Breaking the Spine: Heather Eddy

Heather Eddy

Bio:

Heather Eddy was born in 1968 in California. She was brought up in a family that had a profound love of reading and of books. When she was 16 years old, she got her first real job in a bookstore. She continued to work in bookstores for several years during high school and later, after getting her BFA in painting at Brigham Young University. At 30 years old, she went back to school and got her Masters in Library Science degree at San Jose State University. Since then, she's worked at a variety of libraries and has found a love for all books, even the ones bound for the recycling bin...

Statement:

It goes without saying that in a library you are surrounded by books. Librarians are trained to care for books - collecting, selecting, mending, and lending them. When a book has reached the end of its usefulness, it's also a librarian's job to take it out of circulation. There is a particular kind of sadness when a book is discarded, good for nothing but a Friends' Book Sale, the Goodwill bin or the dumpster in the back. Folding books is one way I have found to extend a book's life, bringing it new purpose and beauty.

I began folding books in 2008, starting with simple, repetitive folds and designs. After a while, I figured out how to make more complicated designs and shapes in my folds, eventually discovering how to make letters.

I love words and books. This is my way of incorporating both into my art and my life.