Book spine poetry nina katchadourian

She uses the words and titles from the spines of books to form a sentence and tell a story. Local libraries create spine poetry poems made out of. The concept of book spine poetry appeared in 1993 with nina katchadourian s sorted books project. I tried creating one and now will never look at the spine of a book the same way again. The sorted books project began in 1993, and it has has taken place on many different sites over the years, ranging form private homes to specialized book collections. Looking into the nonetoodistant horizon, i see that april a. Nina katchadourian book spine poetry recreate for poetry month display readalouds, information literacy, digital citizenship, and other elementary school library presentations. After the jump, check out a few of our favorites from the book, and if youre intrigued, head here to learn more. At the time, i had never heard of such a genre but, once i found out about it, i was instantly hooked and began scouring my and my friends bookshelves for likely material to compose my own poems. At the time, i had never heard of such a genre but, once i found out about it. After your students have created their book spine poems, you can print the photos to create a.

While many have categorized sorted books as a kind of poetry, nina katchadourians. The project has taken place in many different places over the years, ranging. But when i saw larrys poem, i realized something new. Nina katchadourian, an artist, makes poetry look so fun and easy. The basic principle is to create a cluster of books, whose titles make a poem when read in sequence.

A little careful rearranging, and perhaps you could even make a short phrase jump out. I posted one my book spine poetry photos on facebook tonight and my cousin jane in nyc responded that it was her friend the artist nina katchadourian that started this in 1993 as the sorted books project. Nina katchadourian makes art with book titles if youve ever spent too long staring at your bookshelves, you might have seen the titles of some of the books begin to relate to one another. She photographs books, stacked so that the titles create beautiful poems, heartbreaking observations, and snarky oneliners that convey the unique nature of each collection. You know, when you pile up some books so the titles make a poem. Poetry created from the titles of stacked books bored panda. Every year the library at my school has a book spine poetry contest during april.

Sorted books kindle edition by katchadourian, nina, dillon, brian. I first learned about book spine cento poems through artist nina katchadourian. Book spine poetry in sorted books by nina katchadourian. The idea of book spine poetry began in 1993 with artist nina katchadourians sorted books project, with a recent online resurgence from people having a go at home. The best of book spine poetry amanda nelson october 26, 2012. Aug 07, 2012 brooklynbased artist nina katchadourian has been visiting public and private book collections to create book spine poetry for her sorted books project since 1993. Our hosts had married late in lifea second marriage for bothand they had merged their separate book collections. Brooklynbased artist nina katchadourian has been visiting public and private book collections to create bookspine poetry for her sorted books project since 1993. According to an article from amanda nelson of book riot, the concept of book spine poetry originated in 1993, by nina katchadourian, who began collecting interesting titles and arranging them in clusters so the spines could be read like a sentence. Playful book spine poetry by nina katchadourian flavorwire. Following an invitation from the editors, a book sorting was done as a project for shark.

Since 1993, artist nina katchadourian has been sifting through library collections and remixing their holdings in a delightfully unconventional way. Katchadourian began collecting interesting titles and arranging them in clusters so the spines could be read like a sentence. The book spines in the teenage girls room were predominantly blue, pink. Oct 26, 2012 the concept of book spine poetry appeared in 1993 with nina katchadourians sorted books project. This weekend im going to be reblogging your booksorting efforts. Artist nina katchadourian has mastered the art of bookspine poetry. Her ongoing sorted books project constructs irreverent, humorous and witty sentences by arranging a stack of books so that their titles can be read from top to bottom or left to right katchadourian has scoured private collections and public. One of my favourite things to do for fun is a round of book spine poetry. Nina katchadourians book spine poetry by harriet poetry. Maria popova of brain pickings adapted the spine sentences into poetry, and the idea quickly spread around the interwebs.

As a longtime fan of artist nina katchadourians longrunning sorted books project, which even inspired some playful book spine poetry. Katchadourian began collecting interesting titles and. Grammatically, many of these titles were quite unorthodox, consisting, for example. In the early 1990s, she took photographs of stacked book titles that, when read together, created short sentences and stories to support the poetry unit in the classroom, second grade students will create their own book spine poetry. Nina katchadourianchronicle books 20m 1h 2h 3h 3h 4h 5h 6h 6h 22h 1d 2d 3d recent features. American artist nina katchadourian creates witty poetry from the spines of different books stacked in a way so that their titles form coherent phrases. Not only is spine poetry cheap and inventive, its also an interesting way to share the books that you enjoy or can relate to creatively.

On april 19, 2018 april 19, 2018 by angeliquejamail in book spine poetry, harlan howe, kate lambert, national poetry month, poetry, school leave a comment. The most intriguing part of the library was the extensive collection of contemporary poetry, where many books had particularly unusual titles. The great 2020 quarantine book spine poem challenge. Book spine poetry in sorted books by nina katchadourian the following is an excerpt from sorted books by nina katchadourian published by chronicle books, 20. Sep 09, 2014 i was reading michelle machs blog beads and books a couple of weeks ago, and she had posted an intriguing idea for a blog hop.

Rockland book spine poetry started off as a lark, a meme in the 1990s, after artist nina katchadourian took photographs of stacked book titles that, when read top to bottom, created short sentences and stories in april, the rockland public library put out a contest for book spine poetry. Book spine poetry is a photo meme that involves lining up or stacking books in a particular order so the titles on the book spines create a poem. Nina katchadourian has included some brilliant examples of book spine poetry in her newly. Apr 22, 2020 i came across book spine poetry a few years ago and was blown away by its concept. Snap a photo of your masterpiece and presto, youre done. I came across book spine poetry a few years ago and was blown away by its concept. Nina katchadourian is currently exhibiting at the delaware art museum with once upon a time in delawarein quest of the perfect book, the artists latest bookspine collection in the sorted books project. Feb 04, 2015 ive seen poems composed of book titles and wanted to create one today. You can see some of her book title poetry on brain pickings, here. Searching for titles at the school library would get us out of. I sort through a collection of books, pull particular titles, and eventually group the books into clusters so that the titles can be read in sequence. If youve ever spent too long staring at your bookshelves, you might have seen the titles of some of the books begin to relate to one another.

The learning curve is low, the results are often awesome its a natural fit for a national poetry month program for kids. Oct 08, 2015 physical book spines become digital poetry. The following is an excerpt from sorted books by nina katchadourian published by chronicle books, 20. I have been hooked on both book spine poetry and popovas blog ever since. I thought this would be the perfect writing prompt to get your creativity flowing, especially when youre not in the working mood. Jul 31, 2014 the concept of book spine poetry appeared in 1993 with nina katchadourians sorted books project. She began collecting books with interesting titles and arranging them in clusters so that their spines could be read.

Honestly, i cant believe why i havent think about this, first. Grades 12, 35, 68, 912 book spine poetry is so simple but creates intriguingly artistic results. Here are some of my poems written using her technique. Her website provides additional insight into this process of creating poetry. You might know artist nina katchadourian or remember her airportbathroom flemish portraiture. Aug 01, 2012 artist nina katchadourian has mastered the art of book spine poetry. The sorted books project began in 1993 years ago and is ongoing.

Mar 24, 2020 attached was larrys great book spine cento poem. Apr 29, 2018 heres an example of book spine poetry from nina katchadourians original sorted books project. Katchadourians sorted book project manages to become more than an experiment in medium. Well, book spine poetry is an internet meme that goes back to the work of artist nina katchadourian. Many of you have decided to sort your own books, and while thats fine as you know, im no stickler for the rules its still not quite what nina katchadourian. Its national poetry month, inspired by nina katchadourians sorted books project. Katchadourian explains the roots of the sorted books project. True and false heroines laurie a speaking american. In april, the rockland public library put out a contest for book spine poetry. But an alternative reading emerges if we recognize the image on the bottom book of the cluster. The concept of book spine poetry appeared in 1993 with nina katchadourians sorted books project. Katchadourian began collecting interesting titles and arranging them in clusters so the spines could be read like a sentences or poem. Check out more examples on her site or get ninas book sorted books. Just grab a bunch of books with interesting titles and stack them up to create a juicy column of poetry.

Katchadourian began collecting interesting titles and book spine poetry is a photo meme that involves lining up or stacking books in a particular order so the titles on the book spines create a poem. Inspired by artist nina katchadourian, book spine poems or centos have been my form of choice to celebrate national poetry month for the past two years. The idea originated from a photo project created by artist nina katchadourian. And another from from maria popova at brain pickings. Book spine poetry came about following nina katchadourians sorted books project, in which she gathered peoples books and stacked them on top of one another to consequently turn book titles into lines of poetry. Ive celebrated them every national poetry month since. Now shes gone and mastered the art of book spine poetry, says art fag city. American artist nina katchadourian creates witty poetry from the spines of different. Book spine poetry from nina katchadourian thanks to the poetry foundation twitter feed, i discovered a very interesting recontextualising approach to poetry writing, courtesy of the artist nina katchadourian. I shared my experience on the alsc blog and encouraged others to try it with their students or young patrons. However, the most skilled person in the genre is probably professional artist nina katchadourian. Book spine poetry from nina katchadourian kate buttery. Sorted books kindle edition by katchadourian, nina, dillon. May 14, 2010 since 1993, artist nina katchadourian has been sifting through library collections and remixing their holdings in a delightfully unconventional way.

I was introduced to book spine poetry when a friend, knowing all of the above about me, sent me the following link for maria popovas blog, brain pickings, with several samples of this unique and fun way to create short poems. It appeared in 1993 with nina katchadourians sorted books project. Super simple book spine poetry by alycia zimmerman. Sorted books kindle edition by katchadourian, nina. During april national poetry month my local library held a book spine poetry contest. Apr 25, 2014 today, we are sharing something so impressive. So much fun, always pretty looking in photoform and often hilarious.

As a longtime fan of artist nina katchadourians longrunning sorted books project, which even inspired some playful book spine poetry experiments of my own, im thrilled for the release of sorted books public library a collection spanning nearly two decades of her witty and wise minimalist mediations on life by way of ingeniously. Rockland book spine poetry started off as a lark, a meme in the 1990s, after artist nina katchadourian took photographs of stacked book titles that, when read top to bottom, created short sentences and stories. As a longtime fan of artist nina katchadourian s longrunning sorted books project, which even inspired some playful book spine poetry experiments of my own, im thrilled for the release of sorted books public library a collection spanning nearly two decades of her witty and wise minimalist mediations on life by way of ingeniously arranged book spines, including some pieces never seen online. I was reading michelle machs blog beads and books a couple of weeks ago, and she had posted an intriguing idea for a blog hop. Book spine poetry in sorted books by nina katchadourian huffpost. All content and images on this website are the intellectual property of nina katchadourian and may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or displayed without nina katchadourians written permission. Book spine poetry was pioneered by american conceptual artist nina katchadourian in the early 1990s. Mar, 2012 the learning curve is low, the results are often awesome its a natural fit for a national poetry month program for kids. Shes also perhaps one of the longest ongoing book spine title poets her project, sorted books, arranging books by their titles to create new phrases, began in 1993. Katchadourian began collecting interesting titles and arranging them.

Her ongoing sorted books project constructs irreverent, humorous and witty sentences by arranging a stack of books so that their titles can be read from top to bottom or left to right. Jan 11, 20 nina katchadourian book spine poetry recreate for poetry month display readalouds, information literacy, digital citizenship, and other elementary school library presentations. Book spine poetry has been around for more than twenty years, and a twitter search proves its alive and well on the internet. As far as i can tell, the idea comes from nina katchadourian who was sorting library books in the early 90s and made some fantastic little compositions. Clare zoll wins rockland public librarys book spine. Mar 15, 20 as a longtime fan of artist nina katchadourians longrunning sorted books project, which even inspired some playful book spine poetry experiments of my own, im thrilled for the release of sorted books public library a collection spanning nearly two decades of her witty and wise minimalist mediations on life by way of ingeniously.

The artist says thats exactly how the idea dawned on her. Thanks to the poetry foundation twitter feed, i discovered a very interesting recontextualising approach to poetry writing, courtesy of the artist nina katchadourian. Aug 12, 2014 nina katchadourian, an artist, makes poetry look so fun and easy. My only quibble might be that i prefer the term book spine poetry to sorted books. Heres an example of book spine poetry from nina katchadourians original sorted books project. Last year, inspired by artist nina katchadourian, i tried my hand at book spine poetry and came away convinced that this was just the sort of thing that kids would take to. National poetry month is better with book spine poems. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Clare zoll wins rockland public librarys book spine poetry. Sorted books by nina katchadourian goodreads share book.

Poetry created from the titles of stacked books ieva elvyra community member american artist nina katchadourian creates witty poetry from the spines of different books stacked in a way so that their titles form coherent phrases. Book spine poetry is placing spines of books so that they read like a sentences or a poem. Posted in constrained writing and tagged book spine poetry, book title poem. Looks like a great way to spend your break in the library, doesnt it.