Brian Dettmer
Encapsulated Post Script, (True Crime)
2008
18 5/3 x 13 5/8 x 5 1/4 inches
Brian Dettmer
The Enjoyment of Music, 2008
Altered Book
9 1/4 x 8 x 3 1/4 inches
Brian Dettmer
Organic Chemistry, 2008
Altered Book
9 1/8 x 7 3/4 x 2 1/2 inche
Brian Dettmer
Devonshire Vinyl, 2007
Altered Wallpaper Sample Book
16 x 16 x 1 1/2 inches
Brian Dettmer
Encyclopedia Series, A to Benedict, 2008
altered book
9 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches
Brian Dettmer
Raphael, 2008
Altered Book
15 x 11 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches
Brian Dettmer
Encyclopedia Series, Benefit to Civil Service, 2008
altered book
9 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches
Brian Dettmer
Encyclopedia Series, Mountain to Perpetual, 2008
Altered Book
9 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches
Brian Dettmer
Encyclopedia Series, Civil War to English, 2008
altered book
9 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches
Brian Dettmer
Encyclopedia Series, Engraving to Harlow, 2008
altered book
9 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches
Brian Dettmer
Encyclopedia Series, Harmaline to Leipzig, 2008
altered book
9 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 1 1/2 inches
Brian Dettmer
Europa Samples, 2007
Altered Book
14 x 18 x 1 3/4 inches
Brian Dettmer
The Birge Colonial Book, 2008
Altered Wallpaper Sample Book
23 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches
Brian Dettmer
The Connoisseur's Complete Guide, 2008
Altered Book
9 3/4 x 9 1/2 x 3 3/8 inches
Brian Dettmer
Core 6, 2007
Altered Book
11 5/8 x 6 3/4 x 5 1/8 inches
Brian Dettmer
Harmony House, 2007
Altered Wallpaper Sample Book
18 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 3 inches
Brian Dettmer
In Search of Adam, 2008
Altered Book
8 1/2 x 5 3/4 x 1 3/4 inches
Brian Dettmer
Integrated Electronics, 2008
Altered Book
11 x 10 x 3 1/8 inches
Brian Dettmer
Kingdom, 2008
Altered Book
9 5/8 x 10 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches
Brian Dettmer
Mound 1, 2008
Altered Book
5 1/2 x 13 1/2 x 11 1/4 inches
Brian Dettmer
Mound 2, 2008
Altered Book
11 x 8 1/4 x 5 inches
Brian Dettmer
Mound 3, 2008
Altered Book
4 1/2 x 10 x 10 3/4 inches
Brian Dettmer
New Roads to Yesterday, 2008
Altered Book
9 1/2 x 6 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches
Brian Dettmer
O ERO HE'LL FIGHT, 2008
Altered Book
13 1/4 x 12 x 1 1/2 inches
Brian Dettmer
Paperback Romance, 2007
Altered Books
17 1/4 x 18 x 4 1/4 inches
Brian Dettmer
The Evolution of Man, 2008
Altered Book
9 x 6 3/8 x 1 5/8 inches
Brian Dettmer
Webster Two Point Oh, 2008
Altered Book
11 1/2 x 19 x 11 inches
BRIAN DETTMER sifts through stacks of old books to uncover the perfect source and subject for his sculptural examinations. Dettmer treats his book sculptures like archaeological sites by excavating forms and uncovering hidden meanings. He alters pre-existing materials by selectively removing and manipulating elements as a way to allow new interpretations and ideas to emerge.
With the precision of a surgeon, Dettmer uses scalpels and tweezers to dissect and rejuvenate sets of encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, wallpaper sample books and other forms of rapidly antiquating materials. He does not add content or images, but, rather, pushes the boundaries of the their physical forms to better expose their attributes. The fractured text and layered images that comprise his restructured works evoke the randomness and fragmented nature of history, information and memory.
Dettmer lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. He has exhibited widely throughout North America and Europe. His work has been featured in several books, as well The New York Times Magazine and has garnered the active attention of critics and bloggers. Dettmer's work will be included in an upcoming exhibition at Arti & Amicitiae to celebrate the selection of Amsterdam as World Book Capital City by Unesco.
