New books of knowledge, 2009, altered books, 16 x 2612. From su blackwells whimsical popup landscapes to the stackedbook sculptures of kylie stillman, each portfolio celebrates the incredible creative diversity of the medium. Since the rise of the ereader, books have been on the decline. As intangible routes thrive with quicker fluidity, material and history are being lost, slipping and eroding into the ether. What georgiabased artist brian dettmer does to books would make any bibliophile or librarian cringe. Old books reborn as art takes outdated reference materials such as textbooks and encyclopedias, seals them with varnish, then carves away at their pages with an xacto knife. Standard circle, 2009, hardcover book, acrylic varnish, 6. Why you should listen new yorkbased artist brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures from outdated materials like encyclopedias, textbooks, maps and cassette tapes. Book sculpture by artist brian dettmer i was looking into book sculptures wondering what kind of creative things people can do with books and came across these amazing pieces by brian dettmer. Nov 07, 2014 you can call brian dettmer a marvelous sculptor, a one of a kind artist, a genius of the highest level, but i think book worm fits him best. Brian dettmer fact approach out 2017 available for. Instead of layering images and text on top of each other, he treats books his main medium like blocks of marble, carving away to reveal complex threedimensional creations. A large body of his current work is created by altering vintage books.
Artist uses surgical tools to carve books into stunning. Employing a variety of techniques and mediums from sculpture to origami, texasbased artist isaac salazar and georgiabased brian dettmer are two artists to watch. Dettmer is a leading artist working with the object of the book. 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. Brian dettmer, one word at a time detail, 2012, paperback books with acrylic varnish and adhesive. For over ten years, he has carved and reshaped old, used books, revealing new connections by slicing away segments of pages. Brian dettmers narrative sculptures from old books the work of book sculpture artist, brian dettmer, is at once overwhelming and aweinspiring. Brian dettmer the new practical reference 2018 artsy. A new exhibition of artwork by new yorkbased artist and book sculptor brian dettmer is on display at the university of mississippi museum and rowan oak through aug. Life and art brian dettmer, born in 1974, was raised in naperville, illinois.
Artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. It is recycling, but not just in the material sense. Artist brian dettmer challenges media that has been cast aside. Brian dettmer is known for his artwork that involves the alteration of information media. Dettmer knifes through books swiftly from cover to cover to reveal images that explore our relationship to information. A large body of his current work is created by altering vintage books and assembling sets of books into intricate and innovative sculptures. Brian dettmer turns books into sculptural pieces sfgate. Artist brian dettmer makes sculptures by carving books. Knownfor sculpture, altered book, found object brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist. Last weeks video was a meditation on letterpress printing and the book as a physical object. Using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, brian meticulously exposes various layers to create his mindblowing artwork. Until 2006, dettmer lived in and around chicago, where he earned a ba in fine arts.
From cantor fitzgerald gallery, haverford college, brian dettmer, the big fun book 2012, hardcover book, acrylic varnish, 10 14. Artist brian dettmer carves old books into intricate narrative sculptures read more. 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. From the watermill center benefit auction, brian dettmer, western civilizations 2016, hardcover book, acrylic varnish, 9 12. Hes also constructed sculptures from melted cassette tapes. Mark strassmann reports on dettmers vision for a vanishing form of art.
Born in chicago but currently living and working out of atlanta, georgia, contemporary artist brian dettmer creates incredible works of art with. Brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist. Brian dettmer, from the preface of art made from books. Brian dettmer is an artist that transforms books and other found objects into elaborate sculptures. Exhibit breathes new life into old books at um museum. Book art carvings by brian dettmer brian dettmer born naperville, il is a new yorkbased artist known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. After carefully selecting the source and subject for his investigations, dettmer determines the architecture of construction and aesthetics of presentation for his. Find the latest shows, biography, and artworks for sale by brian dettmer. New books of knowledge, 2009, altered books, 16 x 2612 x 10 image courtesy of the artist and packer schopf more information find this pin and more on art books, paper ii by orlff.
Sculptor brian dettmer who can turn a book into an. Presented in an unusual, tactile package with an exposed spine, this is an essential addition to the libraries of book lovers and art aficionados. Jan 30, 2019 book art by brian dettmer artist s statement the age of information in physical form is waning. What do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. Fascinating book and paper art by brian dettmer pictures. Artist makes highpriced sculptures from old books youtube.
Born in chicago but currently living and working out of atlanta, georgia, contemporary artist brian dettmer creates incredible works of art with old books and tremendous patience. May 15, 2011 atlanta artist brian dettmer creates memorable works of art by slicing, whittling and tearing into books. Nothing inside the outofdate encyclopedias, medical journals, illustration books, or dictionaries is relocated or implanted, only removed. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that. Feb 06, 2015 what do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. In his atlanta studio, dettmer transforms medical texts, art history tomes, military manuals, and more. Atlanta artist brian dettmer creates memorable works of art by slicing, whittling and tearing into books. He is noted for his alteration of preexisting mediasuch as old books, maps, record albums, and. Dettmer uses books to create sculptures and other forms of media, all without moving or. These intricately carved books are the work of artist brian dettmer. Complete and authoritative book of games by brian dettmer.
Artist uses surgical tools to carve books into stunning works. Curated by michelle tillou at the springbreak art show ny. Artist brian dettmer makes sculptures by carving books the. This is evident in the text and structure of my first artist book banana yellow and my third artist book, fortune ate me. Book surgeon uses surgical tools to make incredible book. The book surgeon brian dettmer, is an artist that creates absolutely incredible pieces of art by carving individual pages of old books mainly out of date dictionaries and encyclopaedias. New yorkbased artist brian dettmer creates impressively intricate multilayered sculptures from books. Brian is a new york based artist, born in 1974 in naperville, illinois, and for the past decade or so, he has amazed the world with his beautiful sculptural books. His exhibitions abroad is earning him increasing international reputation. Brian dettmer the american adventure 2015 available. Book sculptor brian dettmer brian dettmer sculpts the pages of old books, excavating and revealing new meaning from this old form of media. Dec 14, 2010 10 visual artists who use books as their medium. In there books, my anecdotal text becomes incorporated into structures that emphasize a stereotype of my ethnicity chinese takeout boxes and fortune cookies. Old books, cassette tapes, records and maps are the artist s medium.
Intricate book art carvings by brian dettmer artofit. Dettmer s work has a sort of vintage touch to it because he uses old books. Using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, brian dettmer carves one page at a time. Nothing inside the outofdate encyclopedias, medical. Artist brian dettmer carves old books into intricate.
On view through april 29, the show explores the transformation of everyday books into expressions of identity, community, environmentalism, memory, and reconstructed narratives. His moundstyle pieces are so rounded and polished that reference books appear to be carved wood. 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. Complete and authoritative book of games by brian dettmer i like how its cut so perfectly, it. Intricate book art carvings by brian dettmer twistedsifter. To create his works dettmer seals the object with varnish, then swiftly and deftly moves through it with an xacto knife until he comes out the other side, cutting away material to form something new. New yorkbased artist brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures from outdated materials like encyclopedias, textbooks, maps and cassette tapes. Book art by brian dettmer artist s statement the age of information in physical form is waning. Mar 26, 2012 artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. Have you seen cmas new exhibition, a way with words. Increasingly, contemporary artists have been exploring the interplay among the function, structure, and format of books.
Sep 12, 2009 americana 2009 altered encyclopedia volumes by brian dettmer 40. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new life into old books. He manipulates the pages and spines, folds, bends, rolls, and stacks multiple books to create his book sculptures. Continuing that theme, heres a ted talk from artist brian dettmer, who painstakingly carves old books. The university of mississippi museum brian dettmer. Dettmer s justification of book art that books also have the potential to continue to grow and to continue to become new things, that books really are alive, leaves us still squirming on the hook when steele asks, what happens when artists explode the scale and take books much, much larger. To create new art, brian dettmer trashes old books. A preface by pioneering artist brian dettmer and an introduction by design critic alyson kuhn round out the collection. Where other artists merely treat books as a medium to be sculpted, dettmer interacts with the text to reveal its synaptic structures and in turn, the very workings of the human brain. Artist brian dettmer digs into a good book literally, with a knife to create beautifully intricate forms that reflect how we see old information in a modern world. Brian dettmer takes materials whose original function has faded most famously books, but also maps, tapes, and other media to recontextualize new.
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. Books find new life as sculpture at the hands of brooklyn artist brian dettmer. Using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, dettmer carves one page at a time. Nov 07, 2011 book art by brian dettmer artist s statement the age of information in physical form is waning. In his work brian begin with an existing book and seals its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed potential.
At first glance, brian dettmer s work might look like collage, but its really the inverse. Brian dettmer is a prolific american artist based in atlanta. Altered, sculpted, carved, transformed heyenga, laura, dettmer, brian, kuhn, alyson on. We pull from the past to make something new, the way art always has. Mark strassmann reports on dettmer s vision for a vanishing form of art. You have javascript disabled for the best experience, please turn javascript on. 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. May 31, 2011 the 36yearold atlanta based artist has carved dozens of intricate sculptures from volumes dumped in thrift shops or at bookstores. Dettmers work has a sort of vintage touch to it because he uses old books maps, encyclopedias, textboo. Brian dettmer artist originally from chicago and now living and working in atlanta, brian dettmer is known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. By remixing, brian dettmer is making something more new, more contemporary. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer.
Continuing that theme, heres a ted talk from artist brian dettmer, who painstakingly carves old books into amazing sculptures. With x acto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer. Selective collective memories, is in the east gallery of the albany museum of art. Biography brian dettmer is known for his artwork that involves the alteration of information media. There are the pretty and surprisingly political sculptures from wallpaper sample books. Brian dettmer artwork video exhibitions bibliography collections bio cv contact 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 20 2012 2011 2010.
Brian dettmer reveals the mysteries of the mind at moca ga. I wanted to create a stack of books so that somebody could come into the gallery and think theyre just looking at a regular stack of books, but then as they got closer they would see this rough. Dissections and excavations in book art brings together the work of five mixedmedia artists from around the world who, using books as a point of departure, sculpt, scrape, bend, and carve to create astonishing compositions. Oct 31, 2008 brian dettmer has done other kinds of work, too.
Artist brian dettmer repurposes old books and media, using an exacto knife to create gorgeous narrative sculptures. Brian dettmer, also known as the book surgeon uses knives, tweezers and surgical tools to carve old dictionaries and encyclopedias into incredible works of art. Brian dettmer takes materials whose original function has. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new.
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