When "Page Turner: Contemporary Artist Books" exhibit opens on March 5 at the Burien Arts Gallery, visitors will experience "poetry, surprise, fury and wit" in the time-honored visual form of the handmade artist book.

The exhibit features original work from 22 artists whose work has been shown in galleries throughout the United States and internationally.

Artist, educator and exhibit curator Kelda Martensen also noted that the artists featured are bringing a fresh look to this time-honored visual form.

People "will be both delighted and surprised," she said of the innovative exhibit. "Each artist book sets the viewer on a creative journey.

Visitors will find themselves in the stirring position of interpreter to a powerful conversation between artist and page as images and narrative unfold."

The exhibit will include original works from nationally known artists such as Ken Botnick, Diana Guerrero-Maciá and Regin Igloria, to emerging artists such as Chandler O'Leary, Carrie Iverson, Rachel Dennis, Mandolin Brassaw, Nicolette Ross, Molly Brooks, Lloyd McMullen and Neil Clark.

Several university faculty are also featured, including Jana Harper and Amy Thompson, Washington University, St. Louis; Inge Bruggeman, Oregon College of Art and Craft; Jessica Spring, Pacific Lutheran University; Don Olsen, Art Institute of Portland; Megan Sterling, Harrington College of Design and Valerie Wallace, Portland State University.

A complete listing of artist biographies and images of selected artist books are available at http://contemporaryartistbooks.blogspot.com/.

Art lovers throughout the Puget Sound area are invited to visit the exhibit and also to lend support to the Burien Arts Gallery, which plans to close temporarily following the show while it searches for a new location.

The exhibit will be available March 5 - March 19. The gallery, located at 421 S.W. 146th Street, is open Thursday-Friday, noon - 5 pm; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 pm and Sunday, 11 am-4 pm. Admission is free.