About
Artist’s Statement
I have loved books and reading for as long as I can remember, and I was delighted when I stumbled into a class in art school where I learned to actually MAKE books, and learned how to deepen and expand the way that a book could be read.
The contemporary genre of “book arts” is a remarkable field, and the possibilities for creative invention and layered, impactful work are seemingly endless. For me, book arts has offered opportunities to imagine, to design, to write, to engineer, and to build – but most importantly, to fully realize ideas that wouldn’t be possible in another medium.
My books are made almost entirely by hand, allowing my materials to become cherished companions, and I love creating artwork that viewers, too, can handle and unfold and tactilely explore. Offering that kind of personal, deeply relational experience to my readers takes me back to my own experience of reading as a child, seeking a story I could fall into and stay in for a long time.
Every new project that I embark on becomes an opportunity to play and to experiment: to find ways that materials can inform my choice of book form, that a book form can grow and change to meet a text, that text can be shaped by the lived history of myself and my materials. It’s a rigorous, demanding, rewarding process – and I wouldn’t want to do anything else.
bio
I create my unique, limited-edition, and installation artist’s books from my studio in Denver, Colorado, and I use fabric, thread, paper and text to explore the intersection of form and content. I am inspired by both traditional and contemporary book structures, but my backgrounds in storytelling and folk music, in theatre and costume design, and in nonprofit bookkeeping all come with me to the studio and also influence my work. I received my initial book arts training while earning my BFA at Metro State University of Denver; as part of that degree, I also completed an invaluable bookbinding internship with Alicia Bailey at her Ravenpress studio in Aurora, Colorado. I have subsequently studied with Ed Hutchins, Susan King, Susan Share and Shawn Sheehy, amongst others.
My books and book-installations have been exhibited locally, regionally and nationally at invitational, juried and solo exhibitions, and some have won such delightful awards as “Best Match of Concept and Materials” and ”Most Unusual Case.” Many of my works are held in private and university collections; I am especially honored to have Special Collections at the University of Denver collect copies of almost all my books as well as the process papers for my books and installations.
Aside from my conceptual work, I create small, fun artist’s books for individuals, couples and families that celebrate the seasons, honor life transitions, and encourage creativity and mindfulness. You can find those books at her Both Hands Studios site (coming soon) and at select events in the Denver metro area and up and down the Colorado Front Range. I create commissioned work as well (you can view examples of these here), and I teach workshops in book arts and in supporting the creative process (check out my teaching page here).
In addition, I’ve worked to serve the arts and book arts communities both here in Colorado and farther afield, in roles ranging from curator to panelist to reviewer of pieces by other book artists. I’ve also offered my nonprofit bookkeeping skills to several organizations and served as Treasurer for some, as well as presenting regular workshops for artists on taxes and best bookkeeping practices.
Photos on this page by Kristen Hatgi.
Resources
TEACHING
Galleries