Jody Alexander
Santa Cruz, California

Jody Alexander is an artist, bookbinder, librarian, and teacher who lives and works in Santa Cruz, California. She binds books with found and discarded papers and fabric in a number of historical and modern binding styles that celebrate collecting, storytelling, and odd characters. Her characters, books, sculptural pieces, and found items are often com- bined to create installations. Jody is the owner and operator of Wishi Washi Studio at the Tannery Arts Center, in Santa Cruz, CA, where she and guest instructors teach bookmaking and paper arts workshops.

Website: jalexbooks.com

Boro Vessel: Topsy Turvy, Inside out and Outside in

My work is always a response to the materials that surround me. The library where I work recently went through an exten- sive weeding project resulting in the withdrawal of thousands of books from the circulating collection. Many of these books ended up in my studio. At first I was attracted to content - mostly books with interesting illustrations - but then I began to notice the cloth covers from the mid-20th century and quickly became enamored with the reds, oranges, greens, blues, greys, and so excited when I found a rare purple or pale melon. At the same time I was interested in, and researching, Boro - a term used to describe patched and repaired Japanese textiles. This book is an amalgamation of those interests and obsessions with book illustrations, cloth covers, and Japanese Boro. It is a vessel turned inside out, outside in, topsy turvy, wabi sabi, and wonderfully all mixed up.
Book and cloth from withdrawn library books, thread.
6 x 5 x 1 inches; 15.5 x 13 x 2.5 centimeters. Created 2014.