When sculptor Dianna Frid traveled to a rare books library in Oaxaca, Mexico, two years ago, she found an original copy of the world’s first modern encyclopedia, which had been devoured by actual bookworms. The 235-year-old manuscript inspired the artist to create her own distressed book, Esta Mina, a kind of catalog of minerals, such as amethyst and lapis lazuli. 

“I’m trying to give order to the chaos of the world by collecting, organizing, and naming things,” says Frid, 48. “I’m making my own system.” 

GO Dianna Frid & Richad Rezac: Split Complementary opens January 28 at the DePaul Art Museum, 935 W. Fullerton Ave. museums.depaul.edu