When pop-up books come to mind, what is the first thing you picture? Maybe the phrase conjures a kindergarten classroom or tiny toddlers sounding out their first words. Yet passersby and visitors to Davis Family Library’s current exhibit “Pop-Up! 3-D Books from Special Collections” will soon learn that pop-up books are skillful blends of literature and visual art, each serving to tell a story or evoke an emotion.
The first portion of the Special Collections exhibit is located in the entrance to the library. An introduction to the exhibit written by its curator, recent Middlebury alumna Anne Lofgren ’23 emphasizes the long history and diverse nature of pop-up books, revealing that they were first intended for an adult audience in 1775.
The collection itself, located just past the entrance on the first floor of the library, houses a wide variety of work, ranging from cartoonish pieces to more sophisticated and artistic works. The books are displayed in glass cases with short descriptions accompanying each piece, explaining why those particular books are on display. Unlike many previous Special Collections exhibits, this one focuses on the aesthetic and medium of the pieces rather than thematic content. The result of this choice is a diverse array of stories and genres, drawing in a wide audience.
The exhibition is divided into sections, two of which are “The Body in 3D” and “The Artist As a Paper Engineer.” These are two of many sections that reflect the varying tones of pop-up books. “The Body in 3D” represents the human body in two different ways: first, a classic pop-up illustration of human anatomy titled “The Sexual Organs and the Pregnant State” by Percival P. Cole depicts exactly what its title suggests, while the other, entitled “Hoorah for the Bra: A Perky Peek at the History of the Brassiere” by Cheree Berry is opened to a page with a humorous pop-up of two pancakes resembling a woman’s breasts.
The exhibit also features two well-known contemporary artists, Andy Warhol and David A. Carter, who created aesthetically intriguing pop-up books that snag the attention and captivate the eyes of viewers. The Warhol book is from “Andy Warhol’s Index” and Carter’s book is titled “600 Black Dots.” The pop-up element of their works add an element of light and fun to the art that is not possible in a two-dimensional painting. It puts a new twist on work that would appear differently on a flat surface. The presence of these two artists roots the pop-up exhibit in well-known visual art while also maintaining the bright and entertaining appeal of the books.
Another beauty of the pop-up medium is that it allows for interaction with art, sometimes even going beyond opening a page. To showcase this component of pop-ups, the exhibit features, “This Book is a Planetarium” by Kelli Anderson. If you shine a light through the paper of the book, constellations are projected onto the ceiling, elevating the reader’s visual experience and as its title boldly claims, acting as a planetarium.
Lofgren credits the Special Collections team as being the force behind the pop-up exhibit, having created the idea and provided the books for the display.
“The books selected were chosen mostly because of their aesthetic appeal and in order to display a wide variety of books,” Lofgren said.
The goal was to showcase both fun and meaningful work, tied together by their interactive nature. One of Lofgren’s favorite works is “al Hajar al Asward,” created by Czech artist Vojtech Kubasta. This stunning piece is an intricately detailed work featuring a pop-up of Mecca.
The “Pop-Up!” exhibition is a fascinating example of art taking on a unique form in order to appeal to a wide variety of audiences. It is impossible to convey the liveliness and beauty of these books solely through writing. Spice up your next visit to Davis with a study break, or if you are away from campus, visit go/popup/ to flip through electronic versions of the books and enjoy the vibrant colors and stories.
