New England Book Artists present May’s Featured Member Artist: Carolyn Shattuck! We’re pleased to showcase her amazing book arts and share her feeling towards animal welfare, ecological justice, and how artist’s books can advance the conversation. She splits her time between Vermont and the Florida Keys, with frequent family visits to Boston. Carolyn shared that she was “born to make things”. Her life-long attraction to colors, textures, and patterns has been a focus in all the mixed media arts she has produced. The layering and repeating patterns are seen in these artist’s books with not only the animals, paper designs, and accordion folds, but also in the books’ unwritten messages, the pleas of conservationists that continue to be unheard.
Her art education began at Johnson State College (BFA) and the Milton Avery Graduate School for the Arts at Bard College (MFA) where she trained as a painter. Over time, she began to incorporate printing into her art process. She adds, “My friend and I were journaling and sharing our entries on a regular basis. I explained to her I had a dream concerning the impending death of my mother-in-law. My friend said, “Why don’t you make a book?” That was the beginning of a huge exploration. I began reading and making the books described by Shereen LaPlantz, book arts and basketry artist, author, and art educator. My subject matter is usually about under-served women and recently – the devastation and killing of wild animals by poachers.
Migration
Origami and accordion book
Elephant hide paper, lokta paper and canson mi teinte, Strathmore watercolor paper
Slipcase made from Lama Li paper
17.5 h x 9″ l closed
Edition of 4
Comprised of a zebra wheel, 4 elephants, 2 giraffes, 4 wildebeests,1 rhino, 2 trees, and 6 lions printed on Epson paper.
Collections: UCLA
She learned to operate the Cricut cutter in order to make a star wheel. It represents the zebras roaming on the Serengeti plains. This book is constructed as a plea to save the animals of Africa from poaching and destruction of habitat. Due to climate change, encroachment and mostly animal trafficking, the populations are severely declining. It’s also important to maintain ‘wildlife corridors’, the safe passage between reserves that animals use to find food, water and mates. Road development, cropland expansion, and poachers threaten these migration corridors. These animals need to be protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
Save the Rhinos
Origami and Flag book
Canson MiTeinte, Lokta origami, Strathmore watercolor, Lama Li paper
13.5 h x 7.5 w x 3” d with slipcase
Edition of 5
Collections: University of Richmond
Three origami rhinos, a giraffe and 3 wildebeests walk the grasslands of Africa while poachers and environmental issues threaten their existence. The rhino population is vulnerable because of a market for rhino horn that is used to cure illnesses such as cancer in Vietnam and China. There is no scientific basis.
Save the Elephants
Origami Lokta, Canson Mi Teinte, Lama Li, Elephant Hide and Washi paper
5.25 w x 13.5 h x 1.25” d, closed
Edition of 5
Collections: School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University Library Collection, University of Oregon and Private Collector
The United Nations states that one hundred elephants are being slaughtered a day in Africa by poachers working in the illegal ivory trade. Recently efforts are being implemented to curb the market of Elephant liver for medicinal use.
QUILTERS short video HERE
Flexagon/popup created to acknowledge the unknown and marginalized women quilters of the 19th century
10.5 x 10.5 x 4.5”
Red River and Lama li paper
The flexagon structure allows for a moving and visual experience in order to represent the creative works of women mainly from the 19th century. I have always been attracted to outside artists and also their stories. The String quilt is thought to be by an African-American woman who worked in a textile factory and used remnants from her job site.
We’re excited to have Carolyn as a NEBA member, and we look forward to more time together for in-person viewing of her intimate, moving book arts. Thank you for the inspiration, Carolyn!