Secret, Half-Guilty Pleasures

[Catherine Kirkpatrick]

It's ironic that as the world becomes increasingly digital, as books move toward the e-publishing sphere, the art of handmade books has made a resurgence. I think people today are longing for craft and beauty, for something they can touch and hold, that comes from the hands and heart of another person; something that seems a good distance away from a machine.

In the past few decades, a lot of art and photography has gotten very big and very loud. Books are (generally) of a smaller size. They are compact and contain a lot of visual and textural/aural information. They also preserve artwork extremely well because you can close them up, shielding imagery from sunlight and environmental pollutants. 

 

There is also something private and a bit secretive about taking out a book in your own library or living room (or studio apartment), opening it up and having a delicious experience all to yourself. Like eating half a pie, with nobody present to watch or scold you, or tell you to brush away the crumbs.