Re-imagination of the Book

Shooting Gallery is pleased to present Re-imagination of the Book by British artist Kerry Miller. The opening reception will be Saturday, February 8, from 7-11 pm, and the exhibition is free and open to the public for viewing through March 8, 2014.

Kerry Miller dissects discarded books and rebuilds them into precisely-crafted, extraordinary works of art through little more than scissors, watercolor and ink. Some of the books are left open to reveal intricate scenes overflowing from the pages. Others remain shut, though their front covers are cut to act as mere frames for the beautiful reconfigurations of the book’s original illustrations. Culling from titles such as Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management (1868) and A Hand-Book to the Order of Lepidoptera, Part 1, v.2, (1896) Miller brings a sense of wonder to volumes that otherwise may be left to gather dust, providing a glimpse into a miniature world of newfound enchantment.

From the artist:

“I view my work as a collaboration, a partnership with the past, and giving new purpose to old books that may otherwise never see the light of day or simply end up in recycling. My favorite pastime is going off on an all-day book hunt; no junk shop or charity shop left unturned. I search for a book that’s just right for my work, one that has a little world hidden within, and one that’s just begging for the beauty of the interior to be revealed. As technology threatens to replace the printed word, there has never been a better time to reimagine the book.”