Book Art Everywhere! Tony Busalacchi's Deconstructed Books Now in Our Display Case, while Litograph Prints made from the Text of the Book Subject Now on Display at the Front of the Store Near the Staff Recs.

We haven't changed out our display cases at the rear of Boswell in a long time, but recently at a book fair, one of the attendees, Tony Busalacchi, asked me to see his book art.

It's hard to say exactly what Tony does, so I'll leave it to him: "The artist is attempting to give the essence of a book by extracting its art with the hope of drawing the reader in. There are times when he adds found objects and attempts to modify the book by carving open the front cover and pages. It is hoped that one will be enticed into reading the entire book.

Busalacchi's family has been part of the East Side of Milwaukee since 1893. He has shown at numerous Wisconsin galleries, churches, and Mount Mary College. He taught history on both the high school and university level. And he's served on several arts and education boards.

Pictured is the display case, plus close-ups of Gulliver's Travels, and Moby Dick. Also on display are A Tale of Two Cities, The Last of the Mohicans,
Dante's Inferno, Frontier Days, Treasure Island, and My Bookhouse. This art is available for purchase. Please ask a bookseller for details.

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Speaking of book art, about a year and a half ago, I saw a display for Litographs, which was artwork based on the text of books, reprinted on tee shirts, tote bags, and posters. I put off an order, but when Jen came back from our regional trade show very enthusiastic, we decided to try out the prints.

Alas, the prints came earlier than the display, so we've put them temporarily in one of our plastic cubes, perched on one of our old cafe tables. I thought originally it was the full text of the story, though I find it hard to believe Moby Dick is reprinted on that print in its entirety. Even abridged, it's pretty cool. Shown below are Hamlet, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The War of the Worlds, The Origin of Species, and Pride and Prejudice.