Evanescence
Weston, CT: Ellen Schiffman, 2022. Hardcover. A unique artist's book. Ellen Schiffman has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years. She is a multimedia artis1 working in a range of modalities including fiber art, collage, sculpture, photography, printing, cyanotype, eco printing and, most recently, book art. She often combines multiple media in a single piece. Throughout her career, she has been an avid explorer of both material and technique, often including found objects and everyday humble items in her pieces. Serendipity and surprise are hallmarks of her singular work. She has exhibited her work nationwide, including numerous museum shows and solo exhibits. She has received multiple awards for her work and has been featured in online and print publications, including several books. Her work reflects a fascination with texture, pattern, color, organic shapes, sculptural forms, the majesty of nature, and the beauty of imperfection.
The pandemic shut-down provided Ellen with an abundance of time to explore and experiment with some media that were new to her. She started making books during this time. She felt an immediate connection with the materials and the techniques of this compelling art form and found the process of making books a meditative balm for stressful times. Books have allowed her the opportunity to present her work in new and exciting ways. She celebrates the fact, unlike most other forms of art, the viewer gets to touch and interact with a book, thereby becoming an active participant in the process of the book becoming a meaningful piece of art. She frequently uses her books to present a body of related art work, while just as often she uses them as vehicles to capture the essence of memorable places, issues and moments in time. As the worst of the pandemic has subsided, Ellen has continued her book making journey, exhibiting her books in notable book art exhibits nationwide. This concertina features ten of Ellen’s striking cyanotype prints.
Cyanotypes are camera-less photographs created by coating the paper with a chemical emulsion, placing an object or photographic negative on the surface when the emulsion dries, and then placing it directly in the sun for a short time to develop. The final photo emerges as a rich Prussian blue imprint of the original image. The plants in this book were collected during the pandemic – both in Ellens garden and on her walks in the woods near her CT home. She spent many soothing moments in these settings during the shutdown, finding respite from the stresses of the moment. As with much of her work Ellen has sought, in this book, to highlight the beauty of the everyday. Although the plants in the book remain unnamed, they are included as a testament to everyday beauty and the bounty all around us. Bound in elegant red book cloth with a found twig and black metal nails on the cover. With a red elastic ribbon closure. In fine condition Measures 7.5x9.5 inches. Unpaginated.ARTB/071124. Fine.
Item #37363
Price: $475.00