Crossroads News

Zipper Archives Exhibit Features Student Work

“EX LIBRIS” exhibition extended through this week. 
Artwork by 18 Upper School students is on display this week at the Herbert Zipper Archives in the Paul Cummins Library. Melissa Bouwman’s graphic design students visited the Archives to learn about Zipper’s uncle, Arthur Paunzen, a Viennese artist who created custom bookplate etchings for friends, family and collectors. Paunzen fled the Nazis in 1938, only to be interned by the British on the Isle of Man, where he died of pneumonia in August 1940. 
 
After learning about Paunzen and examining an archival collection of his work, Graphic Design 1 students created their own bookplates. The art of personalized bookplates or “ex libris” refers to a small print created for pasting inside the cover of a book to express ownership. Most students combined hand-drawn images with photo-based textures and digital illustrations, while a few used digital collage. Graphic Design 2 students used the Adobe programs Photoshop and After Effects to animate and add sound to Paunzen’s original bookplates, sending birds flying, ships sailing and stars twinkling.
 
Sophomore Zita Surprenant created her own bookplate. She appreciates how Paunzen’s customized pieces seem to convey both the public and personal side of his clients. “Looking at [one] years and years after it was made, even I could tell who this person was and what they enjoyed doing. However, there were certain aspects that seemed a more personal reference, something that others looking at the piece wouldn’t understand…That’s what I wanted to incorporate in my piece. I want people to understand who I am, even if they’re looking at it never having known me. But I also wanted a piece of me inside that people might not understand.”
 
The exhibit is open to the Crossroads community through Jan. 16. A special reception will be held for parents on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m.
 
See a compilation video of the animated bookplates here.
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