THE AWAKENING by artist Valerie Savarie

Hand altered book, thread, yarn, acrylagouache, bones (ethically sourced), 8 3/4" x 11 3/4" x 1"

I create art from books - an object that has lost its value, been bleed dry of knowledge and stimulus from its former owner. I take the beauty of the life force still within - whether it be written or pictorial - to create a new life based on the essence of what the book once embodied. A collaboration of story tellers - one in word weaving, the other of information sculpture.

For Autumn's Slumber and The Awakening:

Nests are a place of birth, shelter and inevitable void. Mainly created from dead matter yet in return the structure is created to sustain life.

Mushrooms are often found on growing on decaying wood. They gain life from death and simultaneously provide a source of food for others.

The hare is a universally recognized symbol of fertility. It has been associated with moon deities and may signify rebirth or resurrection. They can easily fall victim to birds of prey, tying back into the theme of nest.