Celebrating & Collecting The Art Of Bookmarks
Bookmarks are a great way to try on art. And I’m not just saying that because I’m one of the presenters at the first Bookmark Collectors Virtual Convention, either.
Bookmarks come in so many styles and are made of so many materials, you can enjoy and experiment with form & function ideas and concepts in your own mind without feeling the pain you would at some gallery reception. But even if such interior dialogs aren’t of any interest to you, bookmarks are a great way to inexpensively try types of art.
Simple bookmarks with reproductions of the masters and/or famous artists are cheaper (and take up less space) than posters — so it’s a grand way to make inexpensive mistakes. Maybe you find yourself drawn to the vivid oranges in a mod artwork, but after a week of seeing it, you find yourself feeling it reminds you more of a fast food restaurant. If so, you can just stick it in a drawer, doodle on it, or give the darn thing away. Or, you could start collecting them. *wink*
For those with modest or even tiny art budgets, collecting bookmarks may not only be the way to get your hands on copies of works by famous artists, but original artwork as well. And they aren’t only the little paper-slip or folded varieties either.
Made of metal, fabric, plastic, cord, wood, scrimshaw, and more, there are many craftsmen, indie and unknown artists making bookmarks.
Maybe you’ll even be inspired to make some.
If so, Jen Funk Weber, owner of needlework design company Funk & Weber Designs and founder of Needle and ThREAD: Stitching for Literacy program, is hosting the The Making of an Embroidered Bookmark and the Stitching for Literacy Program session at the conference.
The first annual Bookmark Collectors Virtual Convention, an online event celebrating all things “bookmark,” will be held on February 20th and 21st, 2010. Registration is just$10 for all the sessions, forums, and trade show & gallery goodies.
To entice you to consider attending the event, and collecting bookmarks, I’ve enlisted the help of our very own Laura Brown, founder of Doodle Week. We’re offering five Bookmark Collectors Virtual Conference Commemorative Collector Bookmarks for the first five folks (from the US or Canada) who mention “The Ungulate” in their registration for the event.
Only 12 of these commemorative bookmarks will be made (five to be given away here, five my antiques and vintage collectibles site, one for the artist, and, ever the collector, one for myself), so it’s truly a limited edition. A great addition to — or way to start — your bookmark collection.
I hope you’ll consider participating in the conference; if so, I’ll “see” you there! If not, at least consider the possibilities of art bookmarks.
Image Credits:
One of six The Wedding Of The Mouse bookmarks by Japanese illustrator Gustav Klim, via Mirage’s Bookmark Exhibition.
Metal bookmark by CL Designs.
Wooden bookmarks by TRwoodworks.
I’m Going To Need More Books doodle commemorating the bookmark convention by Laura Brown.
This convention is going to be a heap of fun. I’m eager to see what’s out there in the world of bookmarks, and to get some new inspiration and ideas. I’ll e-see you there!
Hi Jen,
Thanks for stopping by
I’m looking forward to your session — and I love the term “e-see.”
My goodness, never knew bookmarks were made of more than just paper! Totally like how they can be mini works of art…..
Hey Dana, bookmarks come in about as many variations as genres of books and readers. We bookish sorts are far more varied and fascinating than the stereotype of “bookish.”
And thanks for the link in your post about the recent press about the event — written up in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer!
Glad to have the humble paper bookmark elevated to where it belongs! Hope everyone will check out my In My Book® greeting card/bookmarks at the Convention, where we are proud to be a vendor.
http://www.bmcvc.com/first-vendor/?SSLoginOk=true