![mondonoir:
“The books had been left to the elements and as a result their appearance was decayed, fragile, almost romantically beautiful. These books had been part of an installation, a performance work and now are presented as sculpture. By removing the binding, and replacing it with wire, she was able to seal and bury the book and let natural corrosion take place.” (+)
Mary Ellen Long’s, Books: Untitled [her website —- more info. here]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m671d6ehCQ1rr10yho1_500.jpg)
“The books had been left to the elements and as a result their appearance was decayed, fragile, almost romantically beautiful. These books had been part of an installation, a performance work and now are presented as sculpture. By removing the binding, and replacing it with wire, she was able to seal and bury the book and let natural corrosion take place.” (+)
Mary Ellen Long’s, Books: Untitled [her website —- more info. here]
“In February 1983 in Rochester, NY, I found a set of Compton’s Encyclopedias, (circa 1950), bound them together using thick rope, built a pyramidal structure, and hung them in my backyard. The piece is entitled, Books of Knowledge Standing Up Against the Elements that I photographed through seasonal changes and locations wherever I lived.” [more]
Doug Beube, Books of Knowledge Standing Up Against the Elements, 1989
[Altered books, burnt Enclyclopedias]
I realized I owned many books that were no longer of use to me, or for that matter, anyone else. Would I ever need “Windows 95?” After soaking it in the bathtub for a few hours, it had a new shape and purpose. Half Price Books became a regular haunt, and an abandoned house gave me a set of outdated reference books, complete with mold and neglect. Each book tells me how to begin according to its size, type of paper, and sometimes contents. […] With the discarded books that I have acquired, I am attempting to blur the line between objects, sculpture, and photography. This project has become a journey that continues to evolve.
casting stitches on book pages, from the blog of artist Caterina Giglio
“I have been using stitches in my work since 2005 when I hosted my first altered art book group… at that time I used upholstery threads to stitch the page and I loved the way it looked, the texture was outstanding and I was fascinated by the way I was able to create a mark without using a pen or paintbrush…”
Caterina goes on to how explain how the stitches are used strategically, either to create movement, or represent solidarity, or attachment… and even starlight.
I am enthralled by the way she describes the intentionality behind these little marks on paper.
You can also see some of Caterina’s work on her own tumblr, Cartolina.
Life Stories of Dying Penitents (2000) by Susan Collard“Altered book with original 1888 cover. Mixed-media on corrugated cardboard with etched mirror and zinc, sewing machine parts, glass jars, and other found objects. Lyrical snippets of text “liberated” from the sermonizing tales of the original book.”
Book art by Ehren Elizabeth Reed
lnop:
Donna Ruff burns, cuts books and graphics to make patterned drawings that refer to calligraphy and natural forms.
Donna Ruff
A Journey, series of four altered books created for Disaster! one year anniversary of Katrina exhibition, text removed by water and knife from pages leaving narrative:
“A journey to help had begun to feel useless when the most frightful heart-shaking eerie and terrible pictures soon appeared. But now came the thundering, swift and powerful earth-shaking rumble as the storm lifted the roof which stunned All of the Neighbors carrying furniture out.”
Yvette Hawkins “Their Silence, A Language”
Altered Book Sculpture by Melissa Jay Craig
(around and around and around we go)
Beautifully simple altered book work.
(attribution?)
Wheel - altered book structure, by Jon Whitfill
