Brian dettmer, eco art, recycled materials, book art, books, sculpture. Brian dettmer is an american artist who takes old books and turns them into beautiful works of art by cutting away selected parts to reveal layered images and. The sculptures are on topics mostly concerning scottish literature and poetry, and are made out of old books by an anonymous female paper sculptor. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and book crafts. Jun 25, 2016 book sculptures by a british artist su blackwell. Brian dettmer narrative book sculptures inhabitat green. The 36yearold atlanta based artist has carved dozens of intricate sculptures from volumes dumped in charity. To create his works dettmer seals the object with varnish, then swiftly and deftly moves through it with an xacto knife until he comes out the other side, cutting away material to form something. Altered, sculpted, carved, transformed heyenga, laura, dettmer, brian, kuhn, alyson on. The gallery kindly sent a few sneak peeks at the new work. The artist seeks to offer the entities a new meaning and function in the world, they are reduced to symbols in a blank paper sheet written by dettmer that will set new ideas and relationships with the apparent materiality.
Some artists make it happen by turning old books, dictionaries and encyclopedias into admirable sculptures. Delicate requirements, 2009, altered books destiny far quick fall remaining, 2009, altered e book home of tongues, 2010, altered guide science within the twentieth century, 2009, altered guide compiled upon a new plan, 2010, altered books the story of man, 2010. His name is brian dettmer, and he creates wickedly awesome sculptures out of old books. Apr 09, 2010 brian dettmer brian dettmer is a surgical sculptor with a penchant for the esoteric, obscure and nearobsolete. Posts about brian dettmer written by books on books. Dettmer treats his book sculptures like archaeological sites by excavating forms and uncovering hidden meanings. Dettmers work has a sort of vintage touch to it because he uses old books maps, encyclopedias, textbooks, manuals, and any other sort of literature that he can turn into an interesting piece of art. He is noted for his alteration of preexisting mediasuch as old books, maps, record albums, and. The renwick gallery of the smithsonian institute, dc.
The sculpted books of american artist brian dettmer are beautiful and, at the same time, provocative. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and altered books. Atlantabased artist brian dettmer creates marvelous sculptures by performing surgery on books. Each book for each letter is an old yellowed or gray hardback whose pages turn by themselves to reveal silhouette figures that glide across the pages, accordioned illustrations from other works or carvings reminiscent of the book sculptures of doug beube, brian dettmer and odires mlaszho with each vernacular word and definition emerging. Brian dettmer, a new yorkbased artist known as the book surgeon, uses tweezers, knives, scalpels and other surgical tools to dissect and carve old books into intricate and beautiful sculptures. Old books carved into intricate narrative sculptures by brian. The paper is cut in a way that reveals unusal connections between words and images, otherwise, pages apart.
Ovids metamorphoses has lent inspiration to poems, paintings, sculptures and even cinema why not book art. From su blackwells whimsical popup landscapes to the stackedbook sculptures of kylie stillman, each portfolio. Brian dettmer carves old books into intricate narrative sculptures. Dettmers work is a a collaboration with the existing material and its past creators and the completed pieces expose new relationships of the books internal elements. Books as landscapes guy laramee montrealbased artist guy laramee uses the texture of the pages to give the feeling of earth and rocks in his landscape sculptures. To create his works dettmer seals the object with varnish, then swiftly and deftly moves through it with an xacto knife until he comes out the other side, cutting away material to form something new. A decade of book sculpture, produced by antonio chiavacci for the hermann geiger foundation feature on cbs evening news an interview with renee of the band elk city discussing how they came to feature the piece house of tongues on the cover of their album of the same name. Artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. See more ideas about brian dettmer, altered books and book sculpture. Brian dettmers work has been published and exhibited widely in museums, art centers, and galleries around the world, including the smithsonian washington d.
See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and books. Subsequently she created four artist books titled mrs. Sep 12, 2009 americana 2009 altered encyclopedia volumes by brian dettmer 40. Brian dettmer s beautiful book art if youre one of those book lovers who hates to see a spine cracked or a page dogeared, you might find artist brian dettmer s work a bit unsettling. Mar 20, 2009 atlantabased artist brian dettmer creates marvelous sculptures by performing surgery on books. Ive always thought that it would be wonderful to give old books a second life. Guy laramees gorgeous landscapes carved into books in two series entitled the great wall and biblios, artist guy laramee used vintage encyclopedias to create his epic sculptures. Brian dettmer altered books artwire press release from. The modern nod reached 25 meters tall, spiraling skyward to provide fantastic views of the city. Curated by michelle tillou at the springbreak art show ny.
His name is brian dettmer, and he creates wickedly awesome sculptures out of old books i first discovered dettmer on an art blog about a year ago, and i fell in love with his creations right away. Mar 09, 2009 brian dettmer treballa amb llibres usats primer publicar, despres escriure. His works have been exhibited internationally in institutions including the museum of arts and design mad, ny. Pages other brand website demilked videos book sculptures. I first discovered dettmer on an art blog about a year ago, and i fell in love with his creations right away. Why you should listen new yorkbased artist brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures from outdated materials like encyclopedias, textbooks, maps and cassette tapes. Last weeks video was a meditation on letterpress printing and the book as a physical object.
Brian dettmer column 1 2007 x x image courtesy of the artist and packer schopf gallery artist brian dettmer has made a career out of turning old media into fascinating sculptures. He has had solo shows in new york, chicago, san francisco, miami, atlanta and barcelona, and has exhibited in mexico city, berlin and london. Post the most beautiful examples of book sculptures. Gifted book art sculptures, book art, book page art. These intricately carved books are the work of artist brian dettmer. Old books carved into intricate narrative sculptures by. Brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist.
Altered books by brian dettmer art decoration design. Naperville native brian dettmer, the book surgeon, will lecture and exhibit his sculptures carved from books at aurora university. Find the latest shows, biography, and artworks for sale by brian dettmer. May 31, 2011 but for brian dettmer slicing through the cover is an extraordinary act of creation. Dettmers solo show at the museum of contemporary art of georgia, elemental could appeal equally to book worms and to modern technophiles who havent touched a book in eons. Watermill center, time bomb, exhibition catalogue reproductions. Do you care where people start not at all year brian holcomb is the curator at salt works he says its the sculptures original that attracts fans every single time. Americana 2009 altered encyclopedia volumes by brian dettmer 40. Dettmers booksculptures profound in meaning and impact. Sus booksculptures are currently on display in london and manchester city art gallery until january 20. Intricate book sculptures by brian dettmer i spy with my little eye, a little buddha.
In his atlanta studio, dettmer transforms medical texts, art history tomes, military manuals, and more. Not only does he work with objects that i hold close to my heart cool old books. Brian dettmer is one of the leading artists working with the book today. His remarkable book sculptures are meticulously carved into vintage volumes using a variety of tools xacto knives, surgical clamps, pliers, tweezers and are painstakingly cut away one page at a time. Brian dettmer art actuel libros popup quentin blake buch design altered book art book sculpture paper sculptures art et illustration brian dettmer library of american history detail, 2012 hardcover books, acrylic varnish, x x image courtesy of the artist and toomey tourell fine art. The photograph gallery wagnalls wheel, 2010, altered set of encyclopedias what brian dettmer does with books is thoughtsblowing. Brian dettmers book sculptures implicit art nathaniel stern. Aurora museum to host naperville native, book surgeon. Sep 25, 2014 the photograph gallery wagnalls wheel, 2010, altered set of encyclopedias what brian dettmer does with books is thoughtsblowing. Brian dettmers narrative sculptures from old books inhabitat. Dettmer turns old books, yellow pages, periodicals, etc. Recently i took a trip to the fullerton public library to check out a small exhibition of work by an artist that ive been semiobsessed with for a while now.
Dettmer uses knives, tweezers, surgical instruments and. See more ideas about books, book art and book sculpture. His work has been exhibited internationally in galleries, museums, and art centers and has gained international acclaim through internet bloggers and traditional media. See more ideas about brian dettmer, book sculpture and book art. Brian dettmer is a new yorkbased artist known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. The scottish book sculptures are a group of book sculptures that were contrived to be found in scotland between 2011 and 20. I found a few amazing examples of book sculptures, so i invite you to share the pictures of amazing book art as well. Sep 06, 2015 brian dettmer a decade of book sculpture. Brian dettmer turns books into sculptural pieces sfgate. Brian dettmer art actuel libros popup quentin blake buch design altered book art book sculpture paper sculptures art et illustration brian dettmer library of american history detail, 2012 hardcover books, acrylic varnish, x x image courtesy of. Brian dettmer 6 of 7 dettmers messages range from narrative to political, with spiral sculptures of butterflies from a lepidoptery journal, or a scene of layered illustrated animals from a. What i love about brian dettmers book crafts is that his pieces pay homage to what was originally inside the book. Brian dettmers beautiful book art if youre one of those book lovers who hates to see a spine cracked or a page dogeared, you might find artist brian dettmer s work a bit unsettling.
Continuing that theme, heres a ted talk from artist brian dettmer, who painstakingly carves old books into amazing sculptures. Artist brian dettmer repurposes old books and media, using an exacto knife to create. Dettmer is no newbie to the art world, but his works are brand new to me and as soon as i. Brian dettmer, a new yorkbased artist known as the book surgeon, uses tweezers, knives, scalpels and other surgical tools to dissect and carve old books into. He is noted for his alteration of preexisting mediasuch as old books, maps, record albums, and cassette tapesto create new, transformed works of visual fine art. Brian dettmer sifts through stacks of old books to uncover the perfect source and subject for his sculptural examinations. Originally from chicago and now living and working in atlanta, brian dettmer is known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. Book surgeon uses surgical tools to make incredible book. Thanks to our friends at mental floss for linking us to artist brian dettmers very cool book art. Brian dettmer is a surgical sculptor with a penchant for the esoteric, obscure and nearobsolete. He alters preexisting materials by selectively removing and manipulating elements as a way to allow new interpretations and ideas to emerge.
Dettmers work has been exhibited internationally in numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries, museums and art centers including the smothsonaian d. Feb 19, 2020 some amazing art made from the written word. A work of surgery and, also, archeology, that releases messages and meanings hidden behind the pages of a book. See more ideas about art, brian dettmer and book sculpture. He has a show opening april 3 at chicagos packer schopf gallery. Art painstakingly crafted from old books by brian dettmer, aka the book surgeon. Naperville native brian dettmer, the book surgeon, will exhibit his sculptures carved from books through april 28 at aurora university. Dettmers work has a sort of vintage touch to it because he uses old books maps, encyclopedias, textbooks, manuals, and any other sort of literature that he can. Instead, he uses paper cut techniques to showcase images and text within a books pages, then varnishes the edges of the book to complete each piece. Fortunately, dettmers booksculptures resonate as individual beacons to a past medium we should never ever discard. Delicate requirements, 2009, altered books destiny far quick fall remaining, 2009, altered ebook home of tongues, 2010, altered guide science within the twentieth century, 2009, altered guide compiled upon a new plan, 2010. Thank you for taking the time to do this interview, much appreciated. Mar 26, 2012 artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. Dettmer s work has a sort of vintage touch to it because he uses old books maps, encyclopedias, textbooks, manuals, and any other sort of literature that he can turn into an interesting piece of art.
But for brian dettmer slicing through the cover is an extraordinary act of creation. Mar 01, 2017 naperville native brian dettmer, the book surgeon, will exhibit his sculptures carved from books through april 28 at aurora university. The end results are fascinating sculptures that are giving a new vibe to the original book. For over ten years, he has carved and reshaped old, used books, revealing new connections by slicing away segments of pages. Jan 28, 2016 sculptures that use books as the medium.
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