Book Autopsies - Coolest Art Ever!! (Dialup Warning)

[VenusRising]

These are done by Brian Dettmer. This guy is a genius. I would love to try one.

http://centripetalnotion.com/2007/09/13/13:26:26/

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear VenusRising!

What amazing works!

I am nowhere nearly dextrous enough to do something like these!

Thanks for posting these incredible works of art, sweetie!

:hug:

[VenusRising]

2. It doesn't look easy.

It might be a good way to learn patience, of which I have very little.

Good to see you, Peggy!

:hug:

[Neoma]

3. *jaw drop*

[VenusRising]

4. I know!

I would have loved to have been around the artist when that inspiration hit.

[ghostsofgiants]

5. Damn, that is brilliant.

[VenusRising]

8. You would have thought of it eventually.

;)

[ghostsofgiants]

9. Of course, I mean, I AM a total artistic genius.

:P

[VenusRising]

10. It's common knowledge.

:P

[FloridaJudy]

6. There's a Yahoo group

Devoted to this kind of art: "Altered Books". It looks fascinating, but right now I've got 2 unfinished knitting projects, 4 quilts in progress, 3 necklaces I'm working on, and a half-finished novel. Any more UFO's (UnFinished Objects) and my whole apartment will implode.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alteredbooks/

[VenusRising]

7. Thanks for the link.

I understand the UFO's. I have a baby shower cake to make for my sister's shower on Sunday, maybe then I can think of getting back to some of my other projects. I'm AWESOME at starting projects, but I SUCK when it comes to finishing them. Ah, someday. Good luck with your UFO's.

:hi:

[Gonzo Gardener]

11. Very cool... forwarding link to friends. Thanks, VR!

:hi:

[VenusRising]

12. Hey you!

Glad you enjoyed them. Hope you're doing well.

:hi:

[Gonzo Gardener]

13. Yes, quite well, my dear...

and I hope things are well with you and yours! :hug:

Green Meanies big adventure starts tomorrow!!!

Check it out here... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7824560&mesg_id=7824560

Too excited to sleep...

[mainegreen]

14. Oh wow-o.

:wow:

[My Good Babushka]

15. They're beautiful but

somehow, book mutilation still makes me cringe a little bit inside.

[yellowdogintexas]

16. think of this as book rescue. Most of those were old beat up

dictionaries and encyclopedias, or outdated textbooks of some kind that would have been headed for the burn pile somewhere, or made into doorstops

I like this usage much better.

[VenusRising]

24. That's how I think of it, too, yellowdogintexas.

Most of these books are so old and out of date that many of them are no longer relevant, but somehow turning them into this kind of art rescues them from as much worse fate.

[yellowdogintexas]

17. oh damn, I want one. Those are so cool.

I started thinking of what kind of odd weird out of date reference book I might have that could be converted.
that is really neat though

[khashka]

18. That is so cool!

Strange and beautiful.

Khash.

[Dangerously Amused]

19. OMG, that is amazingly cool!

Wow!

[El Fuego]

20. Wow. Just WOW.

That is the coolest thing!!

[RadiationTherapy]

21. That is fucking SICK and OFFENSIVE. I can't believe what passes for art these days!

I also work at a library.

[Radio_Lady]

27. I'm curious. Is your library experiencing a downturn in users?

I understand that the Internet has caused a loss of users of public libraries.

They are supposed to be in trouble nationwide due to lack of funds.

Add to that -- fuel is too expensive to go to a library. Just another expensive errand for many families.

Thanks for any comments you may care to make.

Radio Lady in Oregon

[RadiationTherapy]

30. I work at a Uni Library, so we have lots of reasons to come by.

I will say, though, that the Media/Technology area (where I work) experiences many times the traffic of where books are checked out. Book/journal/periodical use is WAY WAY down. Librarians rarely have to do much research now because google and other search engines make it so much easier to find info.

Librarian conferences speak about virtual libraries and the declining need for buildings. I think it's kind of neat.

[Radio_Lady]

32. Thanks, RadiationTherapy... for your comments.

[RadiationTherapy]

35. Glad to share with a curious audience. Have a great Oregon! nt

[Book Lover]

28. As if libraries never toss out books... (nm)

[RadiationTherapy]

31. Didn't you see my sarcasm icon?? sheesh. nt

[Book Lover]

33. Seeing as how there is no sarcasm icon in your post,

no.

[RadiationTherapy]

34. Hm. It is so weird that you can't see it; plain as day to me. nt

[Book Lover]

36. If it's truly there, my sincere apologies

Honestly, I don't see it. Sorry to jump down your throat!

[RadiationTherapy]

37. It's cool. I'll use the other one next time. nt

[RadiationTherapy]

22. Once is quite enough, thank you DU server. nt

[LeftinOH]

23. I would like to see some 'books' by the likes of Coulter, Malkin, O'Reilly,

Hannity, etc,etc.. 'autopsied' in this way -so as to reveal the gory, disgusting, hideous bile that is inside them. Now THAT would be an artistic statement I'd like to see..

[VenusRising]

25. I think that would be more like an alien autopsy.

:scared:

[Radio_Lady]

26. Art or crap? I'd be interested in knowing how much he asks for his artwork.

Conversation pieces?

Put it on a wall?

Prop on your coffee table?

Look in amazement for a few minutes and then... poof... what else?

[Book Lover]

29. Yeah, Brian's work is great

If anyone has a further interest (including a discussion that got rather heated over an artist using books to make furniture), I recommend searching in the bookarts listserv archive: http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/bookarts/