Brian Dettmer
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Transcript of Brian Dettmer
Brian Dettmer
By Emily Schranz
Wagnalls Wheel, 2010, Altered Set of Encyclopedias, 9" x 20-1/2" x 20-1/2" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Toomey Tourell Fine
Art
He received his BA in art, design, and art history from Chicago’s Columbia College in 1997.
He creates “Book Autopsies” out of discarded books.
He was born in 1974 in Illinois.
Totem, 2010, Altered Set of Vintage Encyclopedias, 26-5/8" x 22-1/2" x 10-1/4" - Image Courtesy of the
Artist and MiTO Gallery
Dettmer only chooses non-fiction vintage books.
He incorporates the books topic into each piece. For example:
The definition of totem is: an object serving as the emblem of a family/clan and often serving as a reminder of its ancestry
How does this piece work as a totem?
What is a totem?
The Story of Man, 2010, Altered Book, 9-5/8" x 7-7/8" x 1-5/8" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Saltworks
Compiled Upon a New Plan, 2010, Altered Books, 10-1/2" x 10" x 10-3/4" - Image Courtesy of the Artist
and Packer Schopf
He begins his process by locating imagery and text that he likes
He uses a xacto knife in a subtractive process to create
negative space.
Library of American History (detail), 2012, hardcover books, acrylic varnish, 99" x 19" x 19" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Toomey Tourell Fine Art
House of Tongues, 2010, Altered Book, 7-3/4" x 14" x 10-1/4" -
Image Courtesy of the Artist and MiTO Gallery
Encyclopedias of World Travel, 2010, Altered Book, 8 1/2" x 7 3/4" x 1 1/2" -
Image Courtesy of the Artist and Saltworks
Compiled Upon a New Plan, 2010, Altered Books, 10-1/2" x 10" x 10-3/4" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Packer Schopf
Grolier, 2005, Altered set of Vintage Encyclopedias, 16"(h) x 9.5"(w) x 7"(d) - Image Courtesy of the Artist and MiTO
Gallery
The Household Physicians, 2008, Altered Books, 10-1/2" x 8" x 12" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Kinz + Tillou Fine Art
Emergency Exit (detail), 2012, paperback books, acrylic varnish, 82-1/2" x 29-1/2" x 2" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Saltworks
What comments do you think this artist is saying about Books?
Video
Brian Dettmer (2013). Bio. [ONLINE] Available at: http://briandettmer.com/. [Last Accessed e.g. 31 August 11].
CBS News (May 15, 2011). Artist makes high-priced sculptures from old books. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7366166n. [Last Accessed e.g. 31 August 11].
Stewart, Garrett, (2011). Bookwork: Medium to Object to Concept to Art. 1st ed. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press.
WebUrbanist (e.g. 2011). 15 of the World's Most CreativePapercraft Artists. [ONLINE] Available at: http://weburbanist.com/2008/12/02/papercraft-creative-paper-art-design-sculpture/. [Last Accessed e.g. 31 August 11].