UNCOVERED. Holly Senn used book covers to create â??Convolution.â??
Books are made out of paper, which comes from trees, which is the most obvious connection to be made between the two items sculptor Holly C. Senn used in “Volumes Reconfigured,” the current display at Art on Center Gallery.
Senn, a Tacoma resident, works as a librarian at Pacific Lutheran University when not exploring her creative side through her art. “I’m really affected by my job,” she observed.
“I’m asking questions about the life cycle of books and ideas,” Senn said of her work. Ideas change over time, and books re-elect them. In turn, books inspire ideas in those who read them. Her work explores what she describes as “a circulation of ideas,” a fitting term from a librarian.
All of the books she uses were either discarded or purchased for a nominal cost at used book sales. Senn explained that libraries often discard books. This is a common practice with medical books. In this field, innovations are always taking place and a health care practitioner could do harm if they are learning outdated information.
Sometimes books are discarded when they use terms or promote images that are no longer considered proper. As an example, Senn noted society’s views on people with disabilities has evolved, so textbooks that promote old stereotypes are outdated and are replaced.
Senn became an artist 15 years ago. After studying painting and other mediums, she realized she had an affinity for sculpture. About five years ago she began utilizing books in her work.
Her combination of books and natural material like rope and wood is meant to draw a connection between the natural and intellectual worlds, Senn said. In nature, life cycles are easy to see; a cocoon gives way to a butterfly, a sprout becomes a flower. Senn sees the same thing happen with books and ideas.
The works in “Volumes Reconfigured” were made for this show at Art on Center. She visited the gallery, taking measurements and planning how each piece would be installed. Senn used 120 books for the exhibit.
As one enters the front door, a “tree” emerges from the ground, surrounded by books. Senn purposely placed the books so the viewers can’t easily see the title. This is meant to make the viewer come to their own conclusion on the meaning of the piece, rather than reading something into the titles of the volumes.
Conservation is another theme.
In “Recompose,” book pages have been cut to look like a fungus growing on a log.
“Leaf Topography” is perhaps the most interesting piece. Ten thin slices of a small tree are mounted on the wall. From these emerges three “trees” consisting of paper cut in the shape of three different types of leaves and arranged around a metal bar.
In “Extract I,” books have been cut into small squares and arranged in a circular pattern. A piece of rope runs around the middle and twigs poke out of the top. Four other works follow a similar technique, although not all have the rope belt.
Along the back wall are book pages in a corrugated pattern.
Their covers make up “Convolution.” The colorful covers stand in contrast to the white pages and black text of the installation on the wall.
“Volumes Reconfigured” runs through May 31 at Art on Center Gallery, 1604 Center St. in Tacoma. Hours are noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. For more information call the gallery at (253) 230-1673.
