Mel Benkert (she/they) is a book artist based in St. Paul, MN. Born in rural Michigan, their work is informed by close attention to land, labor, and everyday systems. They have a background in sculpture, teaching, and technology, and studied at the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, MN. They’ve been teaching in the Twin Cities for over 20 years and exhibiting at local and regional galleries since 2003. Mel’s book works have been acquired by national special libraries and private collectors. They love graph paper, dry-erase boards, and Chapstick, but not all together. And their favorite moment in teaching is watching a student’s curiosity uncover a hidden set of skills they didn’t even know they had.