‘˜Repurpose the Book’
Coffee table books? Objets d’art?
An invitational, juried exhibition of artist-repurposed books is on display at the Second Space Gallery at Burton Barr Central Library. A public reception for the artists will be held Aug. 20 at 6 p.m.
Artists were invited to gather in the Rare and Artist Book Collection of the Burton Barr Library to kick off the project. Each selected a book from his or her own collections to repurpose, or they chose from books being removed from the library’s collection. Over the next two months, 23 artists altered, collaged, colored, carved, painted, printed, pressed and re—paginated their chosen book into compelling art objects.
The resulting works are varied and rich. Jurors selected first-, second- and third-place cash prize winners and two jurors’ awards. Winners respectively were Saskia Jorda, Charles Orme and Sarah Hurwitz, Annie Lopez and Rossitza Todorova. Jurors were John Risseeuw, ASU Herberger Institute professor emeritus and founding director of Pyracantha Press; Edward Lebow, director of public art, Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture; and Sara Cochran, interim director and curator of Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.
The repurposed books will be used to help raise funds for the Phoenix Public Library’s annual Dinner in the Stacks on Sept. 26, 2015. They will be available at the silent auction in the Great Reading Room and for online bidding.
In its 30th year, the 2015 Dinner in the Stacks honors, celebrates and expands the mission and accomplishments of the Library’s College Depot, a resource center that supports learners of all ages and abilities who seek to continue their education.
