Beyond Words: A Celebrations of Book Arts in 2018, curated by Barbara Brown

Barbara Brown curates a biennial book arts exhibit here at WSG gallery.  The show she curated in 2016 had fantastic examples of what a book, or ‘book shaped object’ (BSO) might look like and the current show will not disappoint!  (Check out her 2016 show in our blog archive to get a sense of progression.) http://www.wsg-art-archive.com/wsgblog/?cat=200

Field Notes from an Expedition, Piankhy in El Kurru, Sudan, Barbara Brown, Howard White, Maria Phillips, book shaped object, video

Let’s just start off with a piece by Barbara Brown, herself.  This is a collaborative piece with her husband, Howard White (a video artist, among other vocations) and Maria Phillips. Barbara’s mind, in relation to construction of objects is fascinating.  A few years ago, she started incorporating the laser-cutter into her repertoire of tools. It opened doors to some delicious, precise cuts and shapes she employs beautifully in these tunnel, or theater, books.  You can lose yourself in imagination (and time and space) as you peer into the theater shape.

The Life of Tristan Tzara, Alvey Jones, box book

Alvey Jones is another artist whose mind goes into a rabbit hole of creativity with solutions to his book building process.  Part miniatures, part books, part paintings, his constructions are exquisite, smart and fun.

The River, Norma Penchansky-Glasser, flag book, cyanotype, found objects, book board

Norma Penchansky-Glasser’s book pieces in the show are inspired by a trip to Idaho and the river she stayed near.  It was a roaring body of water that shone silver in the morning light – having a powerful life of its own.  Norma is an early riser, so she would sit near the river with her coffee as the world woke up around her. 

First Light, Norma Penchansky-Glasser, hanging book made of cyanotype, found objects, book board

And back on that rabbit hole of creativity……Detroit artist Dick Cruger employs a lifetime of designing and fabricating for the auto industry, pulling in his experiences building of building props and sets for theater while he studied at Wayne State and ….VOILA!  He has books!  Naturally!  Using whatever materials and techniques best suit his vision, he creates book pieces that are part sculpture, part toy, and all fascinating.  http://www.dickcruger.com/

Autobiography, Dick Cruger, aluminum, found objects

Song of the Misbegotten, Dick Cruger, tire treads and mud flaps

Detroit artist Karen Anne Klein’s piece ‘The Literature of the Birds’  is a sort of deconstructed book, showing us all the pages at once.  Klein has developed a special technique in her illustrations of the natural world. She combines watercolor as an underpainting and colored pencil to pull out the details and make her subjects come to life. https://www.kaklein.com/index.php

Literature of the Birds (cabinet), Karen Anne Klein

And we’ve circled around to something a little more, well, book-ish.  While Ruth Bardenstein’s structures have a spine, pages and folios, they are more pop-up in their construction.  Ruth’s interests and background in mathematics and economics give way to a precision in her construction that is masterful. Her interests are many and her book work provides a medium for exploring where they converge

Interdisciplinary Generative Mapping Process Set, 8 portfolios with slipcover, Ruth Bardenstein

Beyond Words opens with a reception that is free on Friday, October 19 and continues through November 24, 2018.  Join us to have your ideas about what a book is, opened up.