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Peter was a long-time friend and supporter of Book Beat for over twenty years. He attended our 11th anniversary party and at our 25th bookstore anniversary, a huge thunderstorm prevented a big turnout – only a few guests arrived, Peter among them. He communicated almost daily over the telephone with Book Beat co-owner Colleen Kammer, and would stop by once a week like clockwork (usually every Friday after work) to pick up and look over new book arrivals. He had his own box and shelf where he’d store his special stash. Colleen and Peter shared their close relationship with children’s books. They both read voraciously and were devoted fans of good writing. Nothing escaped them. Colleen encouraged Peter to begin his weblog, which became the perfect outlet for his writing and thoughts about books. The weblog allowed him total freedom to pursue his ideas without the constraints and pressures of commercial writing. Colleen and Peter both spent their weeks leading up to the Newbery and Caldecott Awards deep in study, comparing notes, consulting, reading and analyzing potential nominees. At a book launch and photo exhibit on March 17th, 2012 held for Step Gently Out, Peter was able to meet author Helen Frost, photographer Rick Leider, along with other authors in attendance; Kathe Koja and Sarah Miller (author of Miss Spitfire). Peter came to many of our Young Adult and children’s author events and usually stayed in the background. At the signing for Step Gently Out, Peter was out of his element but had a great time and stayed near the end to talk and meet informally with everyone. This may have been Peter practicing public relations. His new book was now being planned for release and he knew he would be making public appearances. In early May, Peter had an accidental fall in his house and broke his leg. It was also just announced that Book Beat had won the Pannell Award in 2012, a prize given for excellence in children’s books by the Women’s National Book Association. He was happy for us and upset about missing the 30th anniversary party being planned in the summer. Colleen told him even if he needed to come in a wheel chair, there was no party without Peter and we would pick him up to attend. Peter began watercolor painting soon after he moved into his new house as a way to relax and enjoy his spare moments. He painted his surroundings, nature scenes and childhood memories in a straightforward, gentle primitive style. What interested Peter were the direct feelings and emotional connections he could have and communicate through his subjects. His self-taught artwork was honest and direct, reminiscent of many renowned folk artists. At the Book Beat’s 30th anniversary party in August 2012, we were lucky to be able to share his artwork (thanks to his brother John) in our backroom gallery.
Peter died suddenly following complications after the accidental fall down the stairs of his second floor bedroom. His death at the age of 53 stunned his family, friends and the online children’s book community. Publisher’s Weekly said, “He was known to many for his knowledgeable and opinionated posts about the books (and book creators) that were of passionate interest to him. Those fondly remembering him these past days all over the kidlitosphere also recalled his quick wit and great sense of humor, which he displayed to great effect in several April Fools’ Day postings on his blog.” Peter’s colleague and co-author in the Wild Things book project was Julie Danielson, creator of the blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. She wrote, “It was my pleasure to work and write with Peter over the past three years. He had a keen wit, a kind heart, and a brilliant mind. He was an avid reader; every time we turned around Betsy and I were amazed, but not surprised, by the number of children’s lit-related stories he had stored in his brain and the knowledge he held on the subject.” The third member of the Wild Things project was Betsy Bird of Fuse 8 who said, “The heart of the matter is that he loved kids books. Loved them more than anyone else I know. Some of us talk about dedicating our lives to them. Peter actually did it and with his death there is absolutely no one to fill his shoes. Peter didn’t just know the history of children’s literature, he made it accessible to the masses. When I discovered his blog Collecting Children’s Books all those years ago it was like stumbling on a veritable goldmine. His writing wasn’t just smart. It was funny, infinitely witty, and easily put my own to shame. Nobody knew as much as he did or was as good at conveying that info in such an engaging way.” The Kirkus review said, ”Friends and acquaintances will miss his Facebook status updates, mini-memoirs about his family, and playful stories about his pie-baking experiments and attempts to learn watercolor painting. One of my favorite recent status updates was his attempt to paint a woman’s face: “This morning’s test painting: Let’s see, the pupils of her eyes are square, her lips are about two inches left of her nose, and her chin is as big as a dinner plate. Also, she kind of looks like a man to me. (Painting can be a drag!)…” Roger Sutton at the Horn Book (where Peter was once a book reviewer) said, “Peter always had the best historical gossip about children’s books and he would track a rumor to its source like a bloodhound. There was no one in this field like him, and he will be missed.” Peter’s library of first edition Newbery books was built up over his lifetime and became the centerpiece of his new home, he thoughtfully shared with his parents. It was his wish to have his collection of books donated one day to Wayne State University where they can be shared and studied by researchers and fans of children’s books in the future. A gathering of Peter’s friends is being planned this summer and is titled; Celebrate the Life of One of Children’s Literature’s Luminaries: A Peter Sieruta Event. It is being put together by his co-authors Julie Danielson and Betsy Bird, and will happen at the ALA in Chicago on June 28th. More information is available at Fuse 8. Peter was a gifted writer and kind person. He valued his privacy, family and friendships and in his unique way, taught us what he knew. It’s been only a year since Peter has passed and we all still miss him dearly. Here is a short memory about Peter his brother John wrote to us last year; “When we were kids we went to the Edison Library on Joy Road. Peter picked out 5 or 6 books which was typical – I was holding them on the handle bars and fell off. Face first onto the street. Peter’s concern wasn’t me…he said “How are the books? Are they scuffed?” The following is an autobiographical statement written by Peter at the age of 12 for a school assignment, shared soon after his passing by his brother John.
I entered school September 4, 1963. The school I entered was Horace Mann. Miss Distin was my teacher. I had always looked forward to starting school! ?We had several activities in kindergarden. I enjoyed drawing. I did not join many organizations in school, I only joined two. Library staff was a rewarding organization. It taught me many library skills. I am forever grateful to Miss Weil. Once when I was in school there were some signs posted around the room announcing a Spelling Bee. I ran home and started practicing. I practiced for the whole week. That day I was very nervous. Somehow, I won! ? The winning word was appetite. The test word was argue. I won a handsome dictionary from the Detroit News. I have no real plans for the FUTURE. But I know I will go to school and then on to college. I think that teaching might be fun. The End. |
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Tags: Peter Sieruta Posted in: Art, Book Beat / Shop history, Book Collecting, Children's Books, Obituary, Young Adult, Young Adult books | 2 Comments » |
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“..for a true collector the whole background of an item adds up to a magic encyclopedia whose quintessence is the fate of his object.”~ Walter Benjamin, Unpacking My Library
April 20th was Record Store Day, an international day created in 2007, by a group of independent record store owners to promote vinyl recordings. Early that morning across the country, people lined up in front of small independent record stores to purchase and celebrate the survival and unique qualities of vinyl recordings. Limited edition albums from Van Dyke Parks, The Band, Half Japanese and over 200 other artists were released that day – with similar hard-to-find recordings released once each year on Recordstore day. [photo above: lines forming early at Underground Sounds in Ann Arbor, photo by David Brenner, annarbor.com] Excitement and buzz surrounds these small edition recordings, all simultaneously issued on the third Saturday of April. People discuss the selections and blog about them months ahead. Old blockbuster LPs, never released, unusual oddities and dozens of limited edition 7″ recordings come out for eager waiting fans. Forget about Christmas, this is the busiest day of the year for many indie record stores, who begin stashing rare goodies for months in advance all adding to feed the record store mania. “Steve Jobs was a pioneer of digital music. His legacy is tremendous,” Young said. “But when he went home, he listened to vinyl (albums).” -Neil Young [ source: Christian Science Monitor]
Perhaps bookstores could take a page from the playbook of record stores. Could publishers and bookstores combine a strategy to create a parallel day of international book mania ? What would a bookstore day look like? The prospect of early morning line ups for limited book releases, readings, signings, artist designed book bags, food, art and events — would be an inspring sight. The last time people lined up early for books was during the Harry Potter releases, which were spontaneous grass-roots events. Imagine a day that could create “book fever” on a grand scale – how fun and positive that would be. In some ways, indie bookstores seem even better poised and organized to bring off a day of book celebration, than record stores selling esoteric vinyl. They both have survived similar experiences, especially in their handeling of the digital gulch. Nobody seems to be talking about the huge piracy issues involved with music or books much anymore. Like the pirating of music and video in torrents, entire hi-jacked libraries of 2500 pdf- e-books are now offered for free and take only a couple hours to download. Music and bookstores both deal with a huge variety of selections, taste and styles -they act as gathering posts for discussion, learning and disseminating culture. Bookstores have regional groups, newsletters, the ABA and other support systems at their disposal, great resources that they could rally together on a day for books. Perhaps vinyl music collectors are a more passionate and dedicated breed of collector than book readers and maybe the pressure from online retailers and piracy issues forced record stores into become more agile and better retailers. Record store Day has helped bring attention to the stores and the products they offer.
Giving away books (a highly personal item, not unlike records) randomly to people on the street without regard to their reading habits or personal preferences, is like spinning a roulette wheel. The giver is familiar with the book and can try and give the recipient an idea about its content – but in most cases that’s an unlikely scenerio. Sometimes a random act of kindness is given without much thought or concern for its outcome. People will pick up almost any free sample handed to them on the street – but the process of choosing a book or record (especially when you are using your own money) is a highly personal one, needing thought and effort put into it. Can you imagine if people gave out top 40 records on the streets as charity to “non-music lovers” or “light listeners”- what would the effect be? I believe most of those recordings would end up in the garbage or un-listened to.
The personal choice of one’s reading material is something done more effectively inside a bookstore or library in private. The act of browsing is a physical, visual and intellectual art, one that needs to be experienced and practiced. Art galleries, museums, libraries, music and bookstores all offer that experience at little or no cost. Browsing is now regarded as an online activity between a persons digital browser and his cell phone or computer. In his essay The Painter and Modern Life, poet Charles Baudelaire put forth the idea of the flâneur as someone strolling down the street, wasting time but still engaged with life, actively looking. The strolling person can wander freely and linger on his way, aware and in contact with their physical surroundings, engaged in thinking, an endangered act these days. Browsing slows life down and gives the mind breathing room. It allows chance encounters and discoveries to happen, and you begin to find out who you are as a person.
[photo above: crowded book browsers and book stalls in Barcelona on April 23rd] San Jordi day was created by a bookseller that wanted to inspire passion into book giving. He chose April 23rd because it was the death anniversary of both Shakespeare and Cervantes in 1616, and the feast day of Saint George. In the Detroit area, Núria (a native of Barcelona) and Elie, are both wine merchants and committed art advocates who have started “The Society of Saint Jordi” several years ago through which they produce The Day of Books and Roses festival held at the Ferndale Public Library. They bring together books, authors, musicians, food and wine as a continuation of this wonderful tradition. World Book Night has taken the booksellers holiday (April 23rd) and practically removed the bookseller from it. WBN selects the books from a panel of librarians and booksellers and is able to give them away because they are donated by publishers and the authors forego any royalties on WBN books. The system uses bookstores as drop off points and distribution centers for the thousands of hand-to-hand givers. WBN hopes these book giveaways will change lives and create new readers, giving non-book buyers and “light readers” a taste of contemporary classics. I’m hopeful that many life-changing events can occur and applaud any charity directed at the poor and needy, especially among those unable to afford or get in touch with books. If the intention of WBN is to create lifetime readers, then why not aim their resources and efforts at very young, or impoverished children — they are really the ones on the front lines of literacy and picture books would be much easier, lighter and practical to print and distribute. Putting books in the hands of children will help them create their own libraries and may help improve the future of the book. World Book Day is an international celebration sponsored by UNESCO but seems most heavily organized in the British Isles. On that day, children are given tokens or vouchers for pre-selected free titles available at any bookstore, or the child can use the tokens to get a discount off any new book at a bookstore. This is one of the largest book and reading stimulus programs in the world, and offers “big celebrations of reading with millions and millions of vouchers for free books going out to kids.”– while bringing children into bookstores, the vouchers also allow for freedom of selection, an important element in supporting and creating readers for life. International Children’s Book Day is April 2nd (the birthday of Hans Christian Anderson) and also celebrates books and reading for children. Their Children in Crisis program, “provides support for children whose lives have been disrupted through war, civil disorder or natural disaster.” This group is based in Switzerland and seems to be running on limited resources. I’d love to support any program that empowers children (or adults) by allowing them to choose their own books -and to find them inside of bookstores. If a token works in the UK, why not adopt that here? Perhaps Bookstore Day – or the promise of a global San Jordi day will come to pass when booksellers feel it imperative to make it happen. Authors and publishers could create special works that celebrate the book – and we’d have a one day party to announce and spread this conspiracy of book mania. Working in a bookstore is a liminal position, an uneasy balancing act. Attacks happen from all directions. Publisher’s can seem both supportive and threatening -while the looming specter of a paperless, book free world appears both possible and dismal. We remain here to try and postpone the book-replacing e-readers in our Fahrenheit 451 world as long as possible. By keeping book culture alive and prosperous inside bookstores, we can all take part in slowing down their advance. Just as the premature death of vinyl records was called too soon and reversed by Recordstore day, so might a similar reversal and appreciation of book culture be accomplished by a united bookstore day celebration. |
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| Posted in: Book Beat / Shop history, Book Collecting, Bookstores, Essays, General | No Comments » |
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October 31st, 1976 was the 50th anniversary of Houdini’s death at Grace hospital in Detroit. On that day, Mel organized a gathering with five fellow magicians who came together in the same room in which Houdini died, in an attempt to contact his departed spirit. The event was covered in newspapers and on TV. At a signing for Daniel Waldron’s; Blackstone, a Magician’s Life: The World and Magic Show of Harry Blackstone, 1885-1965, Mel entertained the audience at Book Beat with amazing card tricks and stories about the great magicians he knew. For most of his life, Mel was a professional magician in the Detroit area known as “Magical Mel”. During the 1970s, Mel ran a local magic shop in the Telex-mall at 10 mile and Telegraph known as “The Emporium of Magic.” It became a local hangout where kids and adults could learn about magic and tryout their routines. Mel loved to pass along his enthusiasm and love for magic. He passed away on March 2nd, 2012. STEP RIGHT UP! Beginning in the last week of October and throughout December 2012, Book Beat will be selling and displaying Mel’s specialized collection of magic books and ephemera in our backroom gallery. Included in the sale is a a large grouping of books related to the circus; sideshow entertainers, freaks, P.T. Barnum, posters, magazines, photo stills and biographies of magicians (many of them signed) and over 40 rare and seldom seen tarot and cartomancy decks. Mel’s private library represents a lifetime of passionate collecting. The majority of books have been priced below online values and offer a great opportunity for both the novice or advanced collector. Mel’s wife Rosalie penned the following short biography:
Mel Eisenberg was born Nov. 12, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan, where he lived until he married and moved to Oak Park. He attended Central High School and graduated in 1953. He then went to Detroit Institute of Technology, graduating Cum Laude, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. He was a member of Omega Alpha Pi, an honorary fraternity. He married his childhood sweetheart, had two children, and a long career in the printing industry as General Manager of several companies in the Detroit area. His last position was as a printing forms salesman, which put him in contact with the public, which he truly loved.
Mel was a member of the Int’l Brotherhood of Magicians, the Psychic Entertainers Association and the Society of American Magicians. During his lifetime he had many hobbies, one of which was collecting magic and circus books. He has a collection of approximately 500 books which are on display for purchase at the Book Beat, in the Lincoln Center, Greenfield and Lincoln, Oak Park, MI. Mel was well respected both in his business and personal life. He died on March 2, 2012 at the age of 76. At his funeral he was honored by having a “Broken Wand” ceremony, performed by one of his early students of 50 years ago. Note: All photos above are from the estate of Mel Eisenberg; from the top; Mel performing at about age 15, Mel’s cloth pin he wore on his jacket, Magical Mel pin, Mel performs a levitation with his assistant Rosalie, Mel performing balloon magic. |
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Tags: Card tricks, Circus books, Houdini, Magic books, Magical Mel, Magicians, Mel Eisenberg Posted in: Book Beat / Shop history, Book Beat Gallery, Book Collecting | Comments Off |
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The project came together during meetings held at Eastern Market beginning in March of 2012. Present during the early phase of discussion were Leon Johnson, Megan O’Connell, Lynn Crawford, Rebecca Mazzei and myself. At one meeting, we brought objects from our own collections that “broke the mold” in unusual and unbound formats. One object titled “Box” was from Mazzei’s collection. It was a fluxus inspired 12 inch square black box stuffed with a variety of hand-made booklets, blueprints, broadsides and posters published by the California Institute of Arts in 1971. At that meeting, we discussed creating contents related to Afro-futurism and I mentioned an old Destroy All Monsters sound-sculpture idea and collaboration with Aaron Ibn Pori Pitts’s Ogun collective. Rebecca was interested in making that happen for the fall at MOCAD, and the “Vision in a Cornfield” installation was put on the calendar to open in the fall of 2012. We responded to the 12” LP format, and decided on the underlying theme of Afro-futurism as a focus. We were not attempting to define or deeply examine the concept, but simply acknowledge its widespread influence as inspiration among the artists we discussed. Soon, various artworks, booklets, poetry, interviews, recordings , posters, postcards, photos, stickers and buttons made there way into the box. Each box was uniquely designed, hand-painted and bejeweled by artist/musician Efe Bes, who transformed them into magical vessels. Several nights of pizza parties were spent painting and decorating the box lids with Efe, Mo and the staff at MOCAD. The Box includes a 12” vinyl LP of unreleased works by Sun ra (performed at the Detroit Jazz Center on New Year’s Eve 1979) and Aaron Ibn Pori Pitts, along with a reprint of Toward a ‘Ratio’nal Aesthetic, a deep and dense music manifesto and Sun Ra-like equations called ”Faruquisms” by Faruq Z. Bey, who revised and worked on the book just shortly before his death. I discovered Ibn’s personal recordings through M. Saffell Gardner, by way of recording engineer Ras Kente. Ibn hired at his own expense, some of the best musicians from the Detroit area and laid down his highly charged words and poems, arranged as upbeat raps and sermons, alongside free-form Jazz riffs and reggae/dub beats. Recorded in 1987, these studio recordings were known only within his immediate circle of friends and unreleased. Produced in the manner of a “Last Poets” album, they are another testament to the passion and diversity this multi-gifted artist. The Box was edited by Rebecca Mazzei and myself in an edition of 200 of which 150 are for sale to the public. Boxes are available from either Bookbeat or the MOCAD store. Special thanks to all the artists, writers and musicians who helped contribute to Box #1, and to Megan O’Connell and the staff and interns at MOCAD who helped collate the edition. Images of Box #1 that are still available and can be ordered from Book Beat are posted online HERE Contents of Box #1 are in an edition of 200 unless otherwise noted. Recordings; Sun ra & Aaron Ibn Pori Pitts; Spirt Songz a 12″ vinyl LP, contains live Sun Ra Arkestra recordings from the Detroit Jazz Center on New Years Eve, 1980 followed by a side of Aaron Ibn Pori Pitts’ studio recorded words and music. Sun Ra tracks include; Journey to Saturn and excerpts from; There is Change in the Air, Are You Spotless? and When There is No Sun. The Sun Ra recordings were edited and digitally re-mastered by Warren Defever and Cary Loren sometime in the late 90s from tapes produced by John Sinclair. The recordings were licensed by MOCAD from Artyard in the UK who now hold the rights to the recordings. The LP side of Aaron Ibn Pori Potts’ compositions was recorded in 1987 at Lion Sound Studios by Ras Kente, all words and music © Aaron Ibn Pori Pitts, the LP was edited and mastered by Loren. Musicians performing beside Ibn include; James Carter, Amp Fiddler, Ron Smith, Titilaya, Ron Rutherford, Mellow Man and Ras Kente. The title “Spirit Songz” comes from the name of one of Ibn’s unreleased albums. Spirit Songz was pressed in an edition of 300 copies. Various Artists; The Spell of Jadoo, is a 16 track, 74 minute CD compilation featuring tracks by Sun Ra, THTX, Warren Defever & Furuq Z. Bey, Aaron Ibn Pori Pitts, Baba Akunda, Little Princess, Slither, Efe Bes, Kim Fowley, The Impaler, Destroy All Monsters, Monster Island and James Semark, 2012. All the tracks have never been released before. The music was compiled and edited by Loren with assistance from Matthew Smith. Pressed in an edition of 300 copies. Text Faruq Z Bey: Toward a ‘Ratio’nal Aesthetic, is a second edition reprint of Faruq’s rare music theory booklet, first published by Ridgeway press in 1989. This 68 page perfect bound edition was re-designed by Megan O’Connell at Salt & Ceder Press in 2012, and produced by MOCAD in an edition of 300 copies. Rob Tyner & John Sinclair; “Motor City Afrofuturism,” an interview with Rob Tyner by John Sinclair is a reprint from the Ann Arbor Sun from 1967, with 3 added photos of Rob Tyner by Leni Sinclair, printed on 12×12″ newsprint, re-edited and arranged by John Sinclair in 2012. The “poem for the liner notes to Pinkeye’s Live Deathless album” by James Semark is also reprinted from the CD released in 2009. Pedro Bell & Cameron Jamie: “Ammagamma-Goo-Chee,“ an interview with Afro-futurist & Funkadelic artist Pedro Bell by Cameron Jamie. Chicago, 2009. Sun Ra; “A Profile of Sun Ra” interview by Grant Martin, reprinted from the Detroit-based Tribe Magazine, 1975. Destroy All Monsters; The Swamp Gas Gazette, a UFO 8 page tabloid newspaper zine, produced by DAM in an edition of 5000 copies in 2002. James Semark; “The Judgment of Edmund Zwingy,” short story by Semark, reprinted from Night-Vision Express, cover drawing; “Each One is Real, Each Real is One” also by Semark, Detroit Artists Workshop Press, 1965 Sun ra; “Cosmic Equation,” poem by Sun Ra (date unknown) designed by Salt & Cedar Letterpress. 2012. .Edition of 150 numbered and 50 lettered copies. Sun ra “The Endless Realm,” poem by Sun Ra (date unknown) designed by Salt & Cedar Letterpress. 2012.Edition of 150 numbered and 50 lettered copies. Amiri Baraka; “I Liked Us Better,” poem, 2012. Terry Blackhawk; “For Dudley Randall,” poem . 2003 M. L. Liebler; “Trembling in the Temple of Tears at the Feet of Buddha,” poem . 2010. Aaron Ibn Pori Pitts;“The Path” and “Ogun; In the Modality of Modified Metal as a Metaphor” - two poems (date unknown)
RAMM:ELL:ZEE / Super Heroes & Villains; Monster Models & Garbage Gods (1991) a collection of Rammellzee’s 21 monster sculptures with text. Photography by Adam Reich, courtesy The Suzanne Geiss Company, New York City and the estate of RAMM:ELL:ZEE, 4×5.5″ 20 pages, staplebound booklet with two page pink text insert, designed by Loren, produced by MOCAD in an edition of 200. Pictured left; “Chimer” on the front cover of the booklet. Gary Grimshaw; Sun Ra and His Myth Science Arkestra in Concert with MC5 20×24″ folded poster reprint by Gary Grimshaw. 1967, 2008. Edition of 250, three color silkscreen. Frank Bach In Residence In Concert Detroit Sun Ra and His Omniverse Jet-Set Arkestra 12×17″ folded poster by Frank Bach. 1979-80, produced by MOCAD as an LP cover with Spirit Songz credit information on back. 2012, edition of 300. Gilda Snowden; A 5×7″ original acrylic stencil painting by Snowden signed and dated on the reverse. Jerome Feretti; 7×7″ print with hand coloring crayon additions by signed recto. (some boxes may contain a small signed hand-made brick by Feretti. Barry Roth; A 5×7″ photograph in two different editions of 100 each by Roth, signed and numbered in an edition of 100 each on the reverse. Maurice Greenia; Original pen and ink drawing on 11×11″ paper, signed, titled and dated recto. Ryan Standfest; Ardent Boner, a 8.5x 5.5″ staplebound 16 page booklet of drawings based on Andre Breton’s African art collection by Ryan Standfest, © Rotland Press, 2012, signed and numbered edition of 200. Tom Carey; “Yakub’s Folly”, three color hand pulled woodcut by Tom Carey; titled, signed and numbered on recto, edition of 200.
Dianetta Dye; ”Urban Etch #13 Man” unique monoprint by Dianetta Dye , signed, titled and dated on reverse. Chris Riddell; 8.5×11 Xerox collage by Chris Riddell, signed and numbered on recto, 2012 Leni Sinclair; 6 postcard photos by Leni Sinclair in an envelope includes; Faruq Z. Bey color (1975), Sun Ra in black and white (1977), Sun Ra in color (1977), June Tyson color (1977), Alice Coltrane black and white (1972) and Roscoe Mitchell color Art Ensemble of Chicago performance (date unknown) by Leni Sinclair. 8.5×11″ glossy photo of Sun Ra and His Omniverse Jet-Set Arkestra with Detroit musicians at Detroit Jazz Center by Leni Sinclair, Dec. 31st, 1979. Jimbo Easter & Cary Loren; red, silver or gold silkscreen of alien writing and DAM “cosmic clip art” over spray-painted backgrounds (on acid free 8.5×11″ or on irregular hand-cut paper) numbered on reverse. Kcalb Gniw Spirit; “Ogun Urban Monumentz” -flyer from a book catalog. Efe Bes; Each Box lid has a unique hand design, painted by Afro-futurist musician Efe (with assistance from Mo and the staff of MOCAD) – using acrylics, tempura, markers, glitter, glue and spray varnish. Efe uses traditional and symbolic African based patterns that he improvises with and molds into his own shapes, creating a relief pattern with jewel-like illuminations. The covers are each hand signed and numbered on the side. Stickers, etc., Jim Shaw; Peanut Butter (3×8″ DAM sticker) design by Shaw, 1996/2012, edition of 250 Dave Mueller; What Would Sun Ra Do? (2.5 x9″ bumper sticker) design by Dave Mueller 2004/2012 edition of 250 Aeron Bergman and Alejandra Salinas: Race (2 x4″ sticker) design by Aeron Bergman and Alejandra Salinas. 2012 Apetechnology: Detroit (1×2″ sticker) by the Apetechnology collective (open edition) Destroy All Monsters; Spaceman or Mexican Zombie ( 3″x2″ sticker) design by Loren from an edition of 1000 each. Various artists; 3 buttons in a bag freaturing; Alice Coltrane, Aaron Ibn Pori Pitts and a Destroy All Monster Apocalypse creature. |
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| Posted in: Art, Book Collecting, Destroy All Monsters, Detroit & Michigan, Jazz and Blues, Music, Psychedelia, Publishing, book arts, pop culture | No Comments » |
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The Green Child is, to put it simply, the strangest book on this list. The introduction and blurbs speak of an “other-worldly suspense” or an “unearthly, hypnotic radiance.” Even a basic synopsis of the plot is almost too strange to convey. Welcome to Book Hell, “a club devoted to the collecting of obscure, esoteric and otherwise weird books.” — finding original postings of Book Hell are like wandering through Hell’s seven circles- just another boring spam filled hole. A Journey Round My Skull, explores “Unhealthy book fetishism from a reader, collector, and amateur historian of forgotten literature.” The Voynich manuscript “is the most mysterious of all texts. It is seven by ten inches in size, and about 200 pages long. It is made of soft, light-brown vellum. It is written in a flowing cursive script in alphabet that has never been seen elsewhere. Nobody knows what it means.” CODEX SERAPHINIANUS by Luigi Serafini, is one of the world’s strangest and mysterious books: “The Codex is a lavishly produced book that purports to be an encyclopedia for an imaginary world in a parallel universe, with copious comments in an incomprehensible language. It is written in a florid script, entirely invented and completely illegible, and illustrated with watercolor paintings.” -Archimedes Laboratory |
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| Posted in: Award winning books, Book Collecting, Monsters & Myths | No Comments » |
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This years crop of photography books and (films) does not disappoint with some steadfast older photographers’ plus a few new and unusual titles to choose from, here is a handful for your consideration. ….read on good friends, happy holidays. --Bob Mosher The Americans The Complete Films of Robert Frank ‘The Sin of Jesus’, 37 min.Vol. I. produced in 1961. About a woman working at a chicken plucking factory and her listless husband. An off the wall subject but it must be remembered that Frank is first and formost a still photographer and not that comfortable with spoken or written words but must be viewed as part of his ouervre.
Paul Fusco: RFK Aperture, New York, 2008. 224 pp., 120 four-color illustrations., 11¾x9½”. Fusco, a Look magazine staff photographer was given the enviable assignment of photographing the entire 1968 Robert F. Kennedy funeral from New York to Washington DC. This is a tour de force of what the books marketing calls, documentary photography. I prefer just, photography on thehighest level, it reminds one of Walker Evans ‘Subway Photos’ of the 1940’s, in its unvarnished starkness and simplicity. The thousands of people of all ages and nationalities, mostly standing, some saluting and all exhibit the decorum that is displayed in a funeral home of a deceased loved one. The book is interspersed with RFK’s quotes like this one, “What we need in the US is not division; what we need in the US is not hatred; is not violence and lawlessness, but is love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one anotherâ€. Fusco in a recent interview of what he saw when the train slowly moved out from Penn station to make its way to Washington DC,on June 8th. Fusco was not prepared for the breathtaking spectacle that occurred on that day he was rather thinking about the funeral the next day at Arlington cemetery and was stunned and overwhelmed by the people at the side of the train tracks in silent vigilance. He opened the train car window and photographed the people all day and is sharing 120 photographs in this publication. Also, there are 70 never before published photographs, that were not in Fusco’s earlier out of print book, RFK Funeral Train, published in 2000.This book is highly recommended. One of the of the most striking things of this book is its bright yellow cover with a self portrait of Halsman under a dark cloth,
Patti Smith: Land 250 The pictures in the book are from pieces made from 1967 to 2007 a 40 year span of work. It is interesting to see a person who has earned their chops at one creative venue and then turn to another as in this case with Smith’s work, sometimes it works out, as with this book.  What is refreshing here is, Smith used photography to illustrate how she felt at various times in her life, not follow a theme or subject based series of photographs. In Patti Smith’s work, the editor is reminded of another fabulous photographer, Sally Mann and her ‘What Remains’, body of work presented at the Corcoran Museum of Art, Washington DC in ’02. Mann’s work shown in glass plate format is haunting and mysterious also unforgettable. Not sure Smith comes up to to this mark but the book is worth an examination.
The book is filled with contrasts, yin and yang, for example a photogram of a bat juxtaposed on the opposite page with a stretched out lace handkerchief. Carter, no novice at sequencing his photographs into book format, ‘A Certain Alchemy’, is no exception. The photographs in the book are toned, as his originals and that gives them a sumptuous quality.that matches his themes drawn from the Larry Fink: Somewhere There’s Music Fink is a great photographer and has been photographing for decades. Couple of Gugenhiems and National Endowment for the Arts fellowships, along with a few large shows at MOMA and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Also, he is shown heavily in European Frezno by Tony Stamolis Tony Stamolis is a 38 year old contemporary NYC photographer returned to Fresno to spend time with his ailing mother a few years ago. In coming back to Fresno, Stamolis realized that everything had changed, now the scene to him was a visual goldmine just waiting for coherency. Although, photographer returned to Fresno to spend time with his ailing mother a few years ago. In coming back to Fresno, Stamolis realized that everything had changed, now the scene to him was a visual goldmine just waiting for coherency. Although, Fresno could be anywhere in the USA that we have all seen, piled up shopping carts, posing young people of all stripes, Other notable books: 1.Berenice Abbott 2 volume set published, 2008. This is the definitive and beautifully reproduced book on her 60 year career in photography. A collectors special and should not be missed. Go to http://www.steidlville.com/books/781-Berenice-Abbott.html for more information. 2. Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power published 2008. Here it is, Avedon’s great portraits of the well known revered figures such as, W.H. Auden juxtaposed against Bob Dylan, poets, artists, politicians, celebrities, royalty and all public people of every stripe. 3. Richard Avedon: Performance published, 2008. 205 plates, some in color. Another portrait book by Abrams housed in a good sized Avedon photographic treasure tome with an interesting cover fold over. 4. Michael Subotsky: Beaufort West published 2008. by Boot publishers. This is an eye opening book dealing with West South African struggles with apartheid with all of its complexities. For more go to, http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/2008/newphotography/mikhael.html 5/ Kenro Izu published 2007. Nazraeli Press. The DIA (Detroit Institute of Arts) in their newly opened deSalle Gallery of Photography featured Izu’s work with many of the photographs in this book. Not only are the photographs made from a 14 x 20 inch view camera, which is remarkable in itself but the prints are of the Platinum process, as well. In September, this year Kenro gave a lecture at the DIA to discuss his modus operandi and sign books. I had the pleasure of hearing him speak which was much like the work, subtle and I am not including the myriad of websites that sell ‘most’ of these books, however, the internet browser is a good source of consultation for them. It is also suggested that we support our local book stores rather than the online outlets. Have a healthy and peaceful holiday season. ~B |
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The following list of reviews is reproduced from the “
The marketing banner wrapping the cover says it all, “Few books in the history of photography have had as powerful an impact as The Americansâ€. Yes, The Americans is 50 years old and many – (most) photographers own it and many have learned how to see photographically and use it as a point of inspiration for their work. Stiedl, the publisher has reproduced the original Grove,
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