Brian Dettmer. By Emily Schranz

20-1/2" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Toomey Tourell Fine Art

He received his BA in art, design, and art history from Chicago’s Columbia College in 1997.

He creates “Book Autopsies” out of discarded books.

He was born in 1974 in Illinois.

10-1/4" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and MiTO Gallery

Dettmer only chooses non-fiction vintage books.

He incorporates the books topic into each piece. For example:

The definition of totem is: an object serving as the emblem of a family/clan and often serving as a reminder of its ancestry

How does this piece work as a totem?

What is a totem?

1-5/8" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Saltworks

Compiled Upon a New Plan, 2010, Altered Books, 10-1/2" x 10" x 10-3/4" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Packer Schopf

He begins his process by locating imagery and text that he likes

He uses a xacto knife in a subtractive process to create negative space.

x 19" x 19" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Toomey Tourell Fine Art

House of Tongues, 2010, Altered Book, 7-3/4" x 14" x 10-1/4" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and MiTO Gallery

3/4" x 1 1/2" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Saltworks

Compiled Upon a New Plan, 2010, Altered Books, 10-1/2" x 10" x 10-3/4" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Packer Schopf

7"(d) - Image Courtesy of the Artist and MiTO Gallery

The Household Physicians, 2008, Altered Books, 10-1/2" x 8" x 12" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Kinz + Tillou Fine Art

x 2" - Image Courtesy of the Artist and Saltworks

What comments do you think this artist is saying about Books?