Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Urban Prairie "Collector Profile" Series (5)


Art School Girl's origins can be traced back to owner, Amy Rowan's days as a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. It was there that she constructed what would be the first of several stationery lines—a simple blank journal made from recycled books. Fueled by a passion for paper and a love for specialty printing processes, Art School Girl specializes in one-of-a-kind hand made paper goods. Expertly crafted from recycled materials and often sewn or printed by hand, each piece is artisan quality.

Name: Amy Rowan
Location: Chicago, IL
Company: Art School Girl

Influences: Broken books, library discards, wrong answers in old workbooks, handwritten library cards, printing that’s just a little off register, halftones, old mailing labels, typewriters, stitches, linear drawings, neon diamond signs, plants that grow, albino animals, bunnies on the sidewalk, the ocean, the woods, artists (this list is endless but currently I love the work by Caroline Hwang, Camilla Engman, and Lisa Solomon) and of course my ever talented group of friends and family.

Philosophy: Personally I try to consume less, recycle more, and reuse wherever I can. In my work I try to resuscitate surplus, discarded, and ordinary materials by repurposing them. I enjoy making old cast-offs desirable again. As well as creating products that encourage personal correspondence and creative thinking.

Favorite Collection: My library of vintage books

Favorite Piece from Collection: First Aid book collection

Website: www.artschoolgirl.com

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