New England’s bed-and-breakfasts are famous for a certain brand of coziness, filled with pottery, paintings of coastal scenes, and two essentials for chilly nights: quilted blankets and shelves of old books. The work of Hampden, Maine–based artist Larry Clifford recalls this folksy ambiance, blending its textile and literary elements for sui generis objects he calls BiblioQuilts.
Open Books, a BiblioQuilt created by Larry Clifford. (Credit: Larry Clifford)
Akin to a collage or mosaic, each BiblioQuilt is made from hardcover volumes Clifford rescues from libraries, basements, and attics, which Clifford turns into “tiles” he uses to craft designs that follow traditional and contemporary quilt patterns. “I repurpose every part of every book—the covers, the pages, the spines—enhancing those raw materials with mixed media and bookbinding supplies,” says Clifford, who worked as a biomedical illustrator before switching to a career in nonprofit development. He returned to his artistic roots in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, after realizing the potential in stacks of books that were moldering in his cellar. It takes Clifford about a month to complete a BiblioQuilt of four by four feet, which is the size of Open Books, pictured above, also visible at his online gallery.
He produces original works as well as commissioned projects, collaborating with individual buyers, some of whom donate volumes to be included in a particular piece. His aim in constructing a BiblioQuilt is purely aesthetic, with no intentional messaging in the way he arranges the cut-up book parts, which combine in serendipitous ways. “My goal is to create original works of art that evoke warm memories for the clients, families, and communities I work with,” says Clifford, who has sold BiblioQuilts to collectors, galleries, and libraries. “Customers tell me they’re drawn to the concept of extending the lives of old books that haven’t seen the light of day for years.”
