Book Arts and Photography

Type direction on spine of books

Ever notice that the title of some books are printed top down while a few are printed from the bottom up. A scholar may know the exact reason. I often find that spines printed from the bottom up were published outside of the United States. Not sure if other countries print titles in the same direction, but often the bottom up text was printed in Europe. I was looking for some typography books today and noticed the spine of Type Image Symbol a wonderful book by Adrian Frutiger

It is off the wall!

Faculty Associate and UW-Madison alumni Michael Velliquette’s exhibition at Edgewood College Art Gallery literally jumps off the wall. His cut paper assemblages are paired with text by Quan Barry. If you were unable to visit the exhibit when it was installed, take a moment to see photos of the Loose Strife exhibition at this link.

Loose Strife. An exhibition at The Stream, Edgewood College Gallery. Art work by Michael Velliquette. Text by Quan Barry. (Jim Escalante Photography)

Bubble Wrap

How can bubble wrap be used to build a book?
If you were to make a book out of bubble wrap, how would you use it? What should it hold? The example above was created in the Art 446 Artists’ Book class by Alexandrea Port. Books seldom make sound,but this one certainly can. Books can hold and protect beliefs, but what can should this book hold or protect? Please make a book with bubble wrap and share the result!

Sewing on Tapes

Clicking on the photo above will take you to a gallery of photos showing a range of sewing on tape book projects. Click here to can see more work by Sarah Noreen Hurtt a 2010 MFA grad.

Ruby Red Coptic Yum Yum

Never underestimate the potential for discovering new materials for making books. As it turns out, Sarah Crossland proves that sometimes the book is
ACTUALLY as good, or in this case, as yummy as the cover!
The coptic binding stitch is a versatile and fun way to sew books. You can watch a video at this link. However, in the video I demonstrate how to sew a book using standard thread and paper. Sarah will need to produce the video on making rice crispy bars and sewing with red ruby rope candy.

Marvel House by Katie Garth

Katie Garth and three of her fellow students installed Marvel House, a week-long exhibition too explore the brilliance, allure, and ethical complexities of the circus world and imagines the gallery as spectacle.

Four local artists and the Project Lodge present: Marvel House. This week-long exhibition explores the brilliance, allure, and ethical complexities of the circus world and imagines the gallery as spectacle.The artist show works of a variety of media, including drawings, paintings, prints, and installations. The exhibition will run from September 22-29.

Barbara Landes class visit

Barbara Landes shared books that she created last year when she studied at the University of Iowa. Barbara’s books  illustrate many uses for the concertina fold. Our next assignment will include a concertina. For detailed instructions visit this link.