Rachel’s Team Pick
In my opinion, one of the best things the Internet brings us, paradoxically, is a way to find out what people are doing and thinking w/r/t the Internet’s predecessor and superior — books. For instance, don’t tell me you didn’t love Better Book Titles, or that you aren’t grateful for the existence of Pottermore. And now, via the internet, I have found out about this super-cool real-world project that artist Nina Katchadourian is doing!
Katchadourian is an artist whose work spans a lot of genres, including but not limited to photography, installation art, and pet taxidermy, and addresses topics such as “confusing animals,” “maps,” and “uninvited collaborations with nature.” But my favorite so far is Sorting Books, where Katchadourian visits libraries and rearranges book titles strategically to recreate new messages. “Taken as a whole, the clusters from each sorting aim to examine that particular library’s focus, idiosyncrasies, and inconsistencies — a cross-section of that library’s holdings. At present, the Sorted Books project comprises more than 130 book clusters.” She began sorting in 1993. We are better off for it.
Nina Katchadourian - Composition from the Sorted Books project C-prints, each 12.5 x 19 inches, 1993
well i sure know how i’ll procrastinate at the library today.
this is amazing.
As a librarian, can I just say that I really hope she put those books back in their proper order? Harrumph.
/angry librarian muttering, “art, pffft.”
yes, yes, yes. as both a library employee and a library user – yes.
That was my first thought on this, from my time spent working at a library as well. It is soo frustrating to try and search for a misplaced book when you need it.
It still is neat though.
Agreed. Mr. Decimal would be proud ;)
This. I tried to find 3 books today at the library. The computer said they were all on the shelves, but I couldn’t find any of them.
This is so cool! Rachel, I love you. For this and for other reasons.
so cool!
This is cool, but the idea of somebody rearranging the books in a library makes me cringe.
Also, I am reminded of this: http://www.bookpatrol.net/2011/07/bansky-of-book-art-world.html
*drool*
Book art is my favorite of the visual arts.
Cool!
My favorite book artist is still Brian Dettmer. So cool!
Very cool*!
*If you are not a library worker.
this is awesome. I especially liked the “Shark Journal” piece. now I really miss working in libraries.
AUTOSTRADDLE LIBRARIANS ASSEMBLE!!