Artist’s books are works of art in the form of books or book-like objects. Book arts challenges the traditional format of a book and the way books are read. This exhibit features all fifteen entries submitted during the 2015 academic calendar. We are pleased to announce our winner is Nikki Navaille for her artist’s book “Stitched”. The winner was selected with scores from our two judges: Miriam Schaer and David Benjamin, based on creativity, craftsmanship, content, and design. To celebrate the hard work of all the participants, the University of Central Florida Libraries Special Collections & University Archives presents the 2015 Student Book Arts Competition Exhibit.
This year’s entries pushes the book form to innovative levels, showing the creativity of UCF students. The 2015 winner “Stitched” by Nikki Navaille elegantly narrates the artist’s biography of sewing clothing and costumes. Using multiple pattern pieces and fabric scraps from major sewing projects in her life as pages in her artist’s book, Navaille skillfully crafted these personal materials together while incorporating detailed text sewn with a sewing machine.
“Sharp Objects Can Stab You” by Kelly Turner Evans playfully surveys everyday objects that can physically hurt you as the title delectably conveys. “Journal of an Adventurer” by Rachel Jeter follows a driven female character inspired by historical explorers and folklore. “Parallel World” and “Violet Misty” both by Zhefu Wan showcase the artist’s beautiful original illustrations through innovative book forms. The vibrant colors of Annemarie Nemcik’s artist’s books “Lola” and “Iris and Bloom” bring a delightful glimpse of the artist’s style. Japanese influences in “Kintsugi: The Art of Embracing Damage” by Nikki Navaille and “Hyakki Yagyo” by Zhefu Wan are represented in their artist’s books. “J.E.” by Hannah Moore and “Alice and Wonderland” by Zhefu Wan are inspired by classic novels. Both “The Poem of Home” by Hannah Moore and “Closed Heart” by Rachel Jeter invites readers to a private space exploring both physical and mental settings. “Psalms 23/The Lord’s Prayer” by Hannah Moore takes the scriptures from the Bible and presents the text in an ornate artist’s book. Finally, “Fortune Flowers” by Rachel Jeter creates a unique reading experience through a sculptural book that mimics potted flowers with handwritten text inside the folded petals inspired by paper fortune tellers.
