Here is an hour-long talk by Spector  sponsored by the New York Center for Book Art.

At 6 minutes in, there is a wonderful riff on the book as elemental cultural artifact, being able to stand for each of the four elements. Here are links to the images to which Spector refers – so much more enjoyable to see as well as hear!

Fire

Claudio Parmiggiani, Smoke and Soot on Wood, 2008

Credit: http://bortolamigallery.com/artist/claudio-parmiggiani/works/

Earth

Xu Bing, Book from the Sky, 1991

Credit: https://teachartwiki.wikispaces.com/Book+from+the+Sky–Xu+Bing http://wp.me/p2AYQg-Ou

Air

Doug Beube, Twister, 2002

Credit: http://dougbeube.com/artwork/2154724_Disaster_series_Twister.html

Water –

Hanne Darboven, 100 Books, 1970

Credit: http://images.artnet.com/images_us/magazine/reviews/robinson/robinson7-22-09-3.jpg