Thoughts & Diversions

Once again, the librarian and graphic design squad at BiblioBoard have teamed up to deliver you Valentines! 

Happy Valentine’s Day from us! Enjoy, book lovers. 

Amazing Book Sculptures Bring Books to Life by Kelly Campbell Berry

Kelly Campbell Berry’s current passion involves the creation of altered books and book sculptures. Passionate about antique treasures, Berry’s new talent involves constructing book sculptures from vintage children’s books. After a house fire burned Berry’s vintage collection of illustrated books, she decided to begin her library again. With a fresh perspective, Berry decided that she did not want her precious belonging to collect dust any longer; thus the journey began. She admits:

“I am truly amazed at the ability some people have to arrange words in such a way that we, the readers, can actually ‘see’ into the imagined world of the writer. We relate, feel, and become invested in the characters so deeply that we are pulled into their world for a brief moment of escape. In some cases I remember certain books with such fondness that I feel as if I experienced them. I still have a connection to Stewart Little and The Borrowers. Books, for me, come alive. That is why I have started creating book sculptures. My book sculptures are my way of showing what the words on the pages create in the imagination of the readers.”

Berry transforms up cycled version of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are, among other classics into whimsical cut-out illustrations. The tarnished and antiquated classics are ironically resurrected by the artist’s use of blades and scissors, a magnifying glass and tweezers.  To preserve each creation, Berry uses a paper preservative, velvet and wood, glass, and acid-free adhesive to exhibit her work. You can find her work in her Etsy shop!