Original Artist Books

Roughly in 2009, I created my first original artist book, "Unseen Lines". The piece pushed the boundaries of both drawing and book making. It was a way to more directly incorporate my writing into work. I wanted to tear down and challenge the traditional concepts and structures of books while maintaining my love and respect for them. What is a page, a spine, cover, a line? What makes the intimate experience of them so fascinating as an "object ?". 

In my recent solo exhibition with Ninapi' Gallery in Ravenna, Italy, 2012, "Dimmi Tutto: Tell Me Everything", I began to focus my attention to these questions creating several while there. The weight of Italy's art, culture and history bore down on my thoughts. Influenced by and responding to this, the series of books made there while in residency is reflected by numerous references. The architecture, traditional techniques or mediums, archeology, and constant work to preserve, and un earth these treasures are all very present. 

Since 2010, I've been working on creating a collection of about 25. To date roughly 14 are finished of which several have been exhibited in the US and abroad. 

 

"Histories, Accumulations", detail 1, 2012 (c) Dianne Bowen

Fabriano paper book, light fast pencil, archival ink, vellum fold out

3" x 5"

One of several titled "Histories, Accumulations", this is one of 3 small books. Referencing fresco's and the act excavating them, the according style fold out drawing begins by pulling back a flap cut out from the page. The drawing is then pulled through several pages revealing itself in layers.  

 

"Histories, Accumulations", cover, left, open 2 right, 2012 (c) Dianne Bowen 

 

  "Histories, Accumulations", open detail 2, 2012 (c) Dianne Bowen 

 

  "Histories, Accumulations", open front and back cover, 2012 (c) Dianne Bowen 

"All The Words I Have Not Written", 2012, sets the lines free from the surface of the page. The poem is written on several velum strips. Curled and constrained within the cover, blank lines and written lines wind and swirl. In reading through the book the viewer constructs and deconstructs the poem by the very act of reading. 

Associated Poem:

all these lines I have not written, falling loose between the pages, why? keeps repeating, things I haven't said, kept curled up inside my head, holding words begging questions, messages unanswered, vibrating rib cages, traces left on shores

 

 "All The Words I Have Not Written I", detail 1, 2012 (c) Dianne Bowen 

velum strips, Fabriano heavy weight water color paper, archival pen

4" x 6"

  "All The Words I Have Not Written I", detail 1, 2012 (c) Dianne Bowen 

velum strips, Fabriano heavy weight water color paper, archival pen

4" x 6"

 "All The Words I Have Not Written I", detail 1, 2012 (c) Dianne Bowen 

velum strips, Fabriano heavy weight water color paper, archival pen

4" x 6"