In Paul Johnson’s Ark

This past Tuesday the North Main Gallery in Salem. New York hosted an Art Party for Paul Johnson's work, which included an animated presentation by the artist himself. Johnson's  Noah's Ark pop-up book was part of the presentation, though not part of this generous show. During his talk, Johnson first showed us the ark as a completely flat piece,…

Jonah, the Whale, and Paul Johnson

Yes, this sculptural construction is a book. Ed was setting up this piece at Paul Johnson's show at North Main Gallery in Salem, New York (up until October 4) when I questioned him, because I just didn't see how this piece could possibly "close." So he closed it for me. It's many thick pages long…

Paul Johnson’s Outlier Pop-Ups

"A pop-up needs a fold:" this is what I say whenever I  begin showing a class how to make a pop-up. Ha! Turns out I was wrong!  Paul Johnson's  show at the North Main Gallery in Salem N.Y. has authoritatively proven me to be completely mistaken. Throughout this generous celebration of structurally engineered books  there is not a…