Volumes: Women Bound By Art 2

(Above:  General view of the Curtis R. Harley Gallery at the University of South Carolina Upstate, Spartanburg, SC of Volumes 2: Women Bound By Art, an altered book invitational show.)

I am part of a unique group of women periodically altering specific books and exhibiting the resulting work together.  Last Thursday our show opened at the Curtis R. Harley Gallery in Spartanburg.  It couldn't have been a nicer day.  Most of the eighteen artists car-pooled to a luncheon arranged by Jane Nodine, a talented artist and professor of art.  This was followed by a panel discussion in front of at least four college classes.  Doni Jordan and Susan Livingston, "our leaders" who founded and curate our work, spoke briefly about the group's history, the books we've altered, and our plans for the future.  Each artist then got a few minutes to discuss their own piece(s) in the show.



(Above:  Ball Bearings thru Cables, an altered book. 14" x 9" x 2 3/4". Discarded library tome, old cables and ball bearings, clipped letters from vintage sheet music, found paper, engraved plates, wood, plexiglass, screws. Click on image to enlarge.)

The first set of books that the group altered was a discarded 12-volume set of Thomas Register of American Manufacturers Products and Services.  These were shown in two exhibits last year.  Only some of the pieces from the first shows were included in Volumes 2.  I was fortunate that my Ball Bearings thru Cables was among them.  (To read more about this piece, CLICK HERE.)

 

(Above:  Volume Nine: Hobbies to Irrigation.  74" x 8 3/4". Altered book. Rolled and tied pages stitched to recycled felt attached to the original book's cover.)

For Volume 2, we were each given a book from an old set of encyclopedias.  I got Volume Nine: Hobbies to Irrigation.  Since I used the original cover, I kept the original name!  To read more about this piece, CLICK HERE and scroll down.  

 
(Above:  One wall at the Curtis R. Harley Gallery with photos of all the participating artists.)

The show is amazing, especially in its details ... like a wall on which each artist has a profile picture.

 

(Above:  The group shot of the artists in attendance for the panel discussion with the gallery director.)

We had a great time.  The show is up through February 21st.

 

(Above:  The signage for the show.)