Artist Statement : Journals

I am an encaustic artist, and I am also a bookbinder. For years encaustic and bookbinding were separate entities in my life, the art and the craft, the experimental and the meditative, and I craved a convergence. My encaustic journals are designed to honor books as an art form.

These sculptural books originated with my morning tea, the caffeine awakening my senses and creativity. Jotting on journal pages, I examined facets of my humanity and designed books that visually embodied my discoveries.

The dried papers from my tea were embedded between layers of aromatic golden beeswax on the book covers. The moving meditation of tearing pages and folding signatures gave me time and space to elaborate upon ideas as the book sculptures emerged. The complex, challenging bindings pushed my personal boundaries.

Historical Coptic binding is paired with a Weave stitch along the spines, sewn with Irish waxed linen thread. Individual books are bound together in Dos-a-Dos or Gatefold structures, and some are bound completely closed or wrapped with a hand-twined enclosure.

The book sculptures are personified by their structures, through the interaction of covers and pages. Each book metaphorically conveys an aspect of my (our) humanity.

Selected work is featured. To see a portfolio of available collections and view gallery information, please visit my Collections page. To purchase artwork that is available through my studio, please visit my Shop page.

To view my artist video, read my biographical article, or see upcoming classes, please visit my Artist page.

Recent Exhibitions

2018        Penland Gallery 33rd Annual Benefit Auction: Penland School of Craft, Penland NC

2018        Light is Elastic: Artist Talk with Erin Keane at The Gallery at Flat Rock, Flat Rock NC

2018        Perfect Imperfection, Embracing Wabi Sabi: Southern Highland Craft Guild, Asheville NC

2018        Arrowmont School Art Instructor Exhibition: Encaustic Books Class and Artist Talk with Erin Keane: Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts, Gatlinburg TN

2018        Sometimes, Small Group Invitational Exhibit: Artist Talk and Demo with Erin Keane at A Closer Look: Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord NC

2018        March Art Madness, The Gallery Floorboards: The Gallery at Flat Rock, Flat Rock NC

2018        Paper View, Pop Up Shop: Atrium Gallery at The Bascom Center for Visual Arts, Highlands NC

2018        Lakescape, placed into Permanent Collection: Pardee Cancer Center Prayer Room: Hendersonville NC

2018        Member Exhibition, juried by Candace Reilly, assistant director and curator at Blue Spiral 1 Gallery: Asheville Area Arts Council, Asheville NC

Purchase Information

Please feel welcome to contact me regarding artwork availability and I will be happy to connect you with the representing gallery.

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