With Gusto
CT: Ellen Schiffman, 2021. Hardcover. A unique artist's book. Ellen Schiffman has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years in her Connecticut studio. She is a multimedia artist 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.
According to the artist: "Although I have been a professional multi-media artist for many years, I have not often painted. This changed during the pandemic. In the spirit exploration and experimentation which took over my studio during the lockdown, I frequently found myself with paintbrush in hand. The abstract paintings I created have often appeared in the collages and books I made during this period of time.
I have presented some of my paintings in this explosion book called 'With Gusto'. While this book folds up into a small square, when open it explodes with colorful, energetic paintings. The surprise inherent in the pandemic explosion books reflect the excitement I felt from artistic freedom and sense of discovery which marked this otherwise stressful time.
I cherish the fact that, 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."
Bound in hand painted paper covered boards. The interior is filled with colorful handpainted panels folded into the "explosion" book structure. A green ribbon is affixed to the top corner of the book, allowing it to hang fully open. Occasional small spots of glue from construction, but clean and bright overall. Housed in a drawstring tan cloth bag with paper title label and illustration pasted down to the front panel. The bag was handmade by the artist. Unpaginated. Size: 5 x 5 inches, closed; 51.5 x 12.5 open. ARTB/100224. Fine.
Item #37371
Price: $525.00