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Veda M. Rives and Meda R. Rives

collaborative BookEnvirons
A BookEnviron is an artist's book that by concept and scale creates an immersion experience for the viewer
who enters and explores the space that is created and shaped by the book.
The works for which we coined the term “BookEnviron” grew out of a brainstorming session that raised the question,
“Wouldn't it be wonderful to create a book that is large enough to walk into?”
Views from exhibitions:
Pulp: Fact, Fiction & Fantasy 
a national juried exhibition (August 28 - October 2)
Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL 
installation: The Chamber
  

Dorothy's Red Shoes

collaborative works
1+1 Paper Park 
an international juried exhibition, September 8 - 14
Hanji Theme Park, Wonju, South Korea
installation: Squash Blossom
Note: This work is included in the Hanji Theme Park Permanent International Paper Art Exhibition
  
All New and Exciting 
an invitational group exhibition, July 30 - August 27 
McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, Illinois
installation: Consider the Water
  
 
BookEnviron: Virden 
a solo exhibition August 7-15 and artist talk August 11
Virden, Illinois 
Liturgical and Sacred Art 2010
a national juried exhibition (May 1 - 29 2010)
Springfield Art Association, Springfield, IL 
BEST OF SHOW AWARD
installation: Eureka Magnolia BookEnviron
  
BookEnviron: Quincy 
Artists Books as Shelter, Escape, Epiphany; 
Shaping Our Space, Our Thoughts, and Our Aspirations 
Elizabeth M. Sinnock Gallery, Quincy Art Center, Quincy, IL 
a solo exhibition (January 8 - March 10, 2010), public lecture (January 15th), 
  
BookEnviron: Memphis 
Artists Books as Shelter, Escape, Epiphany; 
Shaping Our Space, Our Thoughts, and Our Aspirations 
On the Street Gallery, Memphis College of Art, Memphis, TN
Visiting Artist s short-term residency which included 
a solo exhibition (October 22 - December 19), public lecture (October 22), 
presentations to classes, and individual critiques with graduate students, (October 18-24) 
Eureka Magnolia BookEnviron: 
Artists Books as Shelter, Escape, Epiphany; 
Shaping Our Space, Our Thoughts, and Our Aspirations , 
Burgess Gallery, Eureka College, Eureka, Illinois (exhibition dates: September 1 October 15)
Artists' Lecture: September 11th
Magnolia 
Friends of Dard Hunter Tokyo Exhibition: 
A Selection of Handmade Paper Art, (juried member s exhibition)
Ozu Washi Gallery and Oji Paper Museum, Tokyo, Japan, 
with catalog and handmade paper sample (exhibition dates: August 31 September 5) 
Magnolia Scroll Environ
Threads: Interweaving Textu[r]al Meaning, (international juried exhibition)
The Center for Book Arts, New York City, New York, 
with catalog (exhibition dates: July 8 September 12)
included in the featured artists for the July 29th Artists' Talk
BookEnviron: Iowa City
Artists' Books as Shelter, Escape, Epiphany;
Shaping Our Space, Our Thoughts, and Our Aspirations 

These installations are the latest in a series of large viewer interactive environments exploring the theme of spaces set aside for contemplation and were created specifically for the College Book Art Association's inaugural conference 
Art, Fact, & Artifact: The Book in Time and Place.
January 2009, Hosted by the University of Iowa Center for the Book

Magnolia  BookEnviron
Twin Path BookEnviron

Magnolia  BookEnviron, detail
Twin Path BookEnviron, detail
 LANDSCAPE and BEYOND
2007 Illinois State University Alumni Exhibition
University Galleries
June 8 - September 14, 2007
Dual Pathway
a collaborative installation by Veda and Meda Rives the configuration of the handmade paper
defines two spiraling pathways that intertwine as they approach the center of the artwork.

Handmade paper: abaca fiber, yarn, thread, wood, tea leaves, hair, sawdust, milkweed silks & seeds

overall view Dual Pathway from below

artists with  Dual Pathway at the reception
Dual Pathway is a large handmade paper installation measuring 20’ x 14’ x 6’ 
which hangs from the ceiling above the viewers’ heads. 

upper level of 
Dual Pathway

Dual Pathway looking up at the center
Made of abaca fiber, thirty-two separate handmade paper panels are hung sequentially in a configuration that defines two spiraling pathways that intertwine as they approach the center of the artwork. 

Dual Pathway looking up at the center

Dual Pathway detail
Each of the handmade paper panels measures 3’x 3’ and is composed of smaller shapes inspired by nature.

Dual Pathway detail

Dual Pathway detail
Dual Pathway is purposefully placed in a position to cause the viewer to look upward and is intended to define a space that is set apart for wonder, contemplation, and inspiration. 

Dual Pathway detail

overall view Dual Pathway from above
The exhibition will be available for viewing until September 14. 
Summer hours at University Galleries are Monday noon-4:00, Tuesday noon – 7:00 pm, 
Wednesday – Saturday noon – 4:00, other times by appointment, 309 438-5487.  The gallery is located on Beaufort Street between University and School streets, in Normal, Illinois.
Fiber Focus 2005
hosted by Art Saint Louis a juried biennial exhibition 
focusing on contemporary artwork in all fiber media by 43 artists from nine Midwestern Regional States.
September 16-October 28, 2005
Garden Archway: Art Saint Louis Installation
Award of Excellence Winner
an installation comprised of:  Garden Arch Lilies (far left and far right) and Garden Arch Waves (center left and center right)
Handmade paper: abaca fiber, yarn, thread, wood, tea leaves, hair, sawdust, milkweed silks & seeds

daylight view

night time view

center windows

detail of Lily panel

detail of Lily panels

detail of Wave panels

detail of Wave panel
 The Richland Installation
David Erlanson Gallery, Richland Community College, Decatur, IL
 February 16 - March 19, 2004
a viewer interactive installation comprised of:  Waves, Garden Lilies, and Quartet
Handmade paper: abaca fiber, yarn, iridescent pigments, string, wood, tea leaves, hair, sawdust, milkweed silks & seeds

overall view from hallway
Garden Lilies foreground
Waves middleground
Quartet background

Quartet seen from 
far corner of the gallery

Quartet

Waves and
Garden Lilies

Detail of textures from Quartet: Water, Fire, Wind, & Earth
Waves and
Garden Lilies
  
Gallery 510 Installation: Garden Archway
Gallery 510, Decatur, Illinois
August 1st - September 1st, 2003
a viewer interactive installation comprised of:  Garden Arch Lilies (left) and Garden Arch Waves (right)
Handmade paper: abaca fiber, yarn, string, wood, tea leaves, hair, sawdust, milkweed silks & seeds

overall view from
east side of gallery:
Garden Arch Lilies on left
Garden Arch Waves on right

upper level of
Garden Archway

looking up from the center
toward Garden Arch Waves

looking up from the center
toward Garden Arch Lilies 

close up from the exterior of
Garden Arch Waves

lower levels of
Garden Arch Waves

lower levels of
Garden Arch Lilies 

overall view from
northeast side of gallery:
Garden Arch Lilies on left
Garden Arch Waves on right
Installation size:  height=10 feet x width=12 feet x depth=10 feet overall
Spire: A Spiritual Journey--Freeport
Freeport Art Center, Freeport, Illinois
a viewer interactive installation
Handmade paper: abaca fiber, yarn, string, iridescent pigments, and wood

Spire: A Spiritual Journey--Freeport
entrance to the installation

Spire: A Spiritual Journey--Freeport
exterior view, upper level

Spire: A Spiritual Journey--Freeport
interior view
 

Spire: A Spiritual Journey--Freeport
detail of texture
Installation size:  height=12 feet x width=24 feet x depth=32 feet overall
Spire: A Spiritual Journey--Oberlin
Fireland Association for the Visual Arts, Oberlin, Ohio
 Spire: A Spiritual Journey
University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois
May 12-24, 1998
a viewer interactive installation
Handmade paper: abaca fiber, yarn, string, iridescent pigments, and wood
Spire: A Spiritual Journey, Exterior View showing entrance to right
Spire: A Spiritual Journey, Interior View
Installation size:  height=12 feet x width=40 feet x depth=36 feet overall
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Veda M. Rives Meda R. Rives