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- Artists' Books by Structure
Artists' Books / Book Arts : Artists' Books by Structure
This guide describes artworks which use the book as medium. Additional resources describe the history of this field, the different methods used to create and publish these works, as well as links showing where these books can be found at UW-Madison.
Artists' Books: Structures
Artists' books come in myriad shapes and sizes, but there are shared conventions and common elements in the book arts world. Tab through this page to see some definitions and examples of popular forms and structures in the Kohler Art Library's collection!
Accordion books are made by folding or binding the book back and forth in a zig-zag pattern to create a continuous structure that can be read as turning pages or expanded into a linear panel.
Photonic Rarefaction by Publication Date: 2021COLOPHON: "This book imagines the sonification of lightwaves in the visual spectrum as line-tuned pluck-able aluminum prongs. Naturally, the colors presented act as the converse visualization of sound waves. Color, sound, and text letterpress printed in optima on mohawk superfine at Mills College. Handle with care"
形の言葉 = Language of shape by Publication Date: 2020COLOPHON: "Language of Shape consists of two hand-bound books and one folded lithograph encased in a flat box. All the original Japanese texts and their English translations are laid out together as part of the design. The first book is printed on black Japanese paper, "Language of Shape -- N.U. Read the Snow," is a poem interlaced with the words of Japanese scientists, Nakaya Ukichiro and Terada Torahiko. "Snowflakes are letters sent from the sky," said Nakaya, who dedicated his research to the relationship between mid-air weather conditions and the shape of snow crystals. On the back pages of the poem are lithographs of sodium sulfate crystals that I grew myself, photographed, arranged as "type," and then printed in silver ink. While they are reminiscent of Nakaya's "letters from the sky," they may also suggest the existence of numerous undiscovered languages and their precious messages in the world. Each reed-shaped page is folded in three measures 90 cm long and unfolds vertically. The pages are fixed to an accordion pleat (like a concertina binding) with thinly cut Japanese paper. As different folded edges are bound to the pleat, each spread opens with a different number of pages towards the top and bottom, changing the format of the book as the reader goes through it. "
This way...that way...lost in a pandemic by Publication Date: 2020
- Aura: A Poem byPublication Date: 1977
The Mollusk by Publication Date: 2018Produced as a variable edition, this sculptural artist's book is designed and made entirely of handmade paper by the artist. The shell serves as a "cover" and was produced using a paper lamination technique with abaca paper and hand processed kozo bark lace. Inside the shell between the layers of translucent "mantel" pages, pulp printed on flax paper, are the "gills", made of kozo paper." Referencing Atrina rigida, an elusive species of pen shell found in Florida's shallow coastal waters, this sculptural artist book is intended to be held and read as a celebration of nature and a humble reminder of our own fragile connection with one another. --Artist's statement printed inside box.
Childhood Memories: When I Was Three by Publication Date: 1995Doll-like structure (sans head) of handmade papers that form a blouse and a skirt out of wood fiber with text around hems of both. Pieces attached by braided fiber ropes. Includes stitching on the blouse and a photograph of the artist as a young girl in the skirt.
Drawings in a Nutshell by Publication Date: 1998Bound by the artist: in a walnut, halved and re-hinged with pale brown satin ribbon. Book is 18 oval-shaped leaves, each about 1 x 7/8 inches. Each leaf has an original hand-colored lithograph of a variety of nuts, i.e. pine nut, almond, filbert, etc. Each page is labeled in pencil by the artist; housed in a burlap bag labeled “NUTS” with other real nuts, i.e. peanut, almond, acorn, chestnut, etc. The nuts are rendered in neutral shades except for the green pistachio.
Things I'll Miss by Publication Date: 2022COLOPHON: "Things I'll Miss."
"A jewelry box of blessings created from recycled materials. Box containing paper moon, quilt, sweater sleeve, mini-pillow, papier maché fig. Media: Cloth, thread, ink, paper."--Artist's website.
Fire: Investigations: The Four Elements by Publication Date: 19895 groups of 4 equilateral triangular leaves, illustrated colored drawings on both sides and hinged together. Each unit can form individual tetrahedrons. Each set of leaves can be attached using brass wire pins to form hinges. When all pieces are assembled it will form an icosahedron (20 sided) shape. Leaves and wires enclosed in a triangular ornamented box that rests on a base. No instructions for assembly.
Metamorphosis III by Publication Date: 2018Artist's statement: "In the Metamorphoses series, I am focusing on Islamic art and design. I want to reveal how patterns develop and morph in a book that makes the viewer experience their beauty, elegance, harmony, intricacy, and complexity. 'Metamorphoses 4' represents a square that morphs into a star. The patterns in the book are combined, duplicated, interlaced, and arranged in multiple combinations that are precise, beautiful and symbolic."
A Beginning and an End = Un Comienzo y un Final by Publication Date: 2009Accordion-folded sheet, with etching and sewn thread on both sides, with separate English and Spanish text blocks, in a brown decorated wrapper closed with a heart-shaped clasp.
Buck Moon by Publication Date: 2016Vessel: pounded kozo; Book: Kozo bark lace and milkweed paper; Irish wax linen thread, pamphlet stitch binding.
Ink Story by Publication Date: 2016"Original story/poem by Laura Komai.
Structure: accordion book with black wraparound cover. sewn pages, silk ribbon closure (not attached to book) materials: Arches paper, watercolor, sumi ink, walnut ink, water soluble crayon, charcoal pencil, pencil, ink, thread.
Components created in a workshop at Whispering Woodlands in Verona, Wisconsin, taught by Pamela Paulsrud. Single large book spun off an edition of 6 2" x 2" books, of which this is one." -- email from artist
Tunnel books are objects that use their binding structure to create a window into some internal scene that conveys depth and perspective. They are often (but not always!) also accordion books, using the technique of paper folding in on itself to create the framed structure.
Tunnel Map by Publication Date: 1988This tunnel book is in the shape of a circle which has been printed to resemble a globe of the world. The pages of the book are attached with tabs at both sides of each page with a small accordion structure allowing the book to expand. Cover has a 3 cm hole which serves as a spy hole. The view through the hole shows a layered landscape made by cutting through successive layers of pages that comprise a diorama when the pages are fully extended.
Amor by Publication Date: 2018COLOPHON: "A miniature book where Amor can be found at the end of the tunnel. Designed from photos taken by the artist of ceramic plates in Deruda, Italy."
Inversions by Publication Date: 2000"(IN)VERSIONS is a collaborative bookwork which combines drawings by David Turner with monoprint & collage elements by Julie Chen. The pages were printed on a Xerox DocuColor 40 and then cut using a Universal Systems laser cutter. This book was partially produced in a digital book arts lab at the San Jose Tech Museum as part of an exhibition entitled EXPERIMENTS IN THE FUTURE OF READING. This exhibition was designed and produced by the research group RED at Xerox PARC and took place during the Spring and Summer of 2000. There are 30 copies in this edition."
Moonstone Tunnel Book by Publication Date: 2017"Exhibited at Overture Center. Bezel set moonstone in silver. Covers are copper. Coptic stitch binding. Artist original paper design."--Artist's accompanying card. Exhibited at the Bone Folders' Guild exhibit "15", held in 2017 at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin.
Interior Horizons by Publication Date: 1989COLOPHON: "This book was designed, printed, and bound by Elizabeth McDevitt in an edition of twelve copies."
Unsigned. Unnumbered copy from an edition of 12.
Tunnel book with image of the ocean and cut-outs in the shape of windows.
The pamphlet stitch is a simple method of joining folios of paper into a single signature (from which we get the term "pamphlet"). It involves nesting the folios into one another and sewing them along the fold.
Oabecedarium by Publication Date: 1980COLOPHON: "This vast well of information was completed in early May of 1980 under the scholarly guidance and nimble wit of Walter Hamady. Spectrum type was used throughout on Kitikata, Sekishu, and Rives papers. Covers were handmade by the printer and the amazing Walter Tisdale. In an edition of 25 this is number 12."
I Exist by Publication Date: 2000"The book, I Exist, was conceived during a year I spent in Poland. It is contemplation on one’s identity and existence, transience and repetitive elements in life. Multiplied silhouettes are combined with handwritten words, drawings, leaves and ephemera found in Warsaw, and texts are a fragmented resume and lists of my artist’s books." -- Beata Wehr
8t Bags About the Natural World by Publication Date: 2022COLOPHON: "Eight quotations from eight tea bags amidst eighty 'Bags' set in eighty fonts, annotated for reference in the forthcoming title, Just My Type: Specimens from The Type Store at Der Klubhaus."
"The hand set type is primarily genuine ATF Century Expanded, Oldstyle, and Schoolbook, but also includes every last font of the type inventory held by The Heavy Duty Press as of January 2022. Printed silently with Spiffy the Vandercook SP 15 on Kitakata paper and bound by hand with a pamphlet stitch, tucked into Bugra covers, and slipped into muslin tea bags screen printed by The Factory in Milwaukee, Wisconsin"--Publisher's description.
The Great Lakes of North America by Publication Date: 2012COLOPHON: "Made during a residency at the Women's Studio Workshop THE GREAT LAKES OF NORTH AMERICA is printed on Revere Suede paper with covers made from Fabriano Elle Erre. The images are screen prints, polymer relief and wood block printed on a #3 Vandercook letterpress. The making of this book was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Windgate Charitable foundation."
"Exploring geography, cartography, history, and travel, The Great Lakes of North America is a visual examination of the Great Lakes region. Using layers of color reminiscent of a 1960's school textbook, maps of the Lakes are rearranged and layered with routes traveled by French explorers, freight ships, and the artist's own family."--Women's Studio Workshop website
For a more expansive illustrated list of terms, visit Printed Matter, Inc.'s printing and binding glossary.