DJ Stenson Art | Connecticut Artist
Banned Books Series
My Banned Books Series began with artist block. I had just been rejected from a major exhibit, besides. When this happens, I often turn to my sketch book and brainstorm ideas. Writing is a great way for me to come up with a fresh direction. While I was brainstorming, I made a conscious decision to make a new series based on something I felt strongly about, and deeply connected to. At the top of the list, were books, the result of this soul-searching. I did not necessarily want to make anything too political, but wanted to make a statement, nevertheless. The banning of books has always seemed so unjust to me. As a reader of fiction, I can't imagine not being allowed to have read the books that have inspired me, made me think, made me more compassionate, or simply, just made me love life. As I dove deeper into this idea, I thought it would be cool to incorporate actual book pages as collage. However, I did not want to use anyone's work or violate copyright law. It turns out that many of the classics I enjoyed in my youth are now in the public domain. They are free to use without any harm done to the author or their estate. My hope was to honor the souls of these books that have also been banned, and to promote the freedom to read. I wanted to celebrate reading in a new, abstract way, to encourage and inspire readers to connect with these extraordinary pieces of literature that I have so enjoyed over the years.
Note: My reasearch into banned books resulted in these finds: The American Library Association promotes reading banned and challenged books. https://www.ala.org/bbooks
Project Gutenberg is a great resource for reading free ebooks. https://www.gutenberg.org/
Banned Books I: Frankenstein
Note: This piece recieved First Place recognition at the "Summer Reading" juried exhibit, New Hartford Artisans Guild, June 2025
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley has been banned for obscenity, going against Christianity, fear of technology, immorality. As an educator and an artist, I am raising awareness to encourage people to read banned and challenged books. This mixed media work contains every page of Frankenstein, which is in the public domain. (No copyright infringement occurred). There are stitches, as Frankenstein's monster had, to symbolize fixing a broken world. There is a rag across the top of the piece representing the ragged clothing and hair of the monster, human-like, yet primitive. Fire embellishes the shape of a human heart where the pages of the book have been burned. This symbolism is two fold: It is in reference to book burning, and to the "death" of Frankenstein's monster by fire. Two bolts, not shown, are attached to the sides which are decorated with more book pages, the title page on top of the work. Mary Shelley was arguably the first science fiction author, as she wrote Frankenstein in 1816. H.G. Wells and Ray Bradbury were not born yet. This book should be read and celebrated as an incredible achievement by Shelley, only 18 when she began to write Frankenstein. Her novel paved the way for other women authors.
Banned Books II:
The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne has been banned for women's issues, going against Christianity, obscene content and immorality. As an educator and an artist I am raising awareness of banned books in hopes that people will read them. This piece has the symbolic "A" for Adultery in the lower left corner that Hester had to wear as a punishment for her love of a priest. There is a crucifix shape on the upper left middle which symbolizes the banning of the novel by Christians, but also the way the priest, Hester's lover, was not publicly humiliated and punished in the same way as Hester. This is characteristic of the patriarchal domination within Christianity at the time. The vibrant red, or scarlet color, is a tribute to the fighting spirit of women like Hester who have suffered simply for being women. There are softer pastel areas that are in contrast to jagged darker shapes to show good vs. evil. The rays that radiate upward symbolize hope. This work is a tribute to women's rights everywhere!
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The Scarlet Letter is in the public domain, therefore no copyright infringement occured.
Banned Books III:
Alice in Wonderland
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll was banned in China in the 1930s because religiously, talking animals were believed to be an atrocity, and in the US in the 1960s because of references to drug use. There are so many symbols in the book that I wanted to include those in the piece. This was achieved by first painting Wonderland as a background of patterns like the Cheshire Cat's coat, the Hookah Smoking Caterpillar, and mushrooms all in bright colors. Next I collaged actual book pages onto the piece to mask out all the shapes I wanted. There is a heart, Alice's pinafore, the White Rabbit's pocket watch, the Cheshire Cat's smile, a teapot and teacup, the March Hair, and the Mad Hatter's hat. I added details like the Queen of Hearts card, the tag on the hat, and the rabbit key hanging from white heart lace. The effect is charming and whimsical!
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Alice in Wonderland is in the public domain, therefore no copyright infringement occured.
Pieces of Alice I and II are a continuation of my love of Alice in Wonderland. These are mixed media collages with actual book pages. Each features a key hung from white heart ribbon. There are many layers of color and marks to create playful energy. Each piece is 10x10" on cradled wood.
Banned Books: Suggested Further Reading
This piece is a mixed media collage on 20x20" gallery wrapped canvas. Included in the piece are a combination of pages from the books Frankenstein, The Scarlet Letter and Alice in Wonderland. Phrases began to jump out at me such as "lost forever,""A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," "human joy and sorrow," and "Suggested Further Reading." As I'm creating these pieces, I'm contemplating what these works mean, and how we must defend our right to read freely. There is an underlying theme of protecting women's rights in these, as well.
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Explore Project Gutenberg to read free books.
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Frankenstein, The Scarlet Letter and Alice in Wonderland are in the public domain, therefore no copyright infringement occured.
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
The inspiration for “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” came from the title of an essay by Mary Wollstonecraft written in 1792. The quote is burned, so half the word "woman" is gone, symbolic of rights being stripped away. The piece is rather chaotic, and the text is not, because in a world of chaos, the word of woman is often reason and stability. The purple, gold and white used are the colors of the women’s rights flag. (Mary Wollstonecraft was the mother of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Text is in the public domain. No copyright violation occurred in the making of this work).
Explore Project Gutenberg to read free books.
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"The Vindication of the Rights of Woman" by
Mary Wollstonecraft is in the public domain, therefore no copyright infringement has occured.
Detail from "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," a quote from the essay with the same title, by Mary Wollstonecraft
Strong Passions and
Groveling Vices
The inspiration for “Strong Passions and Groveling Vices” came from “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” an essay by Mary Wollstonecraft written in 1792. The entire quote used is very sensible, and though written over 200 years ago, it still applies today. One woman’s words can provide stability in a world of chaos. The purple and gold used are colors on the women’s rights flag. (Mary Wollstonecraft was the mother of Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Text is in the public domain. No copyright violation occurred in the making of this work).
Explore Project Gutenberg to read free books.
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"The Vindication of the Rights of Woman" by
Mary Wollstonecraft is in the public domain, therefore no copyright infringement has occured.
Detail from "Strong Passions and Groveling Vices," which is a quote from "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman," by Mary Wollstonecraft.
Farewell
Mixed media collage on 10x10" cradled wood using book pages printed from The Scarlet Letter (Free on projectgutenberg.com)
As I made this piece it took on a dark feeling which I welcomed. In my attempt to capture the soul of the book in a smaller piece, I embellished the book pages with scarlet red. The word "farewell" stood out within the collage pages, and seemed to fit for the title. I used black netting to symbolize a funeral veil. The last page of The Scarlet Letter was used in this piece in which the novel culminates in a tragic, yet somewhat fitting end.
Grow
Mixed media collage on 10x10" cradled wood using book pages from Alice in Wonderland (Free in the public domain).
I love reading! This floral collage piece is intended to express the joy of reading. It is my belief, that as we read more, we experience personal growth. Therefore, I called it "Grow." It has been my privilege as an educational assistant for the past 26 years to have seen students connect with literature countless times. This is my attempt to capture the wonder of reading I have witnessed that students, and adults alike, experience. The rather appropriate heart in the center appeared on its own!
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