Books are recognized first for their words and rarely their form, be it paperback or hardback.
By contrast, art ranging from paintings to sculpture is typically known for its form and then the message it conveys.
When the two intertwine, book art is born – a study in how the physical form of the book becomes a vehicle to convey its message.
To make this lesser-known art form more understandable and recognizable, Bainbridge Arts and Crafts is hosting “The Artist’s Book II.” The exhibit offers a glimpse at how many artists put a twist on the conventional meaning of a book.
One of the curators of the event, Cynthia Sears, discovered artist’s books in the ’70s, and her passion for them has led to a collection of over 200 examples.
“It’s a bit like true love, hard to define but instantly recognizable,” Sears said. “Each one is unique and there has to be an element of play in them, a hands-on approach.”
Sears says she and Janice Shaw wanted to let others experience the “little delights and intimacy” the books bring. However, she also stresses not all of the books have a “happy ending.”
In Sears’ collection there is a pop-up book of the people of Sarajevo, and at the exhibit is Elsi Vassdal Ellis’ “Dear Mohamad Atta,” a cigar box of 50 postcards addressed to one of the plane hijackers on 9-11.
On the other hand, Linda Costello’s “Menobunny: The Rabbit Who Wanted To Be Fake,” takes the story of the Velveteen Rabbit and combines it with the subject of menopause.
Costello’s creation is 2 feet by 18 inches – although pieces of the pop-up items go beyond those boundaries.
“All I want is for people to use it and to get glee and enjoyment from it,” Costello said. “Even though through the process my fireplace got stuffed with paper, I still had a good time doing it.”
Artist’s books are meant to be functional and “read,” not set behind glass.
Without opening them, the message cannot be conveyed, say the show’s curators, who designed the exhibit to be hands-on. BAC has trained staff and several docents in handling the books to help show-goers gently interact with the art.
Take a peek
The show includes books by 18 artists, whose work represents the myriad forms and styles characteristic of the medium.
Another of Ellis’ pieces, “Eden Hours: Adam, are you sure ignorance IS bliss?,” uses a whole, real snake skin for its form.
There may be words written by the artists or they may take inspiration from someone else’s – as in Charles Hobson’s book, designed around a Billy Collins poem titled “Taking Off Emily Dickinson’s Clothes.”
In Hobson’s piece, the reader becomes the voyeur, undoing a series of ties and buttons in order to turn the pages.
Another artist, Sam Garriott Antonacci, created an accordion book with the poem “Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll.
As Richard Minski, founder of the Center For Book Arts, explains, whatever structure the book has is meaningful and fundamental to the message of the art.
In an overview of the field published on the Center’s website, http://centerforbookarts.org, he writes:
“In book art the container works with the content. The materials are tactile and often relate to the metaphor of the text….The reader is always aware of the physical presence and aesthetic of the page. This aspect brings the work of literature into the world of visual art.”
As BAC’s exhibit reveals, just how the worlds of the literary and the visual come together is always a surprise.
“The books are all so mysterious,” said Susan Jackson, public information director for BAC. “You never know what you’re going to get until you open it up.
“Each one is fascinating and interesting.”
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“The Artist’s Book II” runs through Dec. 2 at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts.
The 18 artists are Sam Garriott Antonacci, Mare Blocker, Mary Fontane Carlson, Linda Costello, Maralyn Crosetto, Elsi Vassdal Ellis, Alisa Golden, Margery Hellman, Charles Hobson, Kate Leonard, Mary Jeanne Linford, Catherine Michaelis, Patty Rogers, Sheila Ross, Hidde VanDuym, Peggy Vanbianchi, Ann Vicente and Sande Wascher-James.
The staff at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts and several docents trained in how to handle each unique book will assist with the reading of the art.
For more information, contact BAC at 842-3132 or visit www.bainbridgeartscrafts.org.
