ABBA's Greatest Hits

Some believe that creating books is a talent of the elite, others that the printed word is a manipulation of the masses. As fireman Montag asserts in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, "Maybe the books can get us half out of the cave." The collective named ABBA (A Buncha Book Artists)...

By Leslie Barton

October 18, 2007

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "18478561",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "16759093",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759092",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "17980324",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "16759094",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 24
        }
      ]

Some believe that creating books is a talent of the elite, others that the printed word is a manipulation of the masses. As fireman Montag asserts in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, "Maybe the books can get us half out of the cave." The collective named ABBA (A Buncha Book Artists) falls somewhere in between. The group's "ABBA (A Buncha Book Artists) Members' Exhibition" features 35 designs from the clever minds of 16 artists, ranging from the playfulness of Peter Bugg to the sarcastically exalted pieces of Kjellgren Alkire. Nick Deford, ABBA vice president and one of the featured artists, says, "Books are a source of information and a symbol for authority and truth. When you can manipulate those meanings, there is an unlimited amount of possibility." Speaking of manipulation, Lise J. Hawkos, director of Harry Wood Gallery, allows that "there will be a sound book by intermedia undergrad student Diana Calderon and a movable bookform that automatically sweeps the floor by grad printmaker Melissa McGurgan."
Mon., Oct. 22; Tue., Oct. 23; Wed., Oct. 24; Thu., Oct. 25; Fri., Oct. 26, 2007

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.