Artist Member
Explosion
Book sculpture
Eco Books
Bark, Leaf, Lichen
Books in portfolio box
Ellen Schiffman 
www.ellenschiffmanfiber.com
@ellenschiffmanfiber – on Instagram and Facebook
BIO
I have been a professional artist for close to 30 years, exhibiting my work in shows, galleries and museums nationwide. I am passionately committed to experimentation and exploration in creating my work. Over the course of my career, I have worked in a range of media including wood, paint, fiber, clay, paper and photography. The work has taken many forms from wall quilts to free-standing sculpture. My most recent explorations have been with artist’s books. As our world shut down during the pandemic, I found myself with something I hadn’t had for a while – a lot of free time! With the help of some great books and videos and a couple of online classes, I learned how to make books – something I had been wanting to do for a long time. My books contain snapshots of much of my previous work in a form that is intimate and accessible. I am continuing the journey with bookmaking as we begin to emerge from our lockdown, finding both the process and the product extremely rewarding.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Inspiration for my books is drawn from across cultures and time, with imagery inspired both by the randomness of nature and the intentionality and splendor of human creations. Like much of my previous work, my books are multimedia creations featuring a range of materials and techniques including weaving, stitching, painting, collage, mark making, photography, paper arts and more. Surprise is a frequent element of my work, something which a book lends itself to beautifully as its contents are gradually revealed.
My process is instinctual and serendipitous. I welcome random occurrences that arise from my dialogue with materials. I work in silence, as a meditation and offer them to the viewer as a vehicle for their own contemplation. I cherish the fact that, unlike most other forms of art, the viewer gets to touch and interact with a book, thereby becoming an active participant in the process of the book becoming a meaningful piece of art.