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. Feb 19, 2020 some amazing art made from the written word. Ive always thought that it would be wonderful to give old books a second life. From su blackwells whimsical popup landscapes to the stackedbook sculptures of kylie stillman, each portfolio celebrates the incredible creative diversity of the medium. He uses a takeaway process, using a skilled and patient editing artfulness, digging through layers of a books pages.
What do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. Brian dettmer creates detailed sculptures out of books. For over ten years, he has carved and reshaped old, used books, revealing new connections by slicing away segments of pages. Brian dettmer brian dettmer, book sculpture, book art. Altered, sculpted, carved, transformed heyenga, laura, dettmer, brian, kuhn, alyson on. Book surgeon uses surgical tools to make incredible book sculptures. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new. Continuing that theme, heres a ted talk from artist brian dettmer, who painstakingly carves old books into amazing sculptures. The pieces concern the changing role of physical objects in the information age. Originally from chicago and now living and working in atlanta, brian dettmer, aka the book surgeon, is known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media and this wonderful series is his latest in dadainspired carved works. Image detail for repurposing books recycle art carving sculpture turning old books into. Carving old books into works of art studio 360 wnyc. Brian dettmer is a new yorkbased artist known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media.
The end results are fascinating sculptures that are giving a new vibe to the original book. Inspired by artist su blackwell whose work we see in the video, you can create your very own book. Kingdom, 2008, altered books, 958 x 1034 x 934 by brian dettmer. Artist brian dettmer challenges media that has been cast aside. 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.
I recently visited this years installment of the us artists show, which took place at the pennsylvania academy of fine art. Last weeks video was a meditation on letterpress printing and the book as a physical object. The sculpted books of american artist brian dettmer are beautiful and, at the same time, provocative. From su blackwells whimsical popup landscapes to the stacked book sculptures of kylie stillman, each portfolio celebrates the incredible creative diversity of the medium. Nothing inside the outofdate encyclopedias, medical journals, illustration books, or dictionaries is relocated or implanted, only removed. For years, dettmer has made fascinatingly original sculptures in which he contorts, bends, glues and manipulates old books, creating strange new forms from these familiar objects. From su blackwells whimsical popup landscapes to the stackedbook sculptures of kylie stillman, each portfolio.
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. Old books carved into intricate narrative sculptures by. 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. 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. 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. Explore amazing book carvings, 3d book installations, and book towers created by brian dettmer. Apr 09, 2010 brian dettmer brian dettmer is a surgical sculptor with a penchant for the esoteric, obscure and nearobsolete. Brian dettmer dona nuova vita ai vecchi mezzi di comunicazione sezionando e scavando in punta di. Brian dettmer book sculpture, book art, brian dettmer. 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. Classic works of literature turned into beautiful book. Brian dettmer, book art, book clock, creation art, most beautiful images, book folding, art moderne, weird pictures. He takes old textbooks on natural history, medicine and engineering, and transforms them into these amazing pieces a steampunk book.
Book art that will melt your brain altered book art. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and books. Dettmers work has a sort of vintage touch to it because he uses old books maps, encyclopedias, textbooks, manuals, and any. Brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures out of old reference books. For a better experience, we recommend that you enable javascript. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and book crafts. In this simple tutorial from cbbcs totally rubbish we learn how to make book sculptures. Not only does he work with objects that i hold close to my heart cool old books. 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, altered books the story of. Brian dettmer, knowledge in depth, hardcover books, acrylic varnish. Brian dettmer turns old books into amazing artwork with his cutout skills.
They forever alter a book with rulers and cutting tools. Dettmer manipulates the pages and spines to form the shape of his sculptures. Brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist. Feb 06, 2015 what do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. 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. The university of mississippi museum brian dettmer. 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.
I first discovered dettmer on an art blog about a year ago, and i fell in love with his creations right away. 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. 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. Brian dettmer complete antique 2009 altered book x x image courtesy of the artist and toomey tourell fine art brian dettmers incredible altered books adafruit industries makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers. Dettmers work has been exhibited internationally in numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries, museums and art centers including the smothsonaian d. These sculptures are made from old encyclopedias, a medium nearing extinction, with their pages of data carved into intricate. Old books, cassette tapes, records and maps are the artists medium. May 31, 2011 but for brian dettmer slicing through the cover is an extraordinary act of creation.
See more ideas about brian dettmer, altered books and book sculpture. Oct 14, 2016 explore amazing book carvings, 3d book installations, and book towers created by brian dettmer. It looks like theres an issue with javascript in your browser. Artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. He also folds, bends, rolls, and stacks multiple books to create completely original sculptural forms. Part artist and part surgeon, dettmer uses knives, blades, tweezers, pliers, and custommixed adhesive to painstakingly carve threedimensional sculptures. Brian dettmer book sculptures the brooklyn refinery. Some artists make it happen by turning old books, dictionaries and encyclopedias into admirable sculptures. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and art.
The book surgeon 15 pieces book sculpture, altered book. 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. A work of surgery and, also, archeology, that releases messages and meanings hidden behind the pages of a book. Book art that will melt your brain altered book art, brian. I found a few amazing examples of book sculptures, so i invite you to share the pictures of amazing book art as well. Written by valentina romano brian dettmer is a new yorkbased artist known for his incredibly detailed sculptures, which gave him the nickname of book surgeon.
Dettmers booksculptures profound in meaning and impact. The 36yearold atlanta based artist has carved dozens of intricate sculptures from volumes dumped in charity. Sep 12, 2009 americana 2009 altered encyclopedia volumes by brian dettmer 40. Thanks to our friends at mental floss for linking us to artist brian dettmers very cool book art. Fascinating book and paper art by brian dettmer pictures. Brian dettmer turns books into sculptural pieces sfgate.
Altered books by brian dettmer art decoration design. Brian dettmer, book art, book clock, creation art, most beautiful images, book folding, art moderne, weird pictures, old books. Using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, dettmer carves one page at a time. But for brian dettmer slicing through the cover is an extraordinary act of creation. Sep 06, 2015 brian dettmer a decade of book sculpture. Brian dettmer book sculptures the brooklyn refinery diy. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. He manipulates the pages and spines, folds, bends, rolls, and stacks multiple books to create his book sculptures. If youre a fan of book art, you probably know the works of brian dettmer. See more ideas about book sculpture, brian dettmer and book art. His name is brian dettmer, and he creates wickedly awesome sculptures out of old books. Mar 23, 2012 incredible art painstakingly crafted from old books by brian dettmer, aka the book surgeon. He looks for text and pictures to save, and cuts away the rest.
Book surgeon uses surgical tools to make incredible book. Alices adventures in wonderland by lewis carroll in her series fragments of story, tokyobased art director tomoko takeda creates sculptures inspired by stay safe and healthy. Based in new york, he is one of the most influential artists working with books and paper. 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. Mar 26, 2012 artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information.
Brian dettmer is an atlantabased artist who works in the medium of altered books. They choose a book based on its age, size, or contents, and explore the parts that they want highlighted. Sep 25, 2014 the photograph gallery wagnalls wheel, 2010, altered set of encyclopedias what brian dettmer does with books is thoughtsblowing. Brian dettmer is a surgical sculptor with a penchant for the esoteric, obscure and nearobsolete.
A preface by pioneering artist brian dettmer and an introduction by design critic alyson kuhn round out the collection. He describes these pieces as a collaboration with the existing material and its past creators in the sense that the final pieces lend new meaning to the books internal elements. Brian dettmer is an atlantabased artist who works in the medium. Some artists and crafters are using their papercrafting skills to transform books into amazing sculptures. 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.
Also to let you know that submissions for 2016 open in october 2015. 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. 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. 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. Old books carved into intricate narrative sculptures by brian. See more ideas about art, brian dettmer and book sculpture.
The paper is cut in a way that reveals unusal connections between words and images, otherwise, pages apart. The book surgeon 15 pieces book sculpture, altered. The photograph gallery wagnalls wheel, 2010, altered set of encyclopedias what brian dettmer does with books is thoughtsblowing. Basically a way for galleries, local and national, to showcase the.
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