3-D: Robert Sabuda has turned pop-up books into an art form

Pop. Pop. Pop.

Pop goes the dragon. Pop goes the Emerald City. Pop goes the 12th day of Christmas. Pop goes the Statue of Liberty.

Is there anything more fun than taking something that's two-dimensional — like paper — and turning it into something that's three-dimensional — like sculpture — and then packaging it all into a book, so that every page offers a magical pop-up surprise?

Robert Sabuda doesn't think so.

Considered by many to be the premiere paper engineer and pop-up wizard in the world, the Manhattan-based artist has been delighting young and old alike with his amazing pop-up books for more than a decade.

"He creates amazing works of art," says Virginia Catherall, co-director of public programs and curator of education at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, which is hosting an exhibit of Sabuda's work this summer. "Travels in Time and Space: The Art of Robert Sabuda" runs though Sept. 9.

It's an exhibit that appeals to all ages, says Catherall. "We wanted to bring in something that would appeal to families. When we saw that this was available, we jumped for it." The exhibit is on loan from the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature in Texas and is sponsored at the museum by the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation, Wells Fargo, Kennecott Utah Copper and Fidelity Investments.

The exhibit demonstrates how Sabuda takes a piece of pop-up art from the original "dummy" to the finished product. "Most people would think that making it pop up is the difficult part," he is quoted as saying, "but making it pop shut is the real challenge."

It's not like his pop-ups have only a few parts. In his "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" book, for example, a tornado pops up — and spins as it does so. There's also the entire Emerald City, and the wizard's balloon dangling on a string, looking ready to take off.

The "Wizard of Oz" book was created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the original publication of the book and features linoleum-cut artwork in the style of original illustrator W.W. Denslow. Many connoisseurs consider it his masterpiece, but other books are also charming. He's done "Alice in Wonderland" and "Mother Goose." He's added zing to "America the Beautiful" and "The Twelve Days of Christmas." He's tackled dinosaurs and prehistoric beasts and life in a castle. He's done a Christmas alphabet and a "cookie counting" book and many more.

They are a lot of fun, says Dana Rogers, director of marketing and public relations at the museum. "Every time you open one, you feel like a kid again. You get a feeling of wonder as the pages pop up. I watch that spinning tornado, and it takes me back to my childhood every time."