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ARTISTS “REPURPOSE THE BOOK” AT BURTON BARR LIBRARY
An invitational, juried exhibition of artist-repurposed books is currently on view at the Second Space Gallery of the Burton Barr Central Library through September 18th. A public reception for the artists will be held August 20th at 6pm.
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 their own collection to repurpose, or chose from a collection of books being de-accessioned by the library. Over the next two months, twenty-two artists altered, collaged, colored, carved, painted, printed, pressed, and re-paginated their chosen book into compelling art objects.
‘Repurpose the Book’ first prize entry by Saskia Jorda.
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.
Following the exhibition, the works will be offered on-line and at a silent auction of the library’s Dinner in the Stacks fundraiser on September 26th in the Burton Barr Library Great Reading Room. Now in its thirtieth year, this year’s 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.
For event details on Dinner in the Stacks, please visit www.dinnerinthestacks.org
Photos courtesy of Friends of the Phoenix Public Library.
