| There has been some serious debate over the issue | | | | is the most simplest form of art for individuals to |
| of individuals who use books, whether they are used | | | | express their feelings using collages, painting, rubber |
| books or not, to create altered books, which several | | | | stamps, fabrics, and a variety of pastel chalks, pens, |
| feel is actually defacing books. However, the majority | | | | and markers. Many of these individuals will display |
| of the used books that these individuals are using | | | | their new form of art work to showcase them to |
| would be ultimately destroyed or wide up in piles of | | | | others, which some have been exhibited in art |
| rubbish in some dump site some where. | | | | galleries all over the world. |
| The fact of the matter is that several publishers | | | | Several artists will take the used books that they are |
| actually destroy thousands of books within a single | | | | able to find in used book stores and cut the bindings. |
| year, which is not including all of the textbooks that | | | | Then through the many pages within the book itself |
| our children use that are only meant to be used for a | | | | the artist will create poems by obliterating words and |
| particular set number years and then are also | | | | phrases. Once this process has been completed, then |
| destroyed. These facts are not considered into this | | | | these poem pages are sent around the world to |
| debate simply because all individuals are seeing is that | | | | other artists. Altered books are any book whether |
| the books are being defaced. Not do not take the | | | | old, new, or used that has been recycled by any |
| time to look at the over all picture, due to only | | | | creative means in a new form of art work. |
| seeing what they wish to see. They do not realize | | | | Once individuals take the time to open their minds to |
| that these individuals are actually bringing these used | | | | this new type of art form, then they soon discover |
| books back to life, which would more than likely | | | | that they no longer feel anxiety over the books |
| never be used again due to the condition they were | | | | being defaced, especially when they realize that |
| in before they began their project. Several of these | | | | these books need to be recycled anyway. They |
| used books are purchased from either garage sales, | | | | soon come to realize that by saving these books |
| thrift stores, or from bargain tables at used book | | | | these artists are able to create new pieces of art. |
| stores. | | | | The used books are have started becoming their |
| Individuals that become involved with altering books | | | | new canvas for them so that they can express |
| have a passion for paper crafts such as collaging, | | | | themselves. Anyone is capable of creating altered |
| while others are painters, sculptors, and book artists. | | | | books as long as they have the will power and are |
| The pages contained in these used books, which | | | | creative enough, because there are no rules and the |
| have been altered, will reflect the personality of the | | | | individuals have no limitations as to what they are |
| individual through their ability, tastes, and styles. This | | | | able to create either. |