Robert Sabuda fell in love with pop-up books at, of all places, the dentist's office. His mother noticed a wire basket filled with books and suggested he get one for them to read while they waited. "I realized right away that these books were special," he writes in a pamphlet produced by the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature. "They were very thick and had hard covers, which to me meant they were expensive. I opened the first one and was shocked and delighted when something leapt right off the page. It was a pop-up book! I was so excited I forgot all about the dentist."

After that, family and friends gave him pop-up books for every occasion. He eventually started creating his own pop-ups, completing the first book at age 8.

Sabuda grew up in the rural town of Pinckney, in southeastern Michigan. His father was a mason and carpenter, and from him, young Sabuda learned what goes into constructing three-dimensional structures. From his mother, he learned to love literature, and because she also had a dance studio, he learned rhythm and balance.

Sabuda talks about how he also loved art. "With the ability to hold a crayon came the discovery that I was an artist. I spent hours, days and weeks drawing, painting, cutting and gluing. My bedroom was a constant whirlwind of pencil shavings, drippy paint brushes and mounds of paper scraps."

Eventually he studied art at the Pratt Institute in New York City and today works in a studio in New York City with his partner, Matthew Reinhart, creating and illustrating children's books. His first pop-up book was published in 1994.

For more information about the artist and his work, visit www.robertsabuda.com.

Events planned for children and famalies

In connection with "Travels in Time and Space: The Art of Robert Sabuda," the Utah Museum of Fine Arts is offering some special events and activities:

Britain's leading book artist and paper engineer, Paul Johnson, will discuss "Pop-up Magic" at a free lecture, Wednesday, July 18, 6 p.m. at the museum.

A "Pop-ups and Paper Engineering Class" for kids ages 6-16 will be Tuesday-Friday, July 17-20, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The class will explore all aspects of book illustration through drawing, painting and paper construction. Cost is $100. To register, call 581-6984.

"Artful Afternoon: Turning Paper Into Art" will offer an afternoon devoted to paper arts. Activities include paper-engineering workshops, a treasure hunt through the museum, creating your own pop-ups and much more. The event will be Saturday, July 21, 1-4 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

A new addition to the backpack program focuses on this exhibit. Families can check out a free backpack filled with activities that help them learn and explore the exhibit and create their own pop-up book to take home.

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If you go ...

What: "Travels in Time and Space: The Art of Robert Sabuda"

Where: Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah

When: Through Sept. 9

Cost: Adults, $5; seniors and youths, $3; children under 6, free

Phone: 581-3580

Web: www.umfa.utah.edu

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E-mail: carma@desnews.com