What happens when a book outlives its purpose on the shelf?
If it falls into the right hands, it is transformed into an art object that may or may not resemble its original form as a book. An “altered book” is any book, old or new that has been recycled by creative means into a work of art.
This project, titled, Renewables: Altered Books, aims to engage people of all ages and levels of art experience (or inexperience) in transforming books into works of art- an altered book.
The idea to do an altered books project in Belfast came about when Brenda Harrington, the adult programming librarian at the Belfast Free Library, attended the opening for the Out of Bounds Altered Books project that the Rockport Library and CMCA held last November. The event was such an impressive community event that she was inspired to make an altered book project happen in Belfast. After consulting with key personnel at Waterfall Arts in Belfast and CMCA, it was decided this would be an excellent opportunity to involve all three organizations in a collaborative effort and create this dynamic art project- Renewables: Altered Books- for the broader community to participate in.
If it falls into the right hands, it is transformed into an art object that may or may not resemble its original form as a book. An “altered book” is any book, old or new that has been recycled by creative means into a work of art.
This project, titled, Renewables: Altered Books, aims to engage people of all ages and levels of art experience (or inexperience) in transforming books into works of art- an altered book.
The idea to do an altered books project in Belfast came about when Brenda Harrington, the adult programming librarian at the Belfast Free Library, attended the opening for the Out of Bounds Altered Books project that the Rockport Library and CMCA held last November. The event was such an impressive community event that she was inspired to make an altered book project happen in Belfast. After consulting with key personnel at Waterfall Arts in Belfast and CMCA, it was decided this would be an excellent opportunity to involve all three organizations in a collaborative effort and create this dynamic art project- Renewables: Altered Books- for the broader community to participate in.
The project gets under way with a demonstration of the methods and materials used to create an altered book on Wednesday August 20th from 6:30- 7:30 pm in the Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library. Local book artist Jan Owen will give the demonstration. People of all ages are encouraged to attend this demonstration, which is designed to inspire participants to create an altered book. Books to alter will be available for free at all Renewables events.
Events scheduled for September begin Tuesday the 9th at 6:30 pm with a panel discussion of altered book artists in the Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library. The panel will include local book artists Abbie Read and Jan Owen, both of whom will be leading workshops later in the month, and Kathy Ocariz one of the most prolific participants from the Rockport Library Out of Bounds project. Cathy Melio the education director at CMCA will facilitate the panel discussion.
Next on the schedule is the first altered book workshop on Saturday September 13th from 1-4 pm at Waterfall Arts in Belfast. The workshop will be led by Jan Owen, books to alter and supplies will be provided. Also at Waterfall Arts, on Monday September 22nd at 7pm Adriane Herman will give the monthly artists lecture. Herman, a fine arts professor from the Maine College of Art (MECA) in Portland, is an active community arts organizer and founder of the Portland Library and MECA’s altered books project, Long Overdue: Book Renewal in 2005. A second altered book workshop will be held at CMCA in Rockport, Maine on Saturday September 27th from 1-4 pm. Abbie Read will lead this workshop.
Everyone is invited to submit his or her altered book to be exhibited November 7th-21st in the Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library. Submissions will be accepted November 3rd –5th at the Belfast Free Library. For more information call Brenda Harrington at the library at 338-3884 ext 30 or check the library’s blog for more information at http://belfastlibrary.blogspot.com/.
Next on the schedule is the first altered book workshop on Saturday September 13th from 1-4 pm at Waterfall Arts in Belfast. The workshop will be led by Jan Owen, books to alter and supplies will be provided. Also at Waterfall Arts, on Monday September 22nd at 7pm Adriane Herman will give the monthly artists lecture. Herman, a fine arts professor from the Maine College of Art (MECA) in Portland, is an active community arts organizer and founder of the Portland Library and MECA’s altered books project, Long Overdue: Book Renewal in 2005. A second altered book workshop will be held at CMCA in Rockport, Maine on Saturday September 27th from 1-4 pm. Abbie Read will lead this workshop.
Everyone is invited to submit his or her altered book to be exhibited November 7th-21st in the Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library. Submissions will be accepted November 3rd –5th at the Belfast Free Library. For more information call Brenda Harrington at the library at 338-3884 ext 30 or check the library’s blog for more information at http://belfastlibrary.blogspot.com/.
All events for Renewables: Altered Books will be free and open to the public.
