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Book Alchemy: I Transform Old Books Into Sculptures
Book Alchemy: I Transform Old Books Into Sculptures
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Book Alchemy: I Transform Old Books Into Sculptures

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For over seventeen years I have transformed used books into sculptures through a wide range of artistic approaches. Working with the nature of the books that I find, I’m interested in delving into the internal landscapes of books to create new narratives.

Giving new life to the old, I have high-fired books in kilns with no clay intervention to create “Fossilized” Book Remnants. I have soaked, dried and screwed books together into tree-like forms for my Volumes Series 2001, and I’ve immersed books in inks and re-scrambled the books’ components to create book sculptures that tell a new story.

More info: jacquelinerushlee.com

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    What do you think ?
    LeeParker
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are SO many books sitting around in thrift shops and in landfills. There are water damaged books, moldy books, burnt books, books with many pages missing. There are books which have HORRIBLY racist and prejudiced matter in them, there are books which are outdated and have no historical purpose. I could print out an article from the internet and make art out of it and no one would bat an eye, but if I use a book, suddenly everyone has a negative opinion about it just because they believe EVERY book is sacred. When you have a viewpoint like that, it means that classic literature and something some awful scumbag wrote to put down someone's culture are both "sacred", and that couldn't be further from the truth.

    TeaBerries
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the sculptures, but them being made out of books feels wrong to me. They were already art.

    MaxCarberry
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Inspiring! The artist really opened my eyes to the world of book sculpture.

    Load More Comments
    LeeParker
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are SO many books sitting around in thrift shops and in landfills. There are water damaged books, moldy books, burnt books, books with many pages missing. There are books which have HORRIBLY racist and prejudiced matter in them, there are books which are outdated and have no historical purpose. I could print out an article from the internet and make art out of it and no one would bat an eye, but if I use a book, suddenly everyone has a negative opinion about it just because they believe EVERY book is sacred. When you have a viewpoint like that, it means that classic literature and something some awful scumbag wrote to put down someone's culture are both "sacred", and that couldn't be further from the truth.

    TeaBerries
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love the sculptures, but them being made out of books feels wrong to me. They were already art.

    MaxCarberry
    Community Member
    10 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Inspiring! The artist really opened my eyes to the world of book sculpture.

    Load More Comments
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