“Bound and Beautiful: The Art of Books.”

Original Exhibit Date: March 2014

Book Art is not regularly exhibited, especially with so many notable book artists.  Lisa Blackburn from Burnsville, NC who curated this exhibit, sought artists whose work exemplified the qualities of great bookmaking.  This exhibit will be an intimate and special look into a wide range of this lovely art form by seven artists.  Here is preview of the show.  Andrew Hayes and Margaret Couch Cogswell use books to create sculpture – one abstract, the other whimsical.  Sanibel artist, Martha Graham alters books to invite us into her world of nature.  The accordion book is a format that presents a story beautifully, as well as creates an art object.  In this exhibit Lynne Avadenka and Laura Ladendorf have created books that unfold.  Both Jessica White and Lisa Blackburn combine the literary with the visual. Blackburn’s book hangs on the wall in its own bookshelf.  White’s book is set as in a theater with the characters and story scrolling across a stage – a silent movie of sorts.  Andy Farkas creates a more traditional book – the entire book.  Farkas writes and illustrates the story, block prints the pages, makes the covers and hand-binds them into children’s book to be handed down. 

It is not only the beauty of these books that is so captivating; it is also the stories they contain.  Stories about the old West, diversity and differences, animal as teachers – stories that pull at our hearts, make us laugh and make us think.

Each book in the exhibition presents not only it’s own story, but a story about the mind and heart of the bookmaker.  At this time when books are on everything but paper, it is wonderful to hold a handmade book and touch the paper.  These are books to reread, cherish and hand down.