By: Jenna Janssen OMAHA, Neb — As technology continues to dominate our daily lives, Omaha artists are turning back the clock to centuries old techniques, using their hands to create meaningful art through bookmaking. This revival of book arts papermaking, bookbinding, and letterpress printing is not only keeping physical craft alive but also challenging artists to rethink their relationship with materials and the viewer’s experience.
Kyle Nobles, an educator and artist, believes that the resurgence of book arts isn’t just a nostalgic nod to the past, but an evolving form of expression. He describes the tactile nature of handmade books as an experience digital platforms simply cannot replicate.
“Book is so unique in that it not only allows there to be a physicality and tactilely, but it also allows the viewer to participate in the work,” Nobles said. “They do get to pick it up. They do get to experience that tactile, tactile feel of things.”
Book arts aren’t merely about preserving traditional crafts. They offer an opportunity for modern day artists to find new ways to engage with people in a personal and sensory way.
At the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), this traditional craft is flourishing. The university’s book arts program recently held a successful exhibit that showcased the work of students and faculty.
AB Gorham, assistant professor of book arts and papermaking at UNO, sees book arts as part of a larger movement in which people crave physical interaction. In an era when digital screens dominate, these tactile interactions are becoming more significant.
“It’s actually really a lovely time in the book arts world I think there are artist from all different mediums starting to approach the book as an artistic medium,” Gorham said. “People are realizing that in an increasingly digital world tactile interactions still reign supreme.”
While the digital world offers new possibilities for art, many believe that the future of book arts is strong and that it will continue to evolve alongside modern technology.
As Nobles said, “If I’ve learned anything from being involved with book arts and watching book artists is, that there’s never any way to discount them from finding ways to keep themselves relevant in some way shape or form.”
