I’m not an artist. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. But I’m helping out my neighbor who IS an artist (and a med student – and a mother of two – and a home owner – and a writer – I feel supremely underachieving when I think about it); I’m helping her out with an installation at the Health Sciences Library in June. It involves folded page art, or book origami, or altered books, or whatever you want to call it, and I’m kind of hooked.
Moreover, I think it’s a perfect fit for libraries everywhere. Time to weed? Don’t dump those books…make ‘em into sculpture! Get a program going: offer a folded page art class, then decorate the library with the results! Even better, SELL the results to benefit the library!
Folded books can be quite elaborate and beautiful. Mine are not so elaborate. And not so beautiful. But the pros are AWESOME! Check this out: Nicholas Jones, Book Sculptor. And look at this one: L. Moroni. And how about this: Brian Dettmer. And Georgia Russell.
Pretty stunning, huh? I’m a beginner, so don’t laugh at me. Here are some I did, and since I’m obsessed with the idea that folded page art can save the library world by making a gazillion dollars and turning libraries into vibrant centers of world class art overnight, I decided to name mine after different kinds of librarians. So here you go:
PUBLIC LIBRARIAN (WOUND WAY TOO TIGHT.)
CHILDREN’S LIBRARIAN (ALL STAINED AND DISHEVELED.)
CORPORATE LIBRARIAN (ALL TUCKED IN AND TIDY. BUSINESS STILETTOS OPTIONAL.)
HIPSTER CYBRARIAN (SPIKY.)
SCHOOL MEDIA SPECIALIST (ALL SOFT AND CUDDLY-LOOKING, THEN WHAM! YOU’RE IN DETENTION.)
ACADEMIC LIBRARIAN (LOOPY. LIKE ACADEMICS EVERYWHERE.)
Next project: Sculpting a Kindle and Altering a Nook. Get out a screwdriver and maybe a hammer. Some Gorilla Glue would be nice. Or duct tape. Duct tape will work.
