The march of democracy smithsonian american art museum. Intricate book art carvings by brian dettmer twistedsifter. Selective collective memories, is in the east gallery of the albany museum of art. He looks for text and pictures to save, and cuts away the rest. Dettmer is a leading artist working with the object of the book. Americana 2009 altered encyclopedia volumes by brian dettmer 40. Complete home handimans guide by brian dettmer book sculpture. Nov 07, 2011 book art by brian dettmer artists statement the age of information in physical form is waning. Brian dettmer albany museum of art albany museum of art. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new life into old books. Artist brian dettmer alters books to create sculpture, and he explains his process in his statement. Book surgeon uses surgical tools to make incredible book. At the exhibition hall of the foundation in cecina li, from 12 july to 14 september 2014, the exhibition brian dettmer. Using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, brian dettmer carves one page at a time.
Mar 02, 2011 which is where a little book surgery comes in handy. In his work brian begin with an existing book and seals its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed potential. On exhibit in the katz snyder gallery february march, 2012. May 31, 2011 the destruction of a book is considered by many to be an act of sacrilege. Bekijk meer ideeen over boeken, boek sculptuur en sculpturen. Brian dettmer s intricate book sculptures celebrate traditional prints tactile richness and glorious physicality.
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. Brian dettmer turns books into sculptural pieces sfgate. A preface by pioneering artist brian dettmer and an introduction by design critic alyson kuhn round out the collection. In a fascinating process of excavation, artist brian dettmer seals the edges of a book and begins cutting into its surface.
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. You will find carved wood sculptures, but not trees, turned into books, back into carved sculptures. Brian dettmer book sculptures the brooklyn refinery diy. Hand carved book sculpture by brian dettmer, book sculptor libraries of health, altered books, x x artist brian dettmer the book surgeon, using tweezers, knives and surgical tools brian dettmer carves one page at a time. To create new art, brian dettmer trashes old books. Juxtapoz magazine book sculptures by brian dettmer. Brian dettmer, also known as the book surgeon uses surgical tools to carve each page at a time creating a full proper carved artwork. Why you should listen new yorkbased artist brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures from outdated materials like encyclopedias, textbooks, maps and cassette tapes. Brian dettmer creates incredible works of art from old books. Hand carved book sculpture by brian dettmer, book sculptor 100 extraordinary examples of paper art photo brian dettmer. 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. In his atlanta studio, dettmer transforms medical texts, art history tomes, military manuals, and more.
From su blackwells whimsical popup landscapes to the stacked book sculptures of kylie stillman, each portfolio celebrates the incredible creative diversity of the medium. Oct 01, 2017 book art carving sculpture by brian dettmer. Using old volumes he finds at thrift stores and estate sales, dettmer selectively carves and excavates images and text, revealing new meanings or interpretations without adding to or moving content. Brian dettmer sculpts the pages of old books, excavating and revealing new meaning from this old form of media. When you come to think about the core idea its clever one. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and altered books. A decade of book sculpture, curated by the art director of the foundation, alessandro schiavetti, will display the best of dettmers production from 2003 to 20. Feb 28, 2011 using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, brian dettmer carves one page at a time. Apr 09, 2010 brian dettmer brian dettmer is a surgical sculptor with a penchant for the esoteric, obscure and nearobsolete.
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. Nothing inside the books is relocated or implanted, only removed. Artist brian dettmer makes sculptures by carving books. Brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist. Working with knives, tweezers and surgical tools, atlantabased artist brian dettmer carves one page of a book at a time, exposing each layer while cutting around ideas and images of interest. May 25, 2011 artist brian dettmer alters books to create sculpture, and he explains his process in his statement. Brian dettmer is a surgical sculptor with a penchant for the esoteric, obscure and nearobsolete. Artist uses surgical tools to carve books into stunning works. Brian dettmer book sculptures the brooklyn refinery. See more ideas about brian dettmer, book sculpture and book art. Find the latest shows, biography, and artworks for sale by brian dettmer. Artist brian dettmer makes sculptures by carving books the.
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. What georgiabased artist brian dettmer does to books would make any bibliophile or librarian cringe. Book art by brian dettmer artists statement the age of information in physical form is waning. What do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. Artist uses surgical tools to carve books into stunning. Moving onto bigger and better things, this chicagoborn, atlantabased artist has replaced his cassette tape art with a more novel adventure pun intended. For over ten years, he has carved and reshaped old, used books, revealing new connections by slicing away segments of pages. 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. The university of mississippi museum brian dettmer. Book sculptures by brian dettmer musetouch visual arts magazine. Sep 12, 2009 americana 2009 altered encyclopedia volumes by brian dettmer 40. Mar 26, 2012 artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. Nothing inside the outof date books is relocated or implanted, only removed book carving by brian dettmer see more.
Dettmers work has been exhibited internationally in numerous solo and group exhibitions at galleries, museums and art centers including the smothsonaian d. 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. American brian dettmer is one of a growing number of artists who has made a virtue of the redundant book. Using knives, tweezers, and surgical tools, brian meticulously exposes various layers to create his mindblowing artwork. I cut into the surface of the book and dissect through it from the front. Nothing inside the outofdate encyclopedias, medical journals, illustration books, or dictionaries is relocated. 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. Flip it share tweet pin start slideshow 17 art made from books. Brian dettmer is a new yorkbased artist known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. Brian dettmers work has been exhibited internationally at galleries, museums and private collections. Old books, cassette tapes, records and maps are the artists medium.
Part artist and part surgeon, dettmer uses knives, blades, tweezers, pliers, and custommixed adhesive to painstakingly carve threedimensional sculptures. Newer media swiftly flips forms, unrestricted by the weight of material and the responsibility of history. 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. Artist turns old books into sculptures sculpture the guardian. 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. Making and sharing are her two biggest passions, and shes created hundreds of free online diy tutorials and videos, mostly about technology and. Artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. Complete home handimans guide by brian dettmer book. See more ideas about art, brian dettmer and book sculpture.
Brian dettmer is an artist that focuses on books, mainly out of date encyclopedias, medical logs, illustration books or dictionaries. 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. New yorkbased artist brian dettmer creates impressively intricate multilayered sculptures from books. As intangible routes thrive with quicker fluidity, material and history are being lost, slipping and eroding into the ether. Nothing inside the outof date books is relocated or implanted, only removed. These brian dettmer book sculptures are absolutely mind boggling. The image and ideas that he reveals are used to expose alternate histories and memories. From cantor fitzgerald gallery, haverford college, brian dettmer, the big fun book 2012, hardcover book, acrylic varnish, 10 14. In this work i begin with an existing book and seal its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed potential. As intangible routes thrive with quicker fluidity, material and history are. These sculptures are made from old encyclopedias, a medium nearing extinction, with their pages of data carved into intricate. He painstakingly carves one page at a time, exposing each layer while preserving ideas and images of interest ideas and. Which is where a little book surgery comes in handy. American brian dettmer is one of a growing number of artists who has made a virtue of the redundant book by transforming it into a modern.
Artist brian dettmer challenges media that has been cast aside. From su blackwells whimsical popup landscapes to the stackedbook sculptures of kylie stillman, each portfolio celebrates the incredible creative diversity of the medium. Book autopsies brian dettmer carves into books revealing the artwork inside, creating complex layered threedimensional sculptures. Old books carved into intricate narrative sculptures by. He uses a takeaway process, using a skilled and patient editing artfulness, digging through layers of a books pages. Artist turns old books into sculptures sculpture the. Altered, sculpted, carved, transformed heyenga, laura, dettmer, brian, kuhn, alyson on. The hermann geiger cultural foundation has organized the first solo exhibition in italy of this american artist. Book sculptures the book surgeon pieces my modern metropolis brian dettmer brian dettmer.
A decade of book sculpture, curated by the art director of. Feb 06, 2015 with xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new life into old books. 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. Becky stern is a content creator at autodeskinstructables, and part time faculty at new yorks school of visual arts products of design grad program. But for brian dettmer slicing through the cover is an extraordinary act of creation. Fascinating is that he usually begins the carving on arbitrary pages in the volume allowing unexplored pages to reveal themselves as he moves through his process. The destruction of a book is considered by many to be an act of sacrilege. Nothing inside the outofdate encyclopedias, medical journals, illustration books. Book sculptures by brian dettmer musetouch visual arts.