Jonathan Callan

Jonathan Callan is a London based sculptor and installation artist. He received his BA from Goldsmith College of Art and HDFA (Higher Diploma in Fine Art) from Slade School of Fine Arts in sculpture. Below are images of his work from the Josée Bienvenu Gallery and Designboom websites.

Seven Volumes 2009, Paper

The Defrauder 2006, Paper and screws

 

Detail

For Stuart Callan 1962-2005, Paper and screws

One Half of the World in 1946 2009, Plaster and paper

Man Alive 2008, Paper

Mass 2003, Silicone rubber and paper

Doug Beube

Doug Beube is a mixed-media artist who works in book arts, collage, sculpture, photography, and installation. He is also an independent curator and teaches at Parsons The New School. He received is BFA in Film at York University in Toronto and his MFA in Photography, Visual Studies Workshop, Rochester, conferred by State University of New York. Originally from Toronto, he resides in Fort Greene, Brookyn. The following are images and details of his work taken from his website.

Re-Breaking the Codex 2012, altered book, box, collage, wooden stand, 12" x 12" x 3".

Dis/connecting Old Glory 2011, altered book, collage, gouache, ink, graphite, dyed zippers 9.5" x 19" x 1".

Disaster series: Twisted Borough 2009, altered phone book, 14" x 15" x 5".

Pocket Book, 1992, altered book, leather, zipper, 8 5/8" x 13" x 9".

Vest for the New World 2008, altered Encyclopedia, wire, wax, metal, vinyl, 21" x 20" x 5".

Special Collections Field Trip

On February 26th, the class and I had a special trip to the UC Davis Shields Library, Special Collections. John Sherlock, Rare Book and Special Collections Librarian, brought out a selection of artist books from their collection for us to look!

The books were displayed on all the tables for us to open and look through.

John Sherlock, Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian, speaking to the class about the artists book collection.

 

One of the oldest books in Special Collections. Approximately 600 years old!

In the following photo, John Sherlock presents a collaborative book art by two people. The author is Ursula K. Le Guin. The illustrations and wood work are done by Aaron Johnson. The edition is called Direction of the Road.

The students enjoyed this rare treat to look and flip through the pages of the books. Student, Amy Newton, reading one of the artists books.

Book Artist, Julie Chen's Panorama.

Book Arts Field Trip!

On February 12th we took our entire Artist Book class to the city to see the San Francisco Center for the Book and the annual Codex International Fair. The day was absolutely beautiful and the trip was beyond inspirational.

Below are some images of SFCB and parts of the Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here exhibition.

Additional information on Al-Mutanabbi Street Broadside Project can be found on this link.

Students viewing the Al-Mutanabbi Street exhibit at SFCB.

Pile of Bricks by Catherine Cartwright, 2011 One medium-density fiberboard version and two paper versions. Box measures 19x30x10cm and contains seven bricks of 28x16cm.

Evidence Vol. 48, 6134, 27, 537, 1129 by Ania Gilmore and Annie Zeybekoglu, 2011. Al-Mutanabbi poems, found Arabic text, Ash, wax, graphite, black thread, book board, image transfer, waxed linen. 6.5"x9.5"x2.5". Edition of five.

A Thousand Words by Derek Michael Besant, 2012. Accordion book in plastic sleeve. Printed in ultraviolet ink transfer on Mayfair cover stock; 8"x10", expanding to 8' when opened. Twelve pages.

Photos of the facilities:

With the students.

After SFCB we immediately crossed the Bay Bridge to visit the 2013 Codex International Book Fair. It was my very first time experiencing the fair and it was housed in the beautiful Craneway Pavilion in Richmond.

Image of Craneway Pavilion taken from the Codex website.

There were over 156 tables of vendors and artists! It was amazing. I was so busy looking that I forgot to take photos. But imprinted in my memory is meeting book artist Julie Chen and seeing Mark Dimunation, Chief of the Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress. I am looking forward to attending next year.

Image of the tables at Codex Book Fair taken from the Codex website.

Student Work

Below are a few images of student work this quarter in the Artist Book course at UC Davis. For this first project assignment they were asked to use a coffee can as a catalyst for their edition of one book. They were not expected to retell a story nor were limited to the content. And they were to reflect on what they define as a book.

This was the can that was given to all the students on the first day of class.

Work by Evka Whaley-Mayda using beeswax, wood, and a collection of organic matter.

Work by Bryan Ramirez-Corona using book board, paper, ink, and dyed twine.

Work by Eve Vang using wood, paper, and charcoal.

Several years ago while gallery sitting, we were showing clips of KQED Spark videos. One of the clips that grabbed my attention was of Julie Chen. Julie Chen is a Book Artist and Associate Professor of Book Art at Mills College. She received her BA at UC Berkeley and a MA at Mills College. In 1987 she established the Flying Fish Press, a publisher for limited edition Artists' Books. Below are videos of Julie Chen and images of her work:

Ode to a Grand Staircase, in collaboration with Barbara Tetenbaum, 2001

Memento, 2012

Memento, detail 2012

First Entry:

The purpose of this blog is to put together a collection of images and links of artists whose work involve creating, using, and/or manipulating the book. The first artist that immediately came to mind is Lisa Kokin. Lisa Kokin is a local Bay Area Artist and instructor. She received her BFA and MFA from CCA. And the following are images and details of her work taken from her website.

Room for Improvement

Installation of pulped self-help books, PVA glue, dimensions variable, 2008

Abridged

Pulped dictionary, PVA glue, thread, snaps, mull, 7.5 x 9.5 x 7.5 inches, 2008

Abridged detail

Panacea Plus

Self-help book spines, mull, thread, 61 x 56 inches, 2010

Panacea Plus detail