Catherine Bivens

Bookmaking



Promise - Artist Book2025For this book, I made the choice to stay adhere to the prompt word “Promise”, which has a plethora of interpretations, associations, and derivatives. From promise, I went to “ring”— a promise ring, or perhaps the symbolism of marriage, which is a promise of forever. From “ring” I quickly arrived at “telephone”, which in the end I combined with another lead I had (the song When in Rome’s The Promise) Like the song, many songs talk of promises— promises made, forgotten, and broken. The Dire Straits song Romeo and Juliet can be interpreted as a promise of love forgotten and dismissed. I’m sure everyone knows at least one song about a promise like this. 

The flip phone became my canvas, simply because I enjoy the tie to traditional reading books, and the flip phone works in a similar fashion. The phone in this case is promise of love— the vessel for the modern love letter. The time displayed on the front cover reads 3:01 am, perhaps a desperate time to be sending a love letter. 

Upon opening, a keypad of a 2000’s Razr flip-phone is as expected, but in the portion where the digital display would be, there are folded traditional love letters, which contain lyrics to the aforementioned songs. These represent that love (or pining, and desperation in some letters) is an age-old concept, juxtaposing the presence of the phone.

Materials: Found sparkly-red paper, Rives black paper, and book board. 




Earworm - Artist Book2026The book is called Earworm. Each cover is an ear, and upon opening the book you take a glimpse into the mind only to find a sharp-toothed and gnawing parasite: the physical representation of a repetetive melody. 

Materials: Canson Mi Tientes paper, Hollander’s book cloth, book board, acrylic paint, black micron pen.  


Sketchbook2026This is a multiple signature sketchbook for personal use. 

Materials: Hollander’s decorative paper, book cloth, Canson Mi Tientes paper, and sketch paper. 
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©2025 Catherine Bivens