Artists put discarded books back on shelves
Artists put discarded books back on shelves
3-D artwork is on display at library
By Kevin Walters • THE TENNESSEAN • January 19, 2010
FRANKLIN — As merely books, they’ve become tattered and dusty, unread and past their prime. It’s only with fresh dollops of glue, paint and a power tool or two that Susan DeGarmo and others have given the old books new life as works of art.
DeGarmo, an assistant professor at Franklin’s O’More College of Design, and others have nine so-called altered books on display at the Williamson County Public Library through the end of January.
The books have been taken apart and then refashioned into 3-D cupcakes, a watch holder and more.
That gives the older books a longer shelf life.
“Instead of throwing them into the dump, we’re rescuing them and making them things that sit on shelves as works or art,” she said.
Altering books is also a favorite project among O’More students who want to unplug from their computers that all use for their projects, DeGarmo said.
“They’re so tired of working on the computer all the time,” DeGarmo said. “This is where they can actually get their hands into something.”
But the project does necessitate that books stop being, well, books and become other things.
The prospects of that don’t bother Janice Keck, county library director.
“I don’t think it’s an affront to books,” Keck said. “There are so many books and so many copies of books. Better than throwing it away, better to recycle it. Art offers us many opportunities for us to take ordinary objects and turn them into beautiful art.”
DeGarmo said she plans to teach an altered book-making course at the Williamson County Library later this spring.
The Williamson County Library is at 1314 Columbia Ave. and is open seven days a week. For information, call 615-794-3105.