Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Frozen words: exploring Alexis Arnold’s crystallized book sculptures

Crystallized Books is a series of sculptures by Alexis Arnold, an Oakland-based artist who transforms discarded books, magazines, and manuals into sparkling, crystallized objects. Arnold uses water and borax to grow crystals on the books, which cover the text and make the books non-functional. The artist says that this process explores the materiality of the book versus its content, and also comments on the vulnerability of the printed book in the digital age. The crystallized books become artifacts or geologic specimens that reflect the history of time, use, and nostalgia.

Arnold has crystallized various types of books, from classic novels like Moby Dick and To Kill A Mockingbird, to reference books like the Smithsonian Nature Guide: Rocks and Minerals, to phone books and magazines. Each book has its own unique characteristics, such as the cover, the page number, the illustrations, and the shape, that are enhanced by the crystal growth. Some books appear more colorful and flamboyant, while others are more subdued and elegant. The crystals also create an illusion of movement and life for the stationary books, depending on the lighting and the angle of view.

Arnold’s series started in 2011, when she noticed many abandoned books on the streets and decided to experiment with them. Since then, she has exhibited her work in various galleries and venues and has received positive feedback from the public. Arnold says that her series is an ongoing project that she plans to continue as long as she finds interesting books to work with.

More info: Website, Instagram.

Photoshop Manual (2014)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (1)

San Francisco Phone Book (2013)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (2)

National Geographic Magazines (2013)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (3)

Linux: The Complete Manual (2013)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (4)

Touching Time And Space: A Portrait Of David Ireland (2014)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (5)

To Kill A Mockingbird (2014)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (6)

All’s Well That Ends Well (2014)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (8)

All’s Well That Ends Well (2014), detail

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (7)

Napa Valley: The Land, The Wine, The People (2016)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (9)

The Art and Adventure of Beekeeping (2016)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (10)

The Art and Adventure of Beekeeping (2016)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (11)

Hugh Johnson’s Story of Wine (2016)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (12)

The Complete Book of Crochet (2016)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (13)

The Science of Wine: From Vine to Glass (2016)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (14)

In the Shade of Vines (2016)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (15)

In the Shade of Vines (2016)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (16)

To Kill A Mockingbird (2021)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (17)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2021)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (18)

Tai Pan (2020)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (19)

Islamic Maps (2022)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (20)

To Kill a Mockingbird (2021)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (21)

Smithsonian rock and mineral guide (2019)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (22)

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (2020)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (23)

Audubon rock and mineral field guide (2019)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (24)

Poems (2023), detail

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (25)

Highway 1 California: The dream along the Pacific (2021)

Crystallized Books, A Sculptures Series By Alexis Arnold (26)
Leandro Lima
Leandro Limahttps://visualflood.com
CEO-founder of Visualflood. A Brazilian fine art photographer, among other things, who loves visual arts, nature, science, and innovative technologies.

You May Also Like

Recently on Visualflood

Trending on Visualflood

Also on Visualflood