Brian Dettmer, book sculpture

both creepy and cool. Initially I was a bit uncomfortable by the autopsy-like feel when I looked at his work. (I look away at any TV show doing one.) The more I looked, the more I liked it. And in this age of the kindle I love the thought of books being repurposed that would have been tossed out.

Explanation of Process In this work I begin with an existing book and seal its edges, creating an enclosed vessel full of unearthed potential. I cut into the surface of the book and dissect through it from the front. I work with knives, tweezers and surgical tools to carve one page at a time, exposing each layer while cutting around ideas and images of interest. Nothing inside the books is relocated or implanted, only removed. Images and ideas are revealed to expose alternate histories and memories. My work is a collaboration with the existing material and its past creators and the completed pieces expose new relationships of the book’s internal elements exactly where they have been since their original conception.

(Thanks Lois!)