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SCAD Library Atlanta Special Collections

2023 Annual Artists' Book Competition Winners

Award Artist Title
1st Place Jee Su Kim  Ha Ja
2nd Place Venesa Barnaby  Beyond Where the Clouds Form a Memory of your Screams
3rd Place Caroline Perkins a pillow for my heart
Altered Book Nicole Colón The Little Prince
Librarian's Choice Hsing - Chia Hsieh  Recover From Oblivion
Viewer's Choice Nicole Colón  The Little Prince
Honorable Mention Tianxing Xu Coloring Book
Honorable Mention Gretchen Harju Impressions
Honorable Mention Brigid Ashe-Moore Dyke Diary
Honorable Mention Jaehwang Yi The viking and kraken

2023 Artists' Book Competition Exhibition

May 17- August 24, 2023

A showcase of works by 2023 competition winners and selected competitors

SCAD Library, Atlanta

Winners Gallery

First Place : Ha Ja by Jee Su Kim

Medium: Handmade Korean traditional Hanji paper box with lid (constructed with chipboard); inkjet print on matte paper folded and assembled with signature binding; accordion style pages hand glued with image cutouts. 

Artists' Statement: The intricate and complex construction hidden within its bland, untitled cover unravels the life of my grandmother, Ha Ja, which encompasses experiences of pain, sadness, and happiness. The book functions almost as a blueprint of Ha Ja's life, allowing the audience to intimately interact with the subject throughout each page.  

Through the sequencing and presentation of the photographs, I seek to reflect Ha Ja's past and present lives, revealing her side of her life story that she was never given the courage or agency to articulate with her own voice. The unconventional design of the book requires some tenacity from the viewer to flip through the entire book that extends out on each four sides of the book. However, this type of intimate engagement with the viewer allows them to examine and appreciate the subject, very similar to discovering and acknowledging Ha Ja as a person, not just her physical embodiment, but also a collection of stories conveyed - one of suppression, resilience, perseverance, commitment, and dedication she experienced growing up as the eldest daughter, a mother, and a wife.  

 This work acts as a visual language for me to not only celebrate my grandmother's life but also to share her narrative with the world. It is a personal message to her that I understand her, see her, and that I am no longer the only one willing to finally acknowledge and listen to her story. 

  

First Place : Ha Ja by Jee Su Kim

Medium: Handmade Korean traditional Hanji paper box with lid (constructed with chipboard); inkjet print on matte paper folded and assembled with signature binding; accordion style pages hand glued with image cutouts. 

Artists' Statement: The intricate and complex construction hidden within its bland, untitled cover unravels the life of my grandmother, Ha Ja, which encompasses experiences of pain, sadness, and happiness. The book functions almost as a blueprint of Ha Ja's life, allowing the audience to intimately interact with the subject throughout each page.  

Through the sequencing and presentation of the photographs, I seek to reflect Ha Ja's past and present lives, revealing her side of her life story that she was never given the courage or agency to articulate with her own voice. The unconventional design of the book requires some tenacity from the viewer to flip through the entire book that extends out on each four sides of the book. However, this type of intimate engagement with the viewer allows them to examine and appreciate the subject, very similar to discovering and acknowledging Ha Ja as a person, not just her physical embodiment, but also a collection of stories conveyed - one of suppression, resilience, perseverance, commitment, and dedication she experienced growing up as the eldest daughter, a mother, and a wife.  

 This work acts as a visual language for me to not only celebrate my grandmother's life but also to share her narrative with the world. It is a personal message to her that I understand her, see her, and that I am no longer the only one willing to finally acknowledge and listen to her story. 

First Place : Ha Ja by Jee Su Kim

Medium: Handmade Korean traditional Hanji paper box with lid (constructed with chipboard); inkjet print on matte paper folded and assembled with signature binding; accordion style pages hand glued with image cutouts. 

Artists' Statement: The intricate and complex construction hidden within its bland, untitled cover unravels the life of my grandmother, Ha Ja, which encompasses experiences of pain, sadness, and happiness. The book functions almost as a blueprint of Ha Ja's life, allowing the audience to intimately interact with the subject throughout each page.  

Through the sequencing and presentation of the photographs, I seek to reflect Ha Ja's past and present lives, revealing her side of her life story that she was never given the courage or agency to articulate with her own voice. The unconventional design of the book requires some tenacity from the viewer to flip through the entire book that extends out on each four sides of the book. However, this type of intimate engagement with the viewer allows them to examine and appreciate the subject, very similar to discovering and acknowledging Ha Ja as a person, not just her physical embodiment, but also a collection of stories conveyed - one of suppression, resilience, perseverance, commitment, and dedication she experienced growing up as the eldest daughter, a mother, and a wife.  

 This work acts as a visual language for me to not only celebrate my grandmother's life but also to share her narrative with the world. It is a personal message to her that I understand her, see her, and that I am no longer the only one willing to finally acknowledge and listen to her story. 

Second Place : Beyond Where the Clouds Form a Memory of your Screams by Venesa Barnaby

Medium: Black Matt Board and PVC Glue 

Artists Statement: As an artist, I find myself drawn to exploring the inner workings of the mind. For me, the mind is a battleground where fears, terrors, and darkness wages war against my desire to live in the present moment. My latest artwork seeks to express this struggle by juxtaposing the intangible nature of the mind with the tangible reality of a graveyard. 

The piece is made from black matt board and PVA glue, which helps to create a sculpted form that conveys the darkness that exists within us, both figuratively and literally. Through this artwork, I hope to encourage viewers to consider the complexities of their own minds, and to recognize that while the mind can be a source of turmoil, it can also be a place of great beauty and creativity. By confronting the fears and terrors that exist within us, we can emerge stronger and more resilient, capable of living fully in the present and embracing all that life has to offer. 

Second Place : Beyond Where the Clouds Form a Memory of your Screams by Venesa Barnaby

Medium: Black Matt Board and PVC Glue 

Artists Statement: As an artist, I find myself drawn to exploring the inner workings of the mind. For me, the mind is a battleground where fears, terrors, and darkness wages war against my desire to live in the present moment. My latest artwork seeks to express this struggle by juxtaposing the intangible nature of the mind with the tangible reality of a graveyard. 

The piece is made from black matt board and PVA glue, which helps to create a sculpted form that conveys the darkness that exists within us, both figuratively and literally. Through this artwork, I hope to encourage viewers to consider the complexities of their own minds, and to recognize that while the mind can be a source of turmoil, it can also be a place of great beauty and creativity. By confronting the fears and terrors that exist within us, we can emerge stronger and more resilient, capable of living fully in the present and embracing all that life has to offer. 

3rd Place: a pillow for my heart by Caroline Perkins

Medium: Woodcut on fabric 

Artists Statement: a pillow for my heart reminisces on the fond memories I have of visiting my grandmother's house in Ozark, Missouri every year. Each page is constructed to feel like a pillow, so that the pages are as soft as the memories.   

3rd Place: a pillow for my heart by Caroline Perkins

Medium: Woodcut on fabric 

Artists Statement: a pillow for my heart reminisces on the fond memories I have of visiting my grandmother's house in Ozark, Missouri every year. Each page is constructed to feel like a pillow, so that the pages are as soft as the memories.  

Viewer's Choice and Altered Book Award

Medium: Book pages, with wire and tape on book base 

Artists' Statement: The Little Prince is a story that is told through the eyes of a young prince and his knowledge about the world. For my concept, I wanted to display the playfulness and innocence of the prince but at the same time illustrate one of the many metaphors of life the book shows. The little prince sits staring at the horizon surrounded by the baobab trees which are extremely massive weeds that grow through his planet. The baobab trees represent problems in one's life, where if you don't treat them from the beginning, they turn into a bigger problem in the future. 

Librarian’s Choice: Recover From Oblivion by Hsing- Chia Hsieh

Medium: Archival inkjet printing on Moab Entrada paper 

Artists' Statement: Recover from Oblivion is a photobook conveying my longing for my family when I am far from home. The photographic medium has changed and consequently has affected our understanding of our collective memories with family. It is also a book about self-discovery, making me aware of what makes me become myself nowadays. 

  

Librarian’s Choice: Recover From Oblivion by Hsing- Chia Hsieh

Medium: Archival inkjet printing on Moab Entrada paper 

Artists' Statement: Recover from Oblivion is a photobook conveying my longing for my family when I am far from home. The photographic medium has changed and consequently has affected our understanding of our collective memories with family. It is also a book about self-discovery, making me aware of what makes me become myself nowadays. 

  

Honorable Mention: Coloring Book by Tianxing Xu

Medium: Printing on paper 

Artists' Statement: "COLORING BOOK" is the title of the exhibition, as well as the artist book produced for the exhibition. The artist expects the audience to enjoy coloring this book like a child, and also hopes to understand the whole Amusement Park series in such comfortable way. The artist uses paintings, printmakings, books and installations to build a nonexistent amusement park. The stories and emotions hidden behind these works are private and ineffable. They are the removed pages from a diary, the pieces stolen from someone else's puzzle 

Honorable Mention: Coloring Book by Tianxing Xu

Medium: Printing on paper 

Artists' Statement: "COLORING BOOK" is the title of the exhibition, as well as the artist book produced for the exhibition. The artist expects the audience to enjoy coloring this book like a child, and also hopes to understand the whole Amusement Park series in such comfortable way. The artist uses paintings, printmakings, books and installations to build a nonexistent amusement park. The stories and emotions hidden behind these works are private and ineffable. They are the removed pages from a diary, the pieces stolen from someone else's puzzle 

Honorable Mention: Impressions by Gretchen Harju

Medium: wood, lichen, leaf, egg shells, surface, ibis jasper stone, acrylic paint, oolong tea, various papers including handmade papers (flax, milkweed, cotton) and (recycled paper, blue oyster mushroom mycelium, sawdust) and (mulberry). 

Artists' Statement: A collection of rituals—to be performed with the change of seasons—connect individuals with their intuition. This slowing down through the sensory experience of tea drinking and meditation helps to align the mind with the heart. The scent and flavor profile of each oolong tea evokes a different season. Our senses expand our appreciation of the natural world—leaving a permanent impression on our souls.         

 

Honorable Mention: Impressions by Gretchen Harju

Medium: wood, lichen, leaf, egg shells, surface, ibis jasper stone, acrylic paint, oolong tea, various papers including handmade papers (flax, milkweed, cotton) and (recycled paper, blue oyster mushroom mycelium, sawdust) and (mulberry). 

Artists' Statement: A collection of rituals—to be performed with the change of seasons—connect individuals with their intuition. This slowing down through the sensory experience of tea drinking and meditation helps to align the mind with the heart. The scent and flavor profile of each oolong tea evokes a different season. Our senses expand our appreciation of the natural world—leaving a permanent impression on our souls.         

Honorable Mention: Dyke Diary by Brigid Ashe-Moore

Medium: Photography and digital collage 

Artists' Statement: This photo book explores the themes of queer relationships from a lesbian's perspective. It expresses how blurred the lines can be between a friendship and a romantic relationship. And how that complicated and frustrating relationship turns into anger and resentment. Inside is several photographs in digital collage with an accompanying curated playlist as well as personal words and takeaways. 

Honorable Mention: Dyke Diary by Brigid Ashe-Moore

Medium: Photography and digital collage 

Artists' Statement: This photo book explores the themes of queer relationships from a lesbian's perspective. It expresses how blurred the lines can be between a friendship and a romantic relationship. And how that complicated and frustrating relationship turns into anger and resentment. Inside is several photographs in digital collage with an accompanying curated playlist as well as personal words and takeaways. 

Honorable Mention: The viking and kraken by Jaehwang Yi

Medium: Einstök beer can and printed hand drawing. 

Artists' Statement: I wanted to try something new with materials that people wouldn't have tried. This simple mechanical movement and unprecedented shell will be a new beginning for the field of artist books. Also, my taste in the beverage industry was reflected. 

  

Honorable Mention: The viking and kraken by Jaehwang Yi

Medium: Einstök beer can and printed hand drawing. 

Artists' Statement: I wanted to try something new with materials that people wouldn't have tried. This simple mechanical movement and unprecedented shell will be a new beginning for the field of artist books. Also, my taste in the beverage industry was reflected. 

Event Gallery

Artists' Book Competition Panel Discussion, 2023

Artists' Book Competition Exhibit, 2023

Artists' Book Competition Exhibit, 2023

Artists' Book Competition Exhibit, 2023

Artists' Book Competition Exhibit, 2023

Artists' Book Competition Exhibit, 2023