Brian Dettmer
Encyclopedia
Brian Dettmer is an American
contemporary artist. He is noted for his alteration of preexisting media—such as old books, maps, record albums, and cassette tapes—to create new, transformed works of visual fine art.
, Illinois
. Until 2006, Dettmer lived in and around Chicago
, where he earned a BA
in fine arts from Columbia College Chicago
in 1997. During school and following graduation, Dettmer worked as an artist and in positions related to graphics and signage design. In 2006, Dettmer moved with his wife to Atlanta, where he works as a studio artist. (Brown 2008; Camper 2005).
Dettmer's current work involves the appropriation
and alteration of media to transform the physical form and/or to selectively remove and reveal content to create new works of fine art
. Dettmer explains: “Old books, records, tapes, maps, and other media frequently fall into a realm that too much of today’s art occupies. Their intended role has decreased or deceased and they often exist simply as symbols of the ideas they represent rather than true conveyers of content. ... When an object's intended function is fleeting, the necessity for a new approach to its form and content arises.” (Valdez 2006).
A large body of Dettmer's current work is created by altering books, including older dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, science and engineering books, art books, medical guides, history books, atlases, comic books, wallpaper sample books, and others. Dettmer seals and cuts into the books, exposing select images and text to create intricate three-dimensional derivative works that reveal new or alternative interpretations of the books. Dettmer never inserts or moves any of the books' contents. (Moayeri 2008). This process is performed without pre-planning or mapping out the contents before cutting into the book. (Cullum 2010). As he cuts away unwanted material, Dettmer stabilizes the remaining paper with a varnish. (Fox 2009). An early example of Dettmer's unique altered book
s is his 2003 work, New International Dictionary (pictured at right), which is an original 1947 unabridged dictionary sealed and cut to expose images within the dictionary (Sundell 2005, at pg. 70).
In recent years, Dettmer has augmented his artistic process by folding, bending, rolling, or stacking one or more books before sealing and cutting them or, in some instances, sanding them to create a variety of forms. New Books of Knowledge (left) is a recent example of a sculpture created by Dettmer using a full set of encyclopedias.
Other notable examples of media transformed by Dettmer include music cassette tapes melted and formed into a life-sized human skeleton
(Tyson 2007) and various animal skulls; cut and layered highway maps
of the United States and the Middle East
(Packer 2005) and three-dimensional map sculptures; VHS videotapes of gangster movies unraveled and formed into funeral flower arrangements; and a controversial reconfiguration of audio excerpts from George W. Bush
's 2002 State of the Union Address
. (Feigly 2003).
Brian Dettmer's work has been published and exhibited widely around the world and is currently shown by a number of art galleries, including Kinz + Tillou Fine Art in New York
, Packer Schopf Gallery in Chicago
, Toomey Tourell in San Francisco, MiTO in Barcelona
, and SALTWORKS in Atlanta.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
contemporary artist. He is noted for his alteration of preexisting media—such as old books, maps, record albums, and cassette tapes—to create new, transformed works of visual fine art.
Life and art
Brian Dettmer, born in 1974, was raised in NapervilleNaperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Until 2006, Dettmer lived in and around Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where he earned a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in fine arts from Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is one of the largest art colleges in the United States with nearly 12,000 students pursuing degrees within 120 undergraduate and graduate programs...
in 1997. During school and following graduation, Dettmer worked as an artist and in positions related to graphics and signage design. In 2006, Dettmer moved with his wife to Atlanta, where he works as a studio artist. (Brown 2008; Camper 2005).
Early work
In college, Dettmer focused primarily on painting. When he began to work in a sign shop, his work began to explore the relationship between text, images, language, and codes, including paintings based on braille, Morse Code, and American Sign Language. He then began to make work by repeatedly pasting newspapers and book pages to canvas and tearing off pieces, leaving behind layered fragments. (Sasaki 2009; Brown 2008; Camper 2005). In 2000, Dettmer started to experiment by gluing and cutting into books, the medium for which he is now most known. (Brown 2008).Recent work
Appropriation (art)
Appropriation is a fundamental aspect in the history of the arts . Appropriation can be understood as "the use of borrowed elements in the creation of a new work."...
and alteration of media to transform the physical form and/or to selectively remove and reveal content to create new works of fine art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
. Dettmer explains: “Old books, records, tapes, maps, and other media frequently fall into a realm that too much of today’s art occupies. Their intended role has decreased or deceased and they often exist simply as symbols of the ideas they represent rather than true conveyers of content. ... When an object's intended function is fleeting, the necessity for a new approach to its form and content arises.” (Valdez 2006).
A large body of Dettmer's current work is created by altering books, including older dictionaries, encyclopedias, textbooks, science and engineering books, art books, medical guides, history books, atlases, comic books, wallpaper sample books, and others. Dettmer seals and cuts into the books, exposing select images and text to create intricate three-dimensional derivative works that reveal new or alternative interpretations of the books. Dettmer never inserts or moves any of the books' contents. (Moayeri 2008). This process is performed without pre-planning or mapping out the contents before cutting into the book. (Cullum 2010). As he cuts away unwanted material, Dettmer stabilizes the remaining paper with a varnish. (Fox 2009). An early example of Dettmer's unique altered book
Altered book
An altered book is a form of mixed media artwork that changes a book from its original form into a different form, altering its appearance and/or meaning....
s is his 2003 work, New International Dictionary (pictured at right), which is an original 1947 unabridged dictionary sealed and cut to expose images within the dictionary (Sundell 2005, at pg. 70).
In recent years, Dettmer has augmented his artistic process by folding, bending, rolling, or stacking one or more books before sealing and cutting them or, in some instances, sanding them to create a variety of forms. New Books of Knowledge (left) is a recent example of a sculpture created by Dettmer using a full set of encyclopedias.
Other notable examples of media transformed by Dettmer include music cassette tapes melted and formed into a life-sized human skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
(Tyson 2007) and various animal skulls; cut and layered highway maps
MAPS
Maps is the plural of map, a visual representation of an area.As an acronym, MAPS may refer to:* Mail Abuse Prevention System, an organisation that provides anti-spam support...
of the United States and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
(Packer 2005) and three-dimensional map sculptures; VHS videotapes of gangster movies unraveled and formed into funeral flower arrangements; and a controversial reconfiguration of audio excerpts from George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's 2002 State of the Union Address
State of the Union Address
The State of the Union is an annual address presented by the President of the United States to the United States Congress. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the president to outline his legislative agenda and his national priorities.The practice arises...
. (Feigly 2003).
Brian Dettmer's work has been published and exhibited widely around the world and is currently shown by a number of art galleries, including Kinz + Tillou Fine Art in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Packer Schopf Gallery in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Toomey Tourell in San Francisco, MiTO in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, and SALTWORKS in Atlanta.
Further reading
- Baker, Kenneth. "Brian Dettmer turns books into sculptural pieces," San Francisco Chronicle, September 12, 2009, pg. E-2. Retrieved September 14, 2009.
- Feaster, Felicia. "Book Smarts," The Atlantan, December 2008, pp. 44–46.
- Henninger, Kelsey. "Guest Speaker Turns Old Books Into New Art," kentnewsnet.com, February 21, 2008. Retrieved February 21, 2008.
- Kellogg, Carolyn. "Brian Dettmer's book art," Los Angeles Times (Jacket Copy, Book News and Information), October 31, 2008. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
- Landow, George. "Hors Livre," Modern Painters, November 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
- Leaverton, Michael. "Digging Into a Good Book," San Francisco Weekly, July 4, 2007. Retrieved October 24, 2007.
- Lee-Tullis, James. "Book Extracts," Plantinum, American Express, ___ 2009.
- Loerzel, Robert. "Artistic surgeries create unusual work," Chicago News-Star, February 21, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2007.
- Packer, Aron. “Brian Dettmer: Book Work, Dissections and Excavations”, Packer-Schopf Gallery, November 2003. Retrieved June 7, 2007.
- Pocock, Antonia. "Brian Dettmer: Adaptations," Packer-Schopf Gallery, April 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2009.
- Wolf, Alana. "Brian Dettmer: Are books dead?", BurnAway, June 3, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
External links
- Brian Dettmer's official website
- Brian Dettmer's Flickr gallery
- Packer Schopf Gallery
- Brian Dettmer at Kinz + Tillou
- Brian Dettmer at Toomey Tourell
- Brian Dettmer at MiTO
- Brian Dettmer at SALTWORKS