More Than Just Something to Read

My lifelong love of reading and books took a refreshing new turn today at the Whatcom Museum's current exhibition, "Unhinged: Book Art on the Cutting Edge," thanks to artist and blipper NannaK.

She and her husband took time out on their way to British Columbia to see the 73 diverse works in the exhibition, and I was delighted to join them at the museum. NannaK has made some book art pieces herself and was familiar with the works of several of the 63 featured artists, and her deeper understanding enhanced my appreciation for everything I saw, as well. 

We've both blipped the same delightful piece, Lifted Eyes (2012) by Paul Johnson, one of several British artists whose works are featured. He describes it as a "unique 360-degree pop-up carousel book" and notes that it took more than 150 hours to make the work, with inspiration coming from "medieval European religious art, the art of South East Asia, and the buildings of the Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi."

This exhibition runs through January 3, 2016, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in art, or books, or both -- it's an eye-opener! I'll definitely be returning several times to see all these treasures.

You can read more about "Unhinged: Book Art on the Cutting Edge" here  and see a closer view of another side of Lifted Eyes in the extras.

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