University Libraries Eighth Altered Book Exhibition Call for Entries
In Between, 2023, 11.5x16.5cm hardback novel, carved and illustrated with ink, colour pencil by Isobelle Ouzman.
Sponsored by the University Libraries Arts and Exhibits committee, “Bound and Unbound VIII” features an exhibit of altered books – mixed media artworks where books are changed from their original form, altering their state or meaning. Books from any source utilizing any medium are eligible. There are no restrictions for when works are made, and all work must be original.
“This year we are lucky to have Isobelle Ouzman as our juror,” said committee member Sarah Hanson-Pareek, head of the digital imaging lab, digital library and photographs department at the University Libraries. “Ouzman has meticulous attention to detail and her style shows her commitment to altered books. I am sure several of our readers will recognize her work which was featured this year on the cover of ‘The Whisperwicks - The Labyrinth of Lost & Found’ by Jordan Lees. Her craft is mesmerizing.”
Isobelle Ouzman is a British artist who was raised in Washington State and now lives and works in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Ouzman graduated from Tacoma School of the Arts in 2010 and has been creating book art ever since, combining paper carving and illustration to create 3D stories within the pages of discarded novels, journals and sketchbooks. Her altered books are a testament to the value of slow, purposeful work - gluing, carving and illustrating through hundreds of pages over many weeks and months at a time. Her dedication to working with books stems from both her love for reading (from fairytales to psychology and everything in between) and her genuine connection to others through storytelling. She aims to highlight the value of books as an object, in addition to the transformative nature of narrative.
Her work has been exhibited in the United States and Slovakia, featured in magazines such as “Hi-Fructose,” “Colossal,” and “My Modern Met,” and can be found in private collections worldwide.
“Ouzman’s work is stunning,” said Dan Daily, dean of the University Libraries. "I want to echo Hanson-Pareek’s assessment that the University of South Dakota is lucky that Isobelle Ouzman will serve as the juror for ‘Bound and Unbound VIII.’ Furthermore, Ouzman’s willingness to serve as the juror reflects the recognition and high regard that the Bound and Unbound altered book exhibits receive from artists across the globe.”
Entries for “Bound and Unbound VIII” are open to the public and artists can submit up to three entries by March 7, 2025. There are no fees to enter the exhibition, and selected works will be on display at USD’s University Libraries second floor exhibition cases from Aug. 25, 2025, through Jan. 5, 2026, as well as entered into the altered book collection on the Digital Library of South Dakota at https://explore.digitalsd.org and the Digital Public Library of America at https://dp.la. A full prospectus and entry form for the exhibition can be found at https://libguides.usd.edu/BU8.
For more information, please contact Hanson-Pareek at Sarah.HansonPareek@usd.edu, Danielle De Jager-Loftus at Danielle.Loftus@usd.edu, Cailey Schendel at Cailey.Schendel@usd.edu, or Michael Boring at Michael.Boring@usd.edu.
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