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altered books as sketchbooks

topic posted Sat, June 4, 2005 - 3:38 PM by  Abradcadoodle 		Share/Save/Bookmark
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I teach art to high school students. I require that they keep a sketchbook. Next year instead of blank sketchbooks to purchase I thought that I might have them alter old text books to use as sketchbooks. Thought they might like to choose their absolute, most hated class and alter the text that goes along with it.
Any suggestions? Ideas? Logistical issues?
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Abradcadoodle
offline Abradcadoodle
New York City
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  • Jill
    Jill
    offline 58

    Re: altered books as sketchbooks

    Sun, June 5, 2005 - 8:38 PM
    maybe instead of the most hated, the one with the most impact. I hated looking at my algebra book - the thought of having it as my inspiration is icky. But I would love to have a reason to use one of my old English books again!
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    • Unsu...
       

      Re: altered books as sketchbooks

      Mon, June 6, 2005 - 6:36 PM
      Ugh! Algebra. Don't want to go back there. But I'm thinking of using the 501 French Verbs as a photo album/shadowbox/sketchpad to preserve my memorabilia and photos of my trip to France.

      As for that Algebra book, I might dust it off, carve out the pages and use it as a display for all the compasses and protractors that are collecting dust in the attic. And maybe I'll rip that scientific calculator I never learned to use apart and use its little circuit boards and wires for something a little more . . . um . . . creative.

      :-)
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  • Sarah
    Sarah
    offline 36

    Re: altered books as sketchbooks

    Tue, June 7, 2005 - 2:47 PM
    I just thought of a potential problem -- don't most of the textbooks belong to the school? Or do the students have to buy them?

    In high school we were always given textbooks by the school, which we only kept for the year/semester, and we had to pay fines if it was at all damaged.

    So there's a bit of a problem there, and I think that for the most part, the only ones they would have on their own would be novels for their English classes...but novels are such happy things! (I once found the perfect LOOKING book for altering, but I couldn't do it, because it was Proust, and I couldn't bring myself to do anything to that book)

    Check into it.
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      Re: altered books as sketchbooks

      Tue, June 7, 2005 - 6:48 PM
      Tell them to check with parents/aunts/uncles/neighbors for old textbooks that they can bear to part with. Make the hunt for an old textbook part of the fun . . . and let the nature of the textbook serve as inspiration.
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      • Abra...
        Abradcadoodle
        offline 1

        Re: altered books as sketchbooks

        Wed, June 8, 2005 - 1:15 PM
        Ahhh, such good suggestions and discussion! I guess they don't have to do their most hated books but wouldn't it be fun to slather that Algebra book with gesso and revise those theorums into poetry? But you're right. They should go with what moves them. As for the dilemna surrounding the availability of textbooks, I am fortunate. In our area, we have a wonderful place called Ruth's Recyclables or something like that. She gets companies to donate materials they were just going to dispose of. Schools buy a membership and teachers can take a big box and get anything there for free. Schools have donated all their old textbooks so there are textbooks of all kinds there. some are quite old and that makes it fun! I was in hysterics over an old 1950's health book. Apparently the biggest issue of the time regarding health was the issue surrounding taking good care of your clothes and how to be a good sport. Anyway, would love to hear more!!
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        • Ziza
          Ziza
          offline 76

          Re: altered books as sketchbooks

          Wed, June 15, 2005 - 1:08 PM
          How lucky to have such an awesome resource. I was going to suggest to put out a call to the local city college, but you seem to have your bases covered.
          I have been talking about starting a project like this, even though I'm not a teacher, by training, but by inclination. I think teenagers would dig this majorly. I'm excited for you. Please keeps us posted as to how this comes along!
          Have fun!

          namaste,
          Ziza
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  • k
    k
    offline 5

    Re: altered books as sketchbooks

    Tue, June 14, 2005 - 9:03 PM
    Colleen,

    I started an ambitious altered book project in an old biochemistry text. It has yet to be finished because I ran into a number of technical problems. First and foremost was that the paper within was too thin to take on much in the way of media. Every page ruffled up at the touch of the most innocuous liquid -- forget about an ink wash or a watery matte medium! Also, I found that I had to pull out four out of every five pages, or so, in order to make room for the added material. As long as you are aware of these potential set-backs going in, and make a point of teaching your students how to lay in heavier paper for more workable pages, I think this could be an excellent project. I would have loved the exposure to mixed media at that age.
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