G I V I N G O L D B O O K S A N E W L I F E (Q U I T E L I T E R A L L Y ! )
There's a beauty in the juxtaposition between dilapidated and alive, as one piece. Like vines growing out of broke down buildings and such in the city.
In finding these amazing old books that have passed through so many hands over the years, I see the evidence of life long ago, In someone's penciled in math notes or french translations. The thought of those marks from an older time on things that weren't intended on being saved, on their way to extinction by the time I get my hands on them, makes me cringe. I have to save them from the recycling centers and landfills, and bring them back into this world. I will (quite literally) give them a new life. I will reconstruct them by hand and turn them into objects that don't have a computerized replacement.
Not only am I repurposing these books into little literary landscapes, but I'm also "using every part of the animal," so to speak. I recycle all the scraps, turning them into jewelry, coasters, bookmarks, or stuffing for mail orders.
There's a beauty in the juxtaposition between dilapidated and alive, as one piece. Like vines growing out of broke down buildings and such in the city.
In finding these amazing old books that have passed through so many hands over the years, I see the evidence of life long ago, In someone's penciled in math notes or french translations. The thought of those marks from an older time on things that weren't intended on being saved, on their way to extinction by the time I get my hands on them, makes me cringe. I have to save them from the recycling centers and landfills, and bring them back into this world. I will (quite literally) give them a new life. I will reconstruct them by hand and turn them into objects that don't have a computerized replacement.
Not only am I repurposing these books into little literary landscapes, but I'm also "using every part of the animal," so to speak. I recycle all the scraps, turning them into jewelry, coasters, bookmarks, or stuffing for mail orders.
Sherri has lived in the mitten state all of her live, and in Ypsilanti since 1993. She is one of the founding members of DIYpsi, a local indie craft fair that she cofounded with two fellow artists and friends. The Library Lab sprouted from a deep love of gardening and a major lack of space. When she discovered she could "dig holes" into old, collected books she had lying around, and bring new life to them indoors, it seemed like an innovative, yet completely natural way to recycle and repurpose. |