Book Sculptures

Book Sculptures for People Who Like to Hang Out with Books

During my exploration of the art of book altering, I got the idea for creating book sculptures that would become wall hangings. I wanted to be able to have books that felt alive, with parts of the book spilling out in an explosion of color and texture. I wanted paper to fly out the top, dangle down from the center, protrude from the sides. I knew this couldn’t be accomplished with the altered books I had been creating. Pieces needed to hang free, unobstructed. I also wanted my altered books to hang from the wall as a way of being seen and valued in the way that paintings are. The result is the book sculptures you see below.

My process is a simple one: I select books whose titles inspire me to create something visually unique. I find my books at second hand stores and library book sales. I look at the title, and if an idea comes to mind, I’m off and running, interpreting the title without thinking about the text itself, unlike my other altered books where the text is often the source of artistic inspiration.

When a book is completed, I secure the back with a piece of flat molding, screwed into the covers. I attach picture framing wire so the books become sturdy wall hangings ready to decorate an empty wall. I hope you enjoy looking at these book sculptures as much as I enjoy creating them.