ArtFolds: B&N's Book Art Experiment

Barnes & Noble has added something new to its line of exclusive collectible and classic reprints: make-your-own-book-art editions. Under the name "ArtFolds," B&N offers a hardcover edition of a classic text that, when one is finished reading it, can be transformed into a book sculpture that displays a word (e.g. Joy, Love, Read) simply by folding its pages. It's not origami--and, according to the marketing copy, if you follow the "exclusive, patent-pending instructions" ... "the process is fun and easy and takes surprisingly little time." Several ArtFolds editions are now available. Anne of Green Gables, once folded, displays "Joy;" Sense & Sensibility shows "Love"; and Jane Eyre commands us to "Read" (seen here). These books are meant to be read and then physically manipulated into a piece of art (or home decor). It's an interesting concept for mass production.

A second ArtFolds series designed by Luciana Frigerio, a Vermont-based folded paper artist who sells her wares through Etsy, are pre-folded. At double the price ($33.95) of the "unfolded" classics, they do seem manufactured for the holiday gift market, or if the less crafty among us fail at the "patent-pending instructions" referenced above, a pre-fab is at the ready.

Images via B&N.com.