Milliken Gallery Features Sculptural Books in "Fables" Exhibition
Beginning Jan. 9, the Milliken Art Gallery will host a large selection of sculptural books by Asheville, NC artist Daniel Essig in an exhibition entitled “Fables.” Essig creates wood-covered art books and book-based sculptures. Using a fourth-century binding known as Ethiopian-style Coptic, he creates mixed-media book structures that incorporate unusual woods, handmade paper, found objects, fossils and mica. The exhibition will be available to view through Feb. 6. Gallery hours are Monday—Friday, 9:00 am—5:00 pm, and Sunday, 2:00—5:00 pm. The gallery is closed during school holidays.
“Themes of journey, vessels, travel, protection, reverence, fate and prophecy fill these pieces.”
On Thursday, Jan. 9 at 6:00 pm, a Gallery Talk with the Artist will include discussions of Essig’s career and art process. The Gallery Talk will be followed by the opening reception at 6:30 pm. The exhibition and events are free and open to the public.
Essig describes his current body of work as “hand carved animals that are book based or house a miniature wooden Ethiopian binding. Many of the sculptures depict birds or fish. Currently I am carving and exploring crocodiles often with boat and bird combinations. Themes of journey, vessels, travel, protection, reverence, fate and prophecy fill these pieces.”
The Grovewood Gallery in Asheville, NC represents Daniel Essig.
For more information about this exhibition, contact Kathryn Boucher, Milliken Art Gallery Director for Converse College, at kathryn.boucher@converse.edu.