News Archives - 2003

The winter exhibit, from Jan. 10 - Feb. 12 in the Gage Family Art Gallery, will feature Cover-to-Cover, works by Thomas Allen. An opening reception will be held Friday, Jan. 10, 6 -9 p.m.

Exhibit notes from Thomas Allen
Cut it, pull it, fold it, light it, and photograph it.
When ink meets paper it forms an image on a fibrous, two-dimensional plane. Printed pages, stacked and stitched, form a three-dimensional object, the book. When closed, the pictures inside lie dormant, waiting to be discovered. They only appear (and disappear) when the pages are turned.

The physical act of cutting particular areas of a drawing frees it from its flat restraint and sets it into motion. Much like a pop-up book, kinetic interaction brings the page to life. A slight tug on the corner will cause areas to rise or fall, the cuts controlling the movement of this newly formed and voluminous object. This body of work focuses on the story telling of the cut/folded page. A gunfighter seeks the safety of a front cover, a boxer's opponent becomes his own shadow cast upon a facing page, and Billy the Kid's dark history is symbolized by the empty space left by his "fallen" figure.

The addition of light gives emphasis to the illustration and is used to create a metaphor. All of this is captured and secured on sheet film that is then processed and projected. This time, however, light and silver return to paper what was originally imaged with plate and ink.
You can't judge a book by its cover, but you can certainly change it.