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 text science in the twentieth century. Brian dettmer a decade of book sculpture canalehastavideo. Scottish poetry library sculpture in edinburgh altered books, altered art, scottish poetry. Brian dettmer has made his name by taking old books and turning them into something special.
Both the above quote and the photos of brian dettmers book sculptures found in this post were sourced from this 2015 demilked article. Georgia russell is a scottish artist who slashes, cuts and dissects printed matter. The paper is cut in a way that reveals unusal connections between words and images, otherwise, pages apart. Brian dettmer is a new yorkbased artist born in 1974 in naperville, illinois known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. A large body of his current work is created by altering vintage books and assembling sets of books into intricate and innovative sculptures. Nov 30, 2012 scotland s secret book sculptures in pictures. Brian dettmer le chirurgien du livre livre sculpte, oeuvre.
He is noted for his alteration of preexisting mediasuch as old books, maps, record albums, and. 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. The sculptures and their sudden appearance is quite magical. 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. Last weeks video was a meditation on letterpress printing and the book as a physical object. Curated by michelle tillou at the springbreak art show ny this years theme is in excess. I image courtesy of the artist and mito gallery add to plan the company. American artist brian dettmer uses older dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, science and engineering books, art books. Post the most beautiful examples of book sculptures. Scotlands secret book sculptures in pictures edinburghs secret sculptor has. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and book crafts. Scotlands secret book sculptures in pictures book sculpture.
Brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist. As intangible routes thrive with quicker fluidity, material and history are being lost, slipping and eroding into the ether. Art made out of books puts new spin on concept of book art. The artist calls himself the book surgeon because he uses knives, tweezers, and surgical tools to carve the art works out of old medical journals, illustration books, dictionaries, map books and encyclopedias. Some artists make it happen by turning old books, dictionaries and encyclopedias into admirable sculptures.
Artist pays tribute to scotland and harry potter with intricate movable book. Dettmer turns old books, yellow pages, periodicals, etc. Image detail for repurposing books recycle art carving sculpture turning old books into. Mar 26, 2012 a conversation with book sculptor brian dettmer jennifer paull mar 26, 2012 artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. The end results are fascinating sculptures that are giving a new vibe to the original book. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures. Brian dettmer, modern painters 1873 book sculpture, book art. 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.
This ted talk shows many samples and describes his working method. Brian dettmer is a new yorkbased artist known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. Find the latest shows, biography, and artworks for sale by brian dettmer. New yorkbased artist brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures from outdated materials like encyclopedias, textbooks, maps and cassette tapes. A work of surgery and, also, archeology, that releases messages and meanings hidden behind the pages of a book. The book surgeon pieces my modern met the book surgeon, brian dettmer. Dettmers booksculptures profound in meaning and impact.
The sculpted books of american artist brian dettmer are beautiful and, at the same time, provocative. Book sculptors like brian dettmer highlight how important people in. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and altered books. Guerrilla book sculpture made for the 2011 edinburgh international book festival by an anonymous artist. Brian dettmer is a surgical sculptor with a penchant for the esoteric, obscure and nearobsolete. Australian sculptor nicholas jones and a secret sculptor in scotland. Brian dettmer incredible book carver book sculpture. Book sculptures ex libris, turning over new leaves part 1 the. Book art carving sculpture brian dettmer this is an amazing artist. The mysterious paper sculptures of edinburgh book sculpture. I suppose its better for an old book to get this treatment that to be thrown into a landfill. Artist brian dettmer studied at columbia college chicago before latching on to his calling.
Brian dettmer dona nuova vita ai vecchi mezzi di comunicazione sezionando e scavando in punta di. Brian dettmer fact approach out 2017 available for. From cantor fitzgerald gallery, haverford college, brian dettmer, 24 bit 2012, hardcover books, acrylic varnish, wooden base. Book design design art brian dettmer graphic score land art papier diy book sculpture paper sculptures quentin blake. Old books are transformed into amazing sculptures by brian dettmer. Incredible art painstakingly crafted from old books by brian dettmer, aka the book surgeon.
Dettmer s work has a sort of vintage touch to it because he uses old books maps, encyclopedias, textboo. Art painstakingly crafted from old books by brian dettmer, aka the book surgeon. Brian denver alters the way we see books literally he slices whittled tears into them bending and molding forgotten pages into memorable works of art its really like reading in a way i dont know whats coming on the next page it is at. Continuing that theme, heres a ted talk from artist brian dettmer, who painstakingly carves old books into amazing sculptures.
He carves art out of encyclopedias, medical journals etc. I first discovered dettmer on an art blog about a year ago, and i fell in love with his creations right away. In his work brian begin with an existing book and seals its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed potential. His name is brian dettmer, and he creates wickedly awesome sculptures out of old books. The scottish book sculptures are a group of book sculptures that were contrived to be found in scotland between 2011 and 20. 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. 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 childrens book. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and book folding. Newer media swiftly flips forms, unrestricted by the weight of material and the responsibility of history. Brian dettmers book sculptures atlantabased artist brian dettmer creates marvelous sculptures by performing surgery on books.
Aug 19, 2011 just recently come across these images by brian dettmer, i think there really unsual and id really like to find out how he has create these very complictaed sculptures. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new life into old books. Part artist and part surgeon, dettmer uses knives, blades, tweezers, pliers, and custommixed adhesive to painstakingly carve threedimensional sculptures. Brian dettmer is known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. What do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. See more ideas about art, brian dettmer and book sculpture. Mar 20, 2009 book sculptures by brian dettmer becky stern making and sharing are her two biggest passions, and shes created hundreds of free online diy tutorials and videos, mostly about technology and its intersection with crafts. The university of mississippi museum brian dettmer. Not only does he work with objects that i hold close to my heart cool old books. 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. Participants from around scotland solved online clues before racing to the venue where the sculpture was hidden to claim their trophy. Sculpture, altered book, found object brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist.
Atlanta, ga artist brian dettmer book sculpture, book. Book art by brian dettmer artists statement the age of information in physical form is waning. Their intended role has decreased or deceased and they often exist simply as symbols of the ideas they represent rather than true conveyers of content. Fascinating book and paper art by brian dettmer pictures. Old books, records, tapes, maps, and other media frequently fall into a realm that too much of todays art occupies. Patrick rothfuss, the name of the wind book sculpture, by brian dettmer book sculpture, by brian dettmer cool, but make me think of tearing out all the paper, using wood spacers on the edges to make a set of small shelves. Sep 06, 2015 brian dettmer a decade of book sculpture. Brian dettmer albany museum of art albany museum of art. 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. Paper sculptures mysteriously appeared at the scottish poetry library in edinburgh in support or libraries. Old books are transformed into amazing sculptures by brian. The life of vertebrates, brian dettmer the life of vertebrates, woah must try this one of those outdated encyclopedias.
Intricate book art carvings by brian dettmer twistedsifter. At the edinburgh book festival some amazing book sculptures were left anonymously at various bookish places scottish poetry library, national library of scotland in support of libraries, books, words ideas they are beautiful sculptures and i love the fact they have been deposited as gifts anonymously. Book sculptures ex libris, turning over new leaves part 1. Using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, brian dettmer carves one page at a time. His works have been exhibited internationally in institutions including the museum of arts and design mad, ny. In the preface, the inimitable brian dettmer, himself a celebrated master of book sculpture, recounts growing up in the 1980s with his brother next to a school for the developmentally disabled and building a massive library in their attic. Dettmers work has been exhibited internationally in numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries, museums and art centers including the smothsonaian d. Aug 17, 2011 this guys talent and creativity blows my mind. See more ideas about brian dettmer, altered books and book sculpture. The renwick gallery of the smithsonian institute, dc. 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. The bookcarving art of brian dettmer the new century dictionary brian dettmer the book surgeon dettmer is originally from chicago, where he studied at columbia college. An exhibition of his work, selective collective memories, continues through jan 5, 2019 at the albany museum of art.
Also to let you know that submissions for 2016 open in october 2015. Book art carving sculpture by brian dettmer brian dettmer, altered book art. Feb 10, 2015 brian dettmer makes some pretty elaborate book sculptures. But for brian dettmer slicing through the cover is an extraordinary act of creation. Book surgeon uses surgical tools to make incredible book. Oct 14, 2016 explore amazing book carvings, 3d book installations, and book towers created by brian dettmer.
Brian dettmer is one of the leading artists working with the book today. Jan 28, 2016 sculptures that use books as the medium. 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. In this comprehensive collection of art made from books, we explore the myriad of ways that bibliophilic artists inventively transform works of literature into works of art. Brian dettmer is known for his artwork that involves the alteration of information media. Gifted book art sculptures, book art, book page art. A conversation with book sculptor brian dettmer book riot. 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 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. So, is this you getting into the story, or is the story getting into your head. Evans, mito, destroy your books, march 3, 2011 reproductions. The sculptures are on topics mostly concerning scottish literature and poetry, and are made out of old books by an anonymous female paper sculptor.
Brian dettmer selective collective memories east gallery oct 25, 2018 feb 7, 2019 brian dettmer is shown working on book sculpture in his brooklyn, ny, studio. Apr 09, 2010 brian dettmer brian dettmer is a surgical sculptor with a penchant for the esoteric, obscure and nearobsolete. Old books carved into intricate narrative sculptures by brian. Artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. Brian dettmer s work is the most delicate of the book sculptures he dissects each tome with surgical tools to reveal hidden surprises within the cover. Scotlands secret book sculptures in pictures books the. Based in new york, he is one of the most influential artists working with books and paper. It may be wrong to judge a book by its cover, but many artists believe that books actually are more than mere reading material.
I cant imagine how much time it takes per book and how many exacto blades. Ive always thought that it would be wonderful to give old books a second life. Brian dettmer, webster withdrawn, 2010, altered book, 11 34. To create his works dettmer seals the object with varnish, then swiftly and deftly moves through it with an x. Images from the book sculptures the mystery book sculptor placed around scotland during book week scotland 2012 26 nov to 2 dec.
Book sculptures ex libris, turning over new leaves part. Book art carving sculpture by brian dettmer book art by brian dettmer using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, brian dettmer carves one page at a time. Oct 09, 2016 the bigger the book, the better the surgeon doesnt add anything additional to the sculptures, he only folds, bends, rolls, stacks, and, of course, removes. Thanks to our friends at mental floss for linking us to artist brian dettmer s very cool book art. Dettmers work has a sort of vintage touch to it because he uses old books maps. The 36yearold atlanta based artist has carved dozens of intricate sculptures from volumes dumped in charity. Four brilliant book sculpture artists and their most mesmerizing. New yorkbased artist brian dettmer creates impressively intricate multilayered sculptures from books.
Brian dettmer, modern painters 1873 book sculpture. I found a few amazing examples of book sculptures, so i invite you to share the pictures of amazing book art as well. Artist uses surgical tools to carve books into stunning. The mystery scottish book sculptor or sculptress as it turns out has. Brian dettmer the new practical reference 2018 artsy. Oct 3, 2019 beautifully crafted sculptures made from books. If youre a fan of book art, you probably know the works of brian dettmer. Brian dettmer book sculpture, book art, brian dettmer. Apr 06, 2017 it may be wrong to judge a book by its cover, but many artists believe that books actually are more than mere reading material.
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