Summer 2016 | Sea Island Life Magazine Spring/Summer 2016 | Page 38

While pop-up books have always caught his interest, Sabuda acknowledges the challenges he and his contemporaries face. “Of course, I realize we’ve become a very technologically driven society,” he shares. “But I think humans will always love and be mesmerized by magic, and in a way that’s what a pop-up book is: a bit of magic between two covers.” Montanaro Staples concurs, adding, “The allure of pop-up books has remained the same over the centuries; it is the wow factor. ... So much can be hidden within each pop-up image. David Carter’s ‘One Red Dot’ is a good example of surprise and discovery. Hidden within each of his stunning, architectural paper sculptures is a small red dot. The challenge within each spread is to find it.” It is these types of surprise elements that make pop-ups a relevant and completely unique reading experience. Despite the constant echo that print is dead, pop-up books have always found a way to persevere to the delight and admiration of children and adults. As Sabuda puts it, “I think children love the idea of [another] world, a place different from their own that is interesting or exciting. Pop-up books do that; they transport young people to a different place.” But it isn’t just children who are enraptured by Sabuda’s creations. “Adults are just fascinated by the fact that a pop-up book works without any electricity,” Sabuda adds. “They, themselves, are the engine of turning the page and revealing the world. … I think “Dai Food” from Colette Fu’s We are Tiger Dragon People series an audience that loves to read enjoys taking a break from all their electronic devices to just sit back, relax and enjoy a good old-fashioned book, especially a pop-up.” Pop-ups with themes that appeal to adults have even found a home in the hands of fine artists like Colette Fu, whose volumes use photography to explore ideas of culture, identity and societal norms. Dutch paper engineer Kees Moerbeek designed an elaborate book illustrating the most advanced container terminal in the world, Rotterdam’s APM Terminals, for their 2015 opening. Moerbeek also holds the distinction of having designed the largest pop-up book ever assembled. A SEA ISLAND ORIGINAL Paper engineer Robert Sabuda created “Sea Island Pops Up” a one-of-a-kind book capturing the stunning architecture and rich history of Sea Island. Delineated into five different categories including history, The Cloister, nature, recreation and traditions, each section contains supplementary pop-ups and 3-D surprises, giving readers an immersive Island experience. In addition to sharing the culture of Sea Island, the book is a forward-thinking example of pop-up mastery. “The last page was very challenging because I wanted to make the entire Cloister stand straight up,” Sabuda says. ”I took so long to design this mechanism because there is so much paper involved that requires both strength and flexibility.” Get a first look at the finished product March 26 and 27, when Sabuda will be at The Cloister for a presentation on the making of the book and a signing. Guests and members can also bring home their own pop-up piece of Sea Island by purchasing the keepsake at Sea Island Shop at The Cloister, the kid’s shop, surf shop, golf shop at The Lodge and online