♥ an artistic ethical debate: artist vs old books ♥

i keep flip flopping back and forth on this one

this little debate i keep having with myself

to use old books as art, cut and used in art, as a part of my statement as an artist

or

to hold and covet and love the books as they are

perfect and beautiful and wonderful to fondle, escape and nap with?

i keep collecting books as i scour junk shops

always with the intent to use them in my art

but with most of them, i can't bare to alter their wonderful perfection

so, this morning i have considered the options and have come up with this plan:

• keep collecting: use a couple of not-so-rare gems in some multi-media pieces
• sell the treasures i don't so much love, because someone will
• and keep everything that i find that makes me squeal outloud (sounds reasonable). this method is similar to the dream/shoe test. dream/shoe test you ask? well.... if you dream about a pair of shoes after seeing them, and they are there the next time you go - they are yours to buy. guilt free.

totally reasonable system. there we have it. done and done.

so, onto the funstuff!

i found this little bag of 3 old books all packaged and stapled together for $2.99
i had no idea what was inside, but knew they were old and little: faves!

i was delighted when i opened the bag up...

breakdown:

the dark embossed cover one is an old french catholic prayer book

by Hugo H. Hoeverfrom from1948 (approx. value $20?)

i included a scan of the inside as well; amazing iconography, in particular, of this page**

the other 2 beige ones are from the 'blue book' series. (go figure) sorta the coles notes of the 30's aimed at the uneducated. i love how the 'history of sculpture' is imageless.(again, go figure) interesting methods.

#67 is dated 1924 inside

#466 not dated, but must have been in the 30's

so on the conservative side, $40 worth of beautiful old books for $2.99

what treasures!

now, do you see my dilemma?

ya.

♥ leel ♥

** if you would like a scan of this, in better quality for your own use, let me know and i'll be happy to e-mail it to you. drop me a line!