Michael Peven
Fayettville, AR  

Open…Heart Surgery

$250

Artist Statement

A “primer” that details my heart surgery in 2002, images reveal my chest going from healthy and hairy to shaved and injured, held together with staples and strips, through an angiogram and x-ray, sternum and lungs, into the heart and beyond. The book is bound on the left and right sides and pages generally open in the middle through a series of increasingly complex methods. Such as a “fringe” made to the approximate scale and shape of the staples or undoing a metal twist tie on the image of the sternum in order to proceed to the next page.

About this Book

Handmade, paperback with stiff board, inkjet prints on enhanced matte paper with waxed linen thread, craft wire, staples, and PVA. Pages open in a variety of ways. Some are held together with steri strips and staples. Bound on left and right sides, pages open in the middle by a series of increasingly more difficult manipulations. 7.254 x 8.5 inches. 14 pages. Edition of 49. Signed and numbered by the artist. 2006.

Artist Biography

Michael Peven is a Professor of Art at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville where he directs the photography program. His creative work in the areas of unique and limited edition artists books, photography and installation have been exhibited nationally and internationally and are in numerous public collections.

All images and text copyright the artist. All rights reserved.