Raw Blocks

This was one of the more damaged Funk & Wagnall 1950 series where the cover had fallen off and it was beyond repair. I sealed the paper sections leaving the binding exposed and turned it into a paper block. Cutting through square areas, I uncovered a lot of fantastic imagery from winemaking, soldiers, cattle, and various metallic apparatus for woodworking. It has a unique look hanging on the wall.

Artist Statement
Shane uses aged reference books deemed useless, like medical guides, journals, and encyclopedias, to bring new life to books that would otherwise be discarded. Glue seals the pages in their original printed location decided by the publisher, leaving the page revelations to the artist's imagination. Layers are removed to reveal images randomly. With no plan, the artist simply finds an exciting image, carves around the photo, diagram, or drawing, and adds cut lines, insets, and other random elements to provide an artistic view into the past, the book, and the pages as intended by the printer. Exposing the images in their original form, location, and placement on the page gives the viewer a greater appreciation of printed material from the Gilded Age when print media was mass-produced and information became readily available before today's digital format. Each page is carved delicately with stainless steel hardened medical scalpels to create a three-dimensional effect.

Shane uses old discarded printed material to bring new life to an item usually destined for the trash bin, landfill, or growing mold in some attack or basement.