Dolph Smith

Books on the Move

Course Description
The early emphasis in this class will be on developing a clear understanding of traditional multi-sectioned book binding. During the week the emphasis will shift to thinking of the book as a small kinetic sculpture. Participants will make covers and text blocks with moving parts, the notion being to allow moving parts to be in concert with pop-up. A few classic pop-up devices will be included. Books will be built of wood, copper, leather, and found and made parts, and will be finished with milk paint, graphite, veneers, and imagination. Participants will be encouraged towards a balance between finished work and, more importantly, a collection of ‘sketches” or ideas to be completed at home. Dolph will “encourage and help develop student ideas from all areas, including left field.”

Artist's Biography
Dolph Smith is a book artist from Memphis, Tennessee. His home/studio of thirty years in midtown and the Memphis College of Art where he taught for thirty years were only ten minutes from where he was born. Until he moved with his wife Jessie to a new home/studio 50 miles away in the countryside in Ripley, he had, as he says, "not come very far in life." At Memphis College of Art Dolph taught painting and drawing in early years, and, in the late 70’s, developed a Hand Papermaking and Book Arts program called "The Flying Vat." Dolph's art works ranged over the years from watercolors and drawings into years of paperworks and sculpture. Currently he is involved with creating one-of-a-kind handmade books.

Artist's Statement
If I pick up a book and it has 25 pages, I see them as 25 moving parts. My approach to the book is as if it were a small kinetic sculpture with moving parts. I do this without compromising the anatomy of the book: text block, binding, cover.

My books have visual and textural content but also plenty of blank space. This is with the hope the book will be used, held, entered, explored, added to.

If I am attempting anything unique, it is the effort to find a niche dealing with movement somewhat separate from the traditions of pop-up, altered books, etc. - hence the windows with objects moving about in them.

There is also the issue of sound - going beyond the rustle of the turned page.

To feel surfaces and parts is important, too.

I hope to engage all the senses.

Therein lies the story.