Brian dettmer creates sculpture by surgically removing bits of pages from books. Dec 19, 2010 new worlds to conquer, brian dettmers solo show at saltworks, is as multilayered conceptually as the carved books of which it is composed are materially. The pieces concern the changing role of physical objects in the information age. Book surgeon uses surgical tools to make incredible book. Dettmer has carved up and layered the volumes of a vintage. Brian dettmer turns books into sculptural pieces sfgate. Invaluable is the worlds largest marketplace for art, antiques, and collectibles. Altered, sculpted, carved, transformed by alyson kuhn and brian dettmer a guide to the art form of excavating books to make artworks. Old books dissected to create intricate 3d carvings.
My next step is to set the form and seal the pages so that the book is a sold material that can only be opened or revealed with a knife through the face. Mark strassmann reports on dettmers vision for a vanishing form of art. Curated by michelle tillou at the springbreak art show ny. Old books carved into intricate narrative sculptures by brian. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that breathe new life into old books. For over ten years, he has carved and reshaped old, used books, revealing new connections by slicing away segments of pages. Intricate book art carvings by brian dettmer artofit. Mar 05, 2012 carved books by brian dettmer dettmer is originally from chicago. Dettmer uses knives, tweezers, surgical instruments and. Buy online, view images and see past prices for brian dettmer, contemporary carved book sculpture. Altered, sculpted, carved, transformed heyenga, laura, dettmer, brian, kuhn, alyson on. May 31, 2011 but for brian dettmer slicing through the cover is an extraordinary act of creation. Brian dettmer takes materials whose original function has faded most famously books, but also maps, tapes, and other media to recontextualize new or overlooked meanings within the object itself.
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. His work has been exhibited internationally in galleries, museums, and art centers and has gained international acclaim through internet bloggers and traditional media. The university of mississippi museum brian dettmer. Old books, cassette tapes, records and maps are the artists medium. Aug 26, 2011 we found one ohiobased company that claims to destroy 90 tons of unwanted books every day. With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer. But for brian dettmer slicing through the cover is an extraordinary act of creation. 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. Brian dettmer narrative book sculptures inhabitat green. 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. The artist calls himself the book surgeon because he. Part artist and part surgeon, dettmer uses knives, blades, tweezers, pliers, and custommixed adhesive to painstakingly carve threedimensional sculptures.
Books take on a whole new life in laura heyengas anthology of groundbreaking artists whove stitched, sliced, cut and carved bound literature to create anything from an intricate chess set to a huge area rug to a literary jewelry collection. Despite the individual and exclusive perspective of each artist, there are remarkable connections in the themes and ideas they respectively mourn and celebrate. He is noted for his alteration of preexisting mediasuch as old books, maps, record albums, and cassette tapesto create new. Intricate book art carvings by brian dettmer twistedsifter. See more ideas about brian dettmer, book sculpture and book art.
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. Using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, brian dettmer carves one page at a time. New yorkbased artist brian dettmer carves intricate sculptures from outdated materials like encyclopedias, textbooks, maps and cassette tapes. The artists use recycled or discarded booksthat otherwise would end up in landfills. 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. With x acto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer. A conversation with brian dettmer by helena celdran brian dettmer. His moundstyle pieces are so rounded and polished that reference books appear to be carved wood. We found one ohiobased company that claims to destroy 90 tons of unwanted books every day. Brian dettmer artists around the world have lately been turning to their bookshelves for more than just a good read, opting to cut, paint, carve, stitch or otherwise transform the printed page into whole new. Intricate book art carvings by brian dettmer artwork by brian dettmer 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. Brian dettmer is a surgical sculptor with a penchant for the esoteric, obscure and nearobsolete.
Originally from chicago and now living and working in atlanta, brian dettmer is known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. New worlds to conquer, brian dettmers solo show at saltworks, is as multilayered conceptually as the carved books of which it is composed are materially. When you come to think about the core idea its clever one. Book art by brian dettmer artists statement the age of information in physical form is waning. May 15, 2011 atlanta artist brian dettmer creates memorable works of art by slicing, whittling and tearing into books. Whereas laramee reshapes them into landscapes, dettmer manipulates the words and images on the pages to make them part of the work. To create new art, sculptor brian dettmer cuts up old books. Feb, 2015 to create new art, brian dettmer trashes old books. Nov 20, 2012 brian dettmer creates detailed sculptures out of books. From beautiful and detailed landscapes carved into the edges of books to a.
The 36yearold atlanta based artist has carved dozens of intricate sculptures from volumes dumped in charity. Newer media swiftly flips forms, unrestricted by the weight of material and the responsibility of history. Mar 01, 2017 naperville native brian dettmer, the book surgeon, will exhibit his sculptures carved from books through april 28 at aurora university. That, of course, would be a lot of books to carve into beautiful artistic creations. Brian dettmer, based in atlanta, sculpts books into works of art as well. Using surgical tools such as knives and tweezers, dettmer carves each volume into a sculpture that is both visually arresting and substantively.
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. So the best way to approach it is by a short tour of the surface, followed by the depths. Brian dettmer is known for his detailed and innovative sculptures with books and other forms of antiquated media. Dettmers creations are sculpted from objects such as vinyl records, cassette tapes and, predominantly, books, stripping them of their original function and. There are the pretty and surprisingly political sculptures from wallpaper sample books. Some are carved, this is a gorgeous book to explore. Using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, brian meticulously exposes various layers to cre. Naperville native brian dettmer, the book surgeon, will exhibit his sculptures carved from books through april 28 at aurora university. I always begin with a book that i know will work for the ideas i have. Sculptor brian dettmer who can turn a book into an.
Mar 26, 2012 artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. Nov 07, 2011 intricate book art carvings by brian dettmer artwork by brian dettmer 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. What do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age. Brian dettmer is an artist that focuses on books, mainly out of date encyclopedias, medical logs, illustration books or dictionaries. Artist brian dettmer challenges media that has been cast aside.
With xacto knives and an eye for a good remix, artist brian dettmer makes beautiful, unexpected sculptures that. But no one whose work i have seen tops that of atlanta artist brian dettmer at. New yorkbased artist brian dettmer creates impressively intricate multilayered sculptures from books. Atlanta artist brian dettmer creates memorable works of art by slicing, whittling and tearing into books. Brian dettmer born 1974 is an american contemporary artist. Artwork by brian dettmer 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. 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. Sep 12, 2009 brian dettmer turns books into sculptural pieces. Artist brian dettmer approaches books with knives, tweezers, and bladesharp ideas about the meanings of media and information. See more ideas about book sculpture, book art and art. Oct 31, 2008 brian dettmer has done other kinds of work, too.
As intangible routes thrive with quicker fluidity, material and history are being lost, slipping and eroding into the ether. Brian dettmer digs deep in altered books at saltworks. The book as an art form artists books libguides at the. From beautiful and detailed landscapes carved into the edges of books to a spiraling tower of babel built 80 feet high. Carved books by brian dettmer dettmer is originally from chicago. To create new art, brian dettmer trashes old books. Art made from books brims with charming, pure art, created by hands and tools. 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. Bought from trash collectors or collected directly from the streets, the books and magazines are first carved with a band or chain saw and then with a.
Nothing inside the outofdate encyclopedias, medical. Altered, sculpted, carved, transformed kindle edition by kuhn, alyson, dettmer, brian, heyenga, laura, dettmer, brian. Artist uses surgical tools to carve books into stunning works of. Doug beube, longbin chen, brian dettmer, guy laramee, and francesca pastine transform various types of literature andor printed books through sculptural intervention. Intercepted by gravitation more carved books by brian dettmer.
New funk standards carved books with amazing details. Book art that will melt your brain brian dettmer aka the book surgeon. Jan 30, 2019 artwork by brian dettmer 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. Brian dettmer creates detailed sculptures out of 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. Hes also constructed sculptures from melted cassette tapes. Brian dettmer book sculptures the brooklyn refinery diy. Feb 06, 2015 what do you do with an outdated encyclopedia in the information age.
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