Allen's medium of choice is recycled newspapers and magazines that are mixed with a slurry of reclaimed clay.He then turns these newly formed newspaper pages into pages of books, globes, mechanical components and human figures. From these four recurring elements his work is born and Allen's exploration of the "impact of information, technology, knowledge and globalization on both individual and universal levels" begins. His goal is to "recontextualize contemporary issues inspired by articles in the same recycled newspapers and magazines."In his work one can see how books form the foundation of Allen's attempt to make sense of the world.New WorldFruits...
Typography of the Flesh
According to a poll done in 2003 by Harris Interactive 16% of all adults have at least one tattoo.The younger you are the greater the chance you will have one:25 to 29 years - 36%30 to 39 years -28%If you live in the West you are 20% more likely to have tattoos andand if you are gay there is a 31% chance you have one.and for the politico's the breakdown is:Democrats 18%Republicans 14%Independents 12%You wonder if the tattooed independents will ever become a crucial swing vote?I would also tend to believe that these numbers have risen in the last 4...
Book Arts Roundup: JAB, Kiefer, Buzz, Bindings and Hidy
It is nice to see JAB (Journal of Book Arts) being published again. After a few year hiatus issue 21 has just been released. The journal is now being published by Columbia College Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts and is "Still dedicated to providing a forum for critical, theoretical, and creative engagement with artists’ books". A highlight of the new issue is Elisabeth Long's article Editioning One-of-a-Kind Multiples: Notes Toward An Understanding of Anselm Kiefer’s BooksI concur that the display of Keifer's book art (or book art as a whole) has suffered from museum curators not having the...
Bookstore Robbery Tomorrow at 9
Luckily this takes place across the street from Wessel & Lieberman Booksellers at the Central Saloon where a new band from Seattle called Bookstore Robbery will play. We will have extra security on hand.Self-described as a "shotgun marriage of power pop and alt-country for the twilight era." To hear some of their songs and watch a video visit their myspace page.Where did they get the name from?The Wes Anderson film "Bottle Rocket". The film's tagline: "They're not really criminals, but everybody's got to have a dream."The following dialog comes from the bookstore robbery scene:Digan: A bigger bag you idiot!Bookstore manager:...
The Page Curler
Cara Barer is a page curler. She also happens to be a photographer.Her Dimensions and Of Words, Paper, and Shapes series are are among the finest examples of biblio-photography.How does she find her subjects:Barer realized that she owned many books that were "no longer of use to me, or for that matter, anyone else. Would I ever need "Windows 95?" she says.What next:"As I begin the process, I first consider the contents of each volume." Thenthe books go into the "bathtub for a few hours" and emerge with "a new shape and purpose. She "uses everything from hair rollers to...