|
|
|
|
|
|
| Reproduced from the January/February 2002 issue of Expression Magazine. | ||
|
A Course In Book Arts
by Jennifer Rogers Kramer |
||
 |
Situated in a bungalow on the grounds of the horticultural department at a local college, the San Diego community college books arts class meets in a sylvan setting out of keeping with the big city rush that surrounds the campus. This peaceful environment is an appropriate reflection of the class itself. In a move away from the frenetic, computerized modern world, these artisans work within a proud tradition—the time-honored art of crafting books. Taught by noted book artist Genie Shenk, the class is filled with artists eager to learn the craft of creating beautiful books, journals and albums. While many of the books follow traditional patterns, these artists also create more abstract works of art—books whose stories unfold in unconventional forms. Not content to simply revive the techniques of the past, however, modern book artists build on the tradition, expanding the definitions of books and art in the process. |
|
 Reverse side of “Train ” by Sari. |
Above: Artistic interpretations of traditional travelogues, these books are all variations on the themes of travel and transportation. Clockwise from top: In an echo of the soaring ceilings of historic train stations, “Train” by Sari evokes the miles of railway lines that span great distances and lead to adventure. Laura Starr’s “Map” book has a built-in compass on its cover. Al Rodriguez used 35mm film canisters to form the pages of his book, “Pinhole Camera Images.” The journey to and from book arts class is immortalized in Cathy Dery’s “Bus Book.” This mini “Travel Journal” by Laura Starr features maps on its covers. |
|
|
|
||
 |
With a deep red book cloth cover and vivid yellow pages, Jim Hammond’s “Bienate 2000 Havana, Cuba” contains beautiful black and white images of Cuba. | |
|
|
||
 |
With accordion-fold construction, Cathy Dery’s “Bus Book” uses a film canister to ingeniously replicate the wheel of a bus. | |
|
|
||
 |
These books capture the tranquil blues and greens of the open ocean, the sandy dunes of a deserted beach and the warm breeze of a tropical island. Clockwise from top: Mary West’s accordion-fold “Seaweed Book” features a cover crafted from real seaweed. Two sand dollars form the covers of Helen Petre’s “Dollars From The Sand.” Green paste paper echoes the green of a kelp forest in Mary West’s “Paste Paper Book.” With a delicate mica cover, Genie Shenk’s “Dream Log” exquisitely replicates the pearlized glow of abalone. Laura Starr’s “Gourd” holds a lei whose petals are inscribed with the story of a vacation spent in Hawaii. The petal pages hold an imaginative and unique record of a memorable trip. | |
|
|
||
 |
A beautiful example of accordion fold construction, Helen Petre’s “Dollars From The Sand” has sand dollar covers and pages filled with prints of seashells. | |
|
|
||
 |
In addition to books, these artists also craft beautiful boxes, as evidenced in Dawn Rae’s “Nature.” | |
|
|
||
  |
The story behind Mary West’s “Branch Book” is divined only by reading the leaves. Constructed on an actual tree branch, this book blurs the line between book art and sculpture. | |
|
|
||
 |
These books use printed type to decorate as well as inform. Clockwise from top: “Rat Race” by Sari is a unique response to a quirky newspaper story. Lynn Plummer’s “Newspaper Poetry/Type As Image” is an intriguing accordion-fold book. Laura Starr’s “Travel Journal” uses the stark text of a map legend as cover art. Genie Shenk’s “Dreams of Kerouac” captures the essence of the unconventional “Father” of the Beat movement. “10 Things” by Laura Starr combines varied graphic elements and wry humor to create a charming and wise book. | |
|
|
||
 |
Created in response to a newspaper blurb about stressed-out laboratory rats, “Rat Race” by Sari is decorated with three dimensional paper rats and features a bookmark that looks suspiciously like a rat tail. | |
|
|
||
 |
Jim Hammond finished his handcrafted boxes with beautiful handmade papers. The embedded leaves and flower petals are the perfect adornment for these elegantly simple boxes. |
|
|
|
||
 |
These boxes are variations on an Orient-inspired theme. Clockwise from top right: Jim Hammond’s box combines blocks of color in a manner reminiscent of quilting. Mary West’s black, white and red box is beautiful in its simplicity, a three-dimensional haiku. With a lid constructed of Oriental paper, Kathie Gillaspey’s box balances delicate materials with solid construction. |
|
|
|
||
 |
These imaginative works combine handmade papers and fibers with the art of book and box making. From top: Echoing the colors of autumn, “Revolution” by Dawn Rae is a handcrafted box containing several handmade books. Beautifully crafted from delicate paper, this artwork captures the anxieties and excitement of a new school year. “Fibers On A Twist” (middle) and “Dangle Book” (bottom) by Helen Petre both incorporate delicate fibers embedded in handmade paper. These intricately folded books are exquisite works of textile art. |
|
|
|
||
 |
Helen Petre’s “Fibers On A Twist” combines a wide variety of delicate papers and interesting fibers with stunning results. | |
|
|
||
 |
Combining the art of Polaroid manipulation with the art of crafting books, “Manipulated Polaroid Cube Book” by Al Rodriguez calls to mind the art of Impressionist painters. |
|
| For more information on book arts or to locate a book arts guild in your area, contact the Guild of Book Workers, 521 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10175, http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/gbw/ | ||
|
|
||
| Order Your January/February 2002 Issue Here! | ||