Law Library's 11th Annual Art Show Brings Discarded Books to Life

September 9, 2008 — The U.Va. Law School Library's 11th annual art show, "State Papers," which officially opened Sept. 4, features an array of artwork focused on bringing discarded books from the library back to life.

"State Papers" is the product of a yearlong effort by library director Taylor Fitchett and curator L. Michelle Geiger, an artist at Charlottesville's McGuffey Art Center. They sought to illustrate how artists can transform unwanted books from the Law School Library into creative works.

The exhibit is displayed throughout the second floor of the library.

As curator, Geiger selected the featured artists, who included Denise Carbone, Rosamond Casey, Daniel Essig, Law School professor Brandon Garrett, Melissa P. Hackman, Andrew Hayes, Jennie Hinchliff, Lindsey Mears, Carrie Ann Plank and Geiger herself. The nine artists were asked to reinvent the book material.

"I gave each of the artists a part of the subject matter and told them that they had free reign to represent it in any form. I was familiar with their work and was confident they would produce great results," Geiger said.

The exhibit showcases myriad techniques and art forms using paint, paper, ink blots, water color, silk screens, thread, wood and acrylic. Denise Carbone's "Te loe log ical (fragments)" consists of pages littered with ink blots and white scribbles, while Geiger's "Ambition" shows a large, painted bird soaring in the background of maps and book pages.

The show will be on display until June 1. The works are available for purchase at prices ranging from $250 to $5,500; interested buyers should contact Taylor Fitchett at 434-924-7725 or fitchett@virginia.edu.

— By Prashanth Parameswaran

This story originally appeared on the U.Va. Law School Web site.

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