’m so glad you accepted the invite and came by. I thought you’d be pleased. Thanks so much for the link too, I had never heard of that but will definitely be checking it out. Sounds like a fantastic resource for creativity. I too would be loathe to try any book cutting unless I had done a lot of practicing and had a really well laid out plan of how to accomplish what I was setting out to do.
Lady Blue: Thanks for the links, those are great. I love endpapers. Any of those little extras that go into the crafting of a book are special to me.
Wow. they are haunting and beautiful, the images, but I have to say my heart hurts to see pages of books used this way! I have to hope she is rescuing otherwise damaged books that would get thrown away……and yet she is such a fabulous artist and her work is so whimsical and magical! Thanks so much for bringing her to our attention!!
Brian Dettmer is really fascinating also. It makes me realize I have been too long out of the fantasy art world – or else it has exploded these past few years. Thanks for shining a light for us, Carl!
Wow! These artists are incredibly creative and talented! I love The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
Susan: I certainly think the internet and the proliferation of blogs and websites has made discovering artists like this so much easier and really opens up the world of creativity to anyone who wants to go out looking.
Robin: I may have mentioned earlier but that is a favorite of mine as well. I just noticed the last time I was looking at it that the one on the end was reaching for a door.
I’ve seen Brian’s work but not Su’s – both are incredible but I share your slight squeamishness about the damage to the books!
I think what redeems it, despite that underlying guilt, is the fact that a lot of these books would almost certainly go unread otherwise…so while they’re being fundamentally altered, their purpose, which is to speak to readers/viewers/etc. is perpetuated more effectively in their new form than it would be in the old one.
I do love the art but at the same time I am definitely cringing at cutting up all those lovely books! I will try and put up a post of something I saw in a museum that has similarities to this sort of soon to enter me into the double drawing…
Heidi: I couldn’t have said it better myself and I totally agree.
Rhinoa: I’ll look forward to the link, thanks!
These are simply amazing. The amount of time and dedication to detail is quite evident. Each piece goes to show that art is not always about beauty but about the imagination.
These are gorgeous! I love the idea of books-as-art, and these are certainly The Real Thing.
(I used to be squeamish about cut-up books too, until my Dad let me hack up a bunch of law books to see how they were made. Apparantly after 2 or 3, the squeamishness goes away.)
I had seen Brian Dettmer’s work before, and been rendered at once aghast and utterly fascinated. 😉
Su Blackwell’s work is completely new to me, and I absolutely love it! Amazingly detailed and rather haunting.
Not sure I could cut books up myself though…
the book sculptures are magical! I’m gonna spend a long time of her website and I’ll probably add her to my favourite artists!
wow, this is amazing. ‘The Beginning of Something’ creeps me out.
I forgot to put a link here to a post I put up that relates to this: here
These are wonderful, I feel as if I could step into that magical world. The Alice in Wonderland pieces really seem to be simply a 3-dimensional outgrowth of the story.
There really are so many books out there, I think there are enough to create book art from. I acquire many, many books each year from the Keeper of Books at my school. Otherwise, many go in the trash. Some go on my bookshelf, but some are used for art. Not for the faint of heart!
Once again, thanks for sharing great stuff, Carl.
Gorgeous! I love “Alice: Through the Looking Glass”; that spiraling line of text that reaches up to her on the fireplace is amazing. I also love how the houses are lit up in a few of the other pieces. To have that kind of creative mind, huh?
Chelle: That is a wonderful piece, isn’t it? The lighting is really a fantastic part of what she does.
Kerry: It is great how she actually uses the stories themselves to influence the art she creates. That is great that you are able to acquire books that way. Most of my horror goes away when I think about the fact that these books are being rescued to create art.
Rhinoa: Thanks, those are great. I actually have seen those before somewhere but had forgotten all about them. Wow!
Bookworm: It does me too, which is why I like it!
Valentina: That is great!
Quix: I know, I keep debating whether I want to try something like this or not.
Ella: Desensitization! That cracks me up!
Orchidus: You are correct, it is all about the imagination in my opinion.
Wow, gorgeous! I love all this book art. And you presented it all so appealingly; I especially love the quotations in between.
Congradulations I must compliment you on the superb works of sculptural art.
Amazing the amount and quality of creativity shown.
Very few would envision this, and even less would make the effort to master the technique.
These are truly fantastic creations.
Please keep posting.
Wow these are amazing all though I too feel pangs at the thought of all those books being cut up. I can’t even envision how the second kind are made.
I saw the picture of Su Blackwell’s book tree on Anne-Julie’s blog too and spent some time looking at all her creations on the website then. I’d never heard of Brian Dettmer’s Book Autopsies. Fabulous stuff! The Francis Bacon quote is especially fitting! 😉
Dewey: Thanks, I thought the quotations idea would be a fun one.
Brian: If the artists ever visit here I am sure they will appreciate the compliments. Just to clarify these are not my works, I am just posting about them because I, like you, admire the creator’s talent.
Callista: Me either, Callista. The planning that must go into Brian Dettmer’s work is amazing.
Tanabata: I loved pairing the Francis Bacon quote with Dettmer’s works. It really was perfect.