The sculpted books of american artist brian dettmer are beautiful and, at the same time, provocative. From professional artists to happy amateurs weve covered it all in this section. 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. Artist brian dettmer carves old books into intricate. 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. Until 2006, dettmer lived in and around chicago, where he earned a ba in fine arts. Why you should listen new yorkbased artist brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures from outdated materials like encyclopedias, textbooks, maps and cassette tapes.
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. Atlantabased artist brian dettmer creates marvelous sculptures by performing surgery on books. Using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, brian meticulously exposes various layers to create his mindblowing artwork. Brian dettmer artist art for sale biography, past and. Dettmer often selects books with images as well as text, which gives his book art an extra dimension of imagery. Tedtalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks. 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. Some artists make it happen by turning old books, dictionaries and encyclopedias into admirable sculptures. Art can be serious and mindbending, but it can also be lighthearted and simply pretty. Atlanta artist brian dettmer creates memorable works of art by slicing, whittling and tearing into books. Dettmer s 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.
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. In this work i begin with an existing book and seal its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed potential. Check out his ted talk about what he does and why he does it. Oct 14, 2016 explore amazing book carvings, 3d book installations, and book towers created by brian dettmer. Brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist. Artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. Book page art artist and designer susan benarcik uses her many talents to create sculpture, installations, textiles, and more. Carving old books into works of art studio 360 wnyc.
The paper is cut in a way that reveals unusal connections between words and images, otherwise, pages apart. Artist brian dettmer repurposes old books and media, using an exacto knife to create gorgeous narrative sculptures. The art of kim dettmer, handcrafted pieces created to bring a little bit of happiness into the world. Altered books by brian dettmer art decoration design. Brian dettmer is a surgical sculptor with a penchant for the esoteric, obscure and nearobsolete. His name is brian dettmer, and he creates wickedly awesome sculptures out of old books.
As intangible routes thrive with quicker fluidity, material and history are being lost, slipping and eroding into the ether. 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. Dettmers booksculptures profound in meaning and impact. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer ma. Find the latest shows, biography, and artworks for sale by brian dettmer. Brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures out of old reference 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. Curated by karen ann myers, assistant director of the halsey institute, rebound brings together the work of five mixedmedia artists from around the world who, using books. These intricately carved books are the work of artist brian dettmer.
Intricate book art carvings by brian dettmer twistedsifter. He first determines the presentation, engineering and construction of his altered book or books. Aug 30, 2012 dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist. Sculptor brian dettmer who can turn a book into an. Artist brian dettmer makes sculptures by carving books. Brian dettmer book sculpture, brian dettmer, book art. 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. Last weeks video was a meditation on letterpress printing and the book as a physical object. Artist carves vintage books into astoundingly intricate 3d. In his atlanta studio, dettmer transforms medical texts, art history tomes, military manuals, and more. Altered, sculpted, carved, transformed a compendium of extraordinary artworks from the around the world. In fact, the real joy of this book comes from discovering how each individual starts with the same item and yet ends up with vastly different works of art. The artist makes use of old books like out of date encyclopedias, medical journals, illustration books and dictionaries. Brian dettmer carefully selects and sifts through stacks of old books to uncover the perfect source and subject for his cultural archaeological explorations and sculptural possibilities.
So hes turning them into works of art instead, carving away at the. Brian dettmer is known for his artwork that involves the alteration of information media. Knownfor sculpture, altered book, found object brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist. See the brilliant book sculpture artists who create incredible sculptures and works of art. Artist brian dettmer in an exclusive interview with blaze reporter zaheer cassim, answered questions posed by blaze viewers. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new. Sep 25, 2014 the photograph gallery wagnalls wheel, 2010, altered set of encyclopedias what brian dettmer does with books is thoughtsblowing. Artist brian dettmer answers your questions youtube.
And with so many mediums included, you are sure to find the art form of your liking here easily. Artist uses surgical tools to carve books into stunning. Old books reborn as art what do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. Participate in developing a biography for ann dettmer. 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. 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. Ive always thought that it would be wonderful to give old books a second life. Sep 06, 2015 brian dettmer a decade of book sculpture canalehastavideo. Artists not classified as american in our database may have limited biographical data compared to the extensive information about american artists. Old books, records, tapes, maps, and other media frequently fall into a realm that too much of todays art occupies. Susan benarcik creates beautiful sculptures out of recycled paper. The pieces concern the changing role of physical objects in the information age.
Artist brian dettmer carves old books into intricate narrative sculptures. Discover interesting facts about brian dettmer on artnet. Based in new york, he is one of the most influential artists working with books and paper. 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. Any time that we share old book crafts, we get at least a couple of comments from folks calling shenanigans. Mark strassmann reports on dettmer s vision for a vanishing form of art. At first glance, brian dettmer s work might look like collage, but its really the inverse. Brian dettmer turns books into sculptural pieces sfgate. Book surgeon uses surgical tools to make incredible book.
Artist turns old books into sculptures art and design. Brian dettmer employs books in a variety of creative ways in order to express a vision that goes beyond mere words alone. What georgiabased artist brian dettmer does to books would make any bibliophile or librarian cringe. From su blackwells whimsical popup landscapes to the stacked book sculptures of kylie stillman, each portfolio celebrates the incredible creative diversity of the medium. I found a few amazing examples of book sculptures, so i invite you to share the pictures of amazing book art as well. Brian dettmer, a new yorkbased artist known as the book surgeon, uses tweezers, knives, scalpels and. Newer media swiftly flips forms, unrestricted by the weight of material and the responsibility of history. Atlantabased artist brian dettmer, however, chisels his art from books. In 2014, brian dettmer was the subject of a ten year retrospective at the hermann geiger foundation in cecina, italy. Artist brian dettmer carves old books into intricate narrative sculptures brian dettmer inhabitat sustainable design innovation, eco architecture, green building. Artist makes highpriced sculptures from old books youtube. 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.
With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new life into old books. 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. Such an interesting way to transform a familiar material 4 posts published by jkimjimin during april 2010 april 2010 reality check, jk. American artist brian dettmer uses older dictionaries, encyclopedias.
Ann dettmer artist, fine art prices, auction records for. For a better experience, we recommend that you enable javascript. I cut into the surface of the book and dissect through it from the front. Post the most beautiful examples of book sculptures. If youre a fan of book art, you probably know the works of brian dettmer.
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. It looks like theres an issue with javascript in your browser. Altered, sculpted, carved, transformed heyenga, laura, dettmer, brian, kuhn, alyson on. After carefully selecting the source and subject for his investigations, dettmer determines the architecture of construction and aesthetics of presentation for his. 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 atlanta, ga artist featured sculptors. Old books, cassette tapes, records and maps are the artists medium. Old books are transformed into amazing sculptures by brian dettmer. 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.
Artist brian dettmer carves old books into intricate narrative sculptures artist brian dettmer challenges media that has been cast aside. Nov 07, 2011 book art by brian dettmer artists statement the age of information in physical form is waning. Oct 23, 2014 like most of us, artist brian dettmer doesnt have much practical use for oldschool dictionaries, encyclopedias and atlases. Dettmers book art calls attention to the fact that we dont need to. The university of mississippi museum brian dettmer. Brian dettmer is one of the leading artists working with the book today.
Brian dettmer, tab book sculpture, book art, amazing art. New yorkbased artist brian dettmer creates impressively intricate multilayered sculptures from books. Feb, 2015 totem courtesy of the artist and mito gallery. Artist brian dettmer challenges media that has been cast aside. Brain pickings has a free sunday digest of the weeks most interesting and inspiring articles across art, science, philosophy, creativity, childrens books, and other strands of our search for truth, beauty, and meaning. In his work brian begin with an existing book and seals its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed potential. As we continue to trek toward an era solely dependent on digital content if we already havent, we begin to lose sight of where its emotional original source came from. 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. For new books of knowledge 2009 dettmer reveals geographic images to show this encyclopedia as a landscape. Artist brian dettmer sculpts books into works of art, such as this the household physicians. 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. He is noted for his alteration of preexisting media such as old books, maps, record albums, and cassette tapes to create transformed works of visual fine art. Fascinating book and paper art by brian dettmer pictures.
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. Continuing that theme, heres a ted talk from artist brian dettmer, who painstakingly carves old books into amazing sculptures. Life and art brian dettmer, born in 1974, was raised in naperville, illinois. A work of surgery and, also, archeology, that releases messages and meanings hidden behind the pages of a book. He starts carving at a book, and while elements mayco the intricate web of knowledge we expect books to have kind of stays on in the sculptures of artist brian dettmer. When an objects intended function is fleeting, the necessity for a new approach to its form and content arises. Artist carves books into intricate sculptures book. Some amazing book sculptures by artist brian dettmer. Nov 20, 2012 brian dettmer creates detailed sculptures out of books. He has a show opening april 3 at chicagos packer schopf gallery.
Brian dettmer book sculpture, book art, altered book art. Brian dettmer turns old reference books into works of art. New yorkbased artist brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures from outdated materials like encyclopedias, textbooks, maps and cassette tapes. Evans, mito, destroy your books, march 3, 2011 reproductions. Artist brian dettmer is using old books to create beautiful art. Known for sculpture, altered book, found object brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist. Dettmers book sculptures can feel like a prophecy of doom the end of literacy. Crafting with old books is controversial in the upcycling world. Craft futures features forty artists born since 1972, the year the smithsonian american art museums contemporary craft and decorative arts program was established at its branch museum, the renwick gallery. For over ten years, he has carved and reshaped old, used books, revealing new connections by slicing away segments of pages.
Dettmer, who has exhibited extensively, usually works on several sculptures at once and spends up to 50 hours in his studio every week. Mar 03, 2011 these brian dettmer book sculptures are absolutely mind boggling. Feb 06, 2015 what do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. Four brilliant book sculpture artists and their most mesmerizing. In a digitized, ipadwielding world what good are physical books anymore.
Jan 17, 20 artist carves vintage books into astoundingly intricate 3d sculptures guy laramees work speaks to the erosion of cultures and our overreliance on analytical knowledge, symbolized by the book. 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. Image detail for repurposing books recycle art carving sculpture turning old books into. Brian dettmer is a contemporary american artist, well known for his altered. Artist brian dettmer alters books to create sculpture, and he explains his process in his statement. A preface by pioneering artist brian dettmer and an introduction by design critic alyson kuhn round out the collection. Old books, cassette tapes, records and maps are the artist.
In the book s preface by artist brian dettmer, he speaks of his joy in cutting around a landscape in an old book and finding another image emerge a few pages down. What do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. Curated by michelle tillou at the springbreak art show ny. Fortunately, dettmers booksculptures resonate as individual beacons to a past medium we should never ever discard. Moving onto bigger and better things, this chicagoborn, atlantabased artist has replaced his cassette tape art with a more novel adventure pun intended. Artwork by brian dettmer born in chicago but currently living and working out of atlanta, georgia, contemporary artist brian dettmer.
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