University Libraries Presents 'Bound and Unbound VIII' Altered Book Exhibition
“Bound and Unbound VIII” is located in the exhibition cases on the second floor of the I.D. Weeks Library. It is open to the public for viewing during library operating hours, which can be found online. The exhibition can also be viewed online in the Digital Library of South Dakota.
The University Libraries Art and Exhibits Committee, sponsor of the exhibition, seeks to showcase a diverse range of international altered book art, to present the work locally and to build an online research collection of altered books.
“Altered books and book art continue to push the boundaries of what it means to tell a story and the ways we can give form to narrative,” said Ouzman. “Reviewing the submissions for “Bound and Unbound VIII” has been a beautiful reminder of this power, and the amount of entries received speaks to the impact of this growing art form.”
“‘Bound and Unbound VIII’ broke two new records in 2025,” said Sarah Hanson-Pareek, assistant librarian at USD. “We received the largest number of entries in the University Libraries’ altered book exhibition and had the greatest number of countries represented. Seventy-five artists entered the call for the exhibition with 124 works from 12 countries, 29 U.S. states and one U.S. territory.”
“Each submission was truly rich in creativity and imagination, making the selection process an inspiring yet challenging task,” said Ouzman. “The entries I chose for this exhibition stood out to me as pieces that explore the theme of storytelling and experimentation, as well as pieces that challenge the capabilities of books and paper as material. My own view on altered book art has been expanded through this experience, and I’m proud to see how far this type of work is reaching.”
“With altered books as narratives, Juror Isobelle Ouzman articulates an intriguing concept, which certainly resonates with me,” said Dan Daily, dean of the University Libraries. “I have viewed the pieces selected for past “Bound and Unbound” exhibits, and I have tried to contemplate what the artists aimed to communicate and what the altered books may communicate to the USD community. “Bound and Unbound VIII” will certainly bring forward new narratives to reflect upon.”
Ouzman’s work has been exhibited in the U.S. and Slovakia, featured in magazines such as Hi-Fructose, Colossal, and My Modern Met, and can be found in private collections worldwide. Her work can also be found on the covers of “Alice with a Why” by Anna James and “The Whisperwicks” series, published by Simon & Schuster. Ouzman selected 35 works from 31 artists, representing seven countries.
Artists featured in the exhibition include the following: Mariel Bass, Erik Demaine and Martin Demaine (Cambridge, Massachusetts); Aileen Bassis (Long Island City, New York); Camila Bernardo (Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil); Trudy Borenstein-Sugiura (Princeton, New Jersey); Diane Bronstein (Fletcher, North Carolina); Patty Bruce (Dallas, Texas); Anna Buckner (Banner Elk, North Carolina); Yael David-Cohen (London, England, United Kingdom); Linda Ekstrom (Carpinteria, California); Magdéleine Ferru; Peggy Johnston (Des Moines, Iowa); Brittanna Kercher (Parker, Colorado); Marina Kuchinski (Wheaton, Illinois); Carole Kunstadt (West Hurley, New York); Heather Matthew (Pottsville, New South Wales, Australia); Anna Mavromatis (Houston, Texas); Marjon Mudde (Lauzerte, Occitanie, France); Catherine Orr (Monona, Wisconsin); Piotr Pandyra (Kraków, Poland); Chris Perry (Ridgefield, Connecticut); Gina Pisello (Sequim, Washington); Janet Reynolds (Houston, Texas); Lynn Skordal (La Conner, Washington); Sabine Remy (Germany); Hiromi Stringer (San Antonio, Texas); Rhonda Urdang (Flagstaff, Arizona); Betsy Van Die (Rolling Meadows, Illinois); Naomi Velasquez (Pocatello, Idaho); Pámela Vigo Sánchez (El Paso, Texas).
To read more about Ouzman and artists featured in the exhibition, visit the “Bound and Unbound VIII” LibGuide.
For more information about the exhibition, contact Sarah A. Hanson-Pareek, Danielle De Jager-Loftus, Cailey Schendel or Michael Boring.
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