Book of the Day Posted May 13, 2015

Book of the day > Louise Bourgeois: Structures of Existence: The Cells

Book of the day > Louise Bourgeois: Structures of Existence: The Cells. Prestel. "Focusing on a signature phase of Louise Bourgeois's oeuvre, this volume includes in-depth examinations of a selection of the sculptor's Cells series while also studying the innovative series in its entirety. Like the majority of Bourgeois's pieces, her series of Cells are at once enigmatic and extremely personal. Constructed during the last two decades of the artist's life, these complex and sophisticated works are daring and provocative. Many are small enclosures into which the viewer is prompted to peer inward at arrangements of symbolic objects; others are small rooms into which the viewer is invited to enter. In her Cells, Bourgeois uses sculptural forms that she made, found objects, and personal items that held significant meaning for her. Six Cells from throughout the series are given close scrutiny, revealing the enormous diversity of Bourgeois's vision as well as recurring themes of physical and emotional pain, voyeurism, integration, and disintegration. A section of color reproductions includes images and details of the entire series. Together with extensive essays on the Cells' evolution and an interview with the artist's assistant, Jerry Gorovoy, this volume offers a holistic appreciation of a crucial phase in Bourgeois's highly influential career."
Book of the Day Posted May 12, 2015

Book of the day > Alexander McQueen

Book of the day > Alexander McQueen. Abrams. "This definitive publication on Alexander McQueen invites you into the creative mind and world of one of Britain’s most brilliant, daring, and provocative designers, and the many themes and references that shaped his visionary fashion collections.
A true comprehensive study, this catalog is the first in-depth look at McQueen and explores key themes of the exhibition—tailoring, gothic, primitivism, naturalism, and futurism. The book also features previously unseen material as well as groundbreaking essays and feature spreads by multiple authors and leading fashion commentators. This kaleidoscopic approach explores themes central to the designer’s work and his collections, such as the psychology of fashion, natural history, the theatre and spectacle of his shows, and the key creative collaborators during McQueen’s lifetime.
Alexander McQueen also offers an encyclopedic survey of McQueen’s catwalk collections, illustrated with striking images by leading fashion photographers, and specially commissioned photographs that capture the breathtaking skill of his designs and awesome theatricality of his shows."
Miscellany Posted May 12, 2015

No, We Don't Carry That Title

You will have to buy your Kim Kardashian selfie book at the CVS or Walmart or the airport or something, because we don't have it here.
Book of the Day Posted May 09, 2015

Book of the day > They Should Never Touch The Ground by Deanna Templeton

Come to Arcana on Tomorrow (yes, it's Mothers Day -- buy your mom a book or better yet, bring her!) 4-6 when we're having a book signing for 2 great books! They Should Never Touch the Ground by Deanna Templeton and Heaven by Dennis McGrath. Book of the day > They Should Never Touch The Ground by Deanna Templeton. Deadbeat Club. Hot-off-the-press from Arcana favorite Deadbeat Club Press, Deanna Templeton's They Should Never Touch The Ground is a wry,  engaging photographic survey of today's 'creative' uses of the American Flag-motif,  and the sometimes misplaced respect for 'Old Glory' itself. Inspired by the Fugazi song "Facet Squared," Deanna first started noticing the ubiquity of American flags being worn as clothing while she was abroad and only after that did she begin to see similar treatment of the flag at home.  Known primarily for over a decade's work of telling portraits of girls grappling with the transition to adulthood, her photographs have been the subject of five previous books along with a number of gallery and Museum exhibitions.
Book of the Day Posted May 08, 2015

Book of the day > Heaven by Dennis McGrath

Come to Arcana on Sunday, 4-6 when we're having a book signing for  2 great books! Heaven by Dennis McGrath and They Should Never Touch the Ground by Deanna Templeton. Today we'll have a look at Dennis' book: Book of the day > Heaven by Dennis McGrath. Seems Books. Dennis McGrath’s debut book Heaven illustrates an incredible journey of a lost soul. In the mid 90’s McGrath quit school and began taking skateboard pictures full time. Professional skateboarder Lennie Kirk started his career in the early ‘90s, at the ripe young age of 16. He was a wild child, fearless and invincible. Nothing seemed out of his reach. He was only 18 when he was run over by a truck. Board broken but otherwise unharmed, he walks away and ‘found God’. After being ‘saved’ his wild antics were no different, if anything crazier. His passion was manic and dangerous, and often got him into trouble. Being ‘saved’ wasn’t enough to save him in the end. Lennie is currently serving 13 years in jail. It’s his second sentence. With an intense collection of letters, photographs and ephemera, McGrath takes us on a visual journey through Lennie’s life, from the wild young kid from North Carolina who had made the exodus to California like many others to skate to the man he is now. 'What he did isn't right, but by happenstance I was just there and able to document his life since he was 16 years old. I remember in 1997 I was in New York with a box of prints with a bunch of photos of Lennie and I showed them to Larry Clark and he said, pointing to Lennie, "Follow this kid around, every time you see him take a photo of him.' That was the weird seed planted almost 20 years ago that started this book. '"
Book of the Day Posted May 07, 2015

Book of the day > Noah Purifoy: Junk Dada

Book of the day > Noah Purifoy: Junk Dada. By Franklin Sirmans & Yael Lipschutz with contributions by Kristine McKenna, Dale Davis, Allison Glenn, Judson Powell, Ed Ruscha, Lowery Stokes Sims, Sue Welsh, C. Ian White, and photography by Fredrick Nilsen. LACMA, Prestel, Delmonico Books.
"The wide-ranging and socially conscious works of renowned California artist Noah Purifoy are explored in this illustrated monograph. Noah Purifoy made art in order to enact social change. Created mostly from found objects, his neo-Dadaist sculpture both embodies and reflects the environment in which it was created—whether the burnt ruins of the 1966 Watts Riots or the unforgiving climate of the Mojave Desert. This book follows Purifoy’s remarkable life and career, during which he transitioned from high-end furniture designer to assemblage artist, social worker, arts administrator, and finally creator of a desert art museum. Illustrated throughout with works from every stage of Purifoy’s career, this volume also includes essays by acclaimed curators, critics, journalists, and fellow artists—all champions of this profoundly thoughtful sculptor whose work has been under-recognized for far too long."
Book of the Day Posted May 06, 2015

Book of the day > Orson Welles At Work

It's the 100th anniversary of Orson Welles' birth! Salute to this great cinematic titan on his centenary! Book of the day > Orson Welles At Work. Phaidon. " Welles is one of the legendary film directors whose persona has been created through a myriad of myths and legends. Enfant terrible of American cinema, his groundbreaking entry into Hollywood with Citizen Kane propelled him to fame as a young prodigy and unfailing genius. Many studies to date have focused on this aspect of Welles, highlighting his clashes with film studios to paint a turbulent picture of an artist repressed by his producers. In this book, however, by returning to the original works and analysing the primary sources, the authors strip back the myths and rumours (many of which were created and fanned by Welles himself) to draw a realistic portrait of this most remarkable filmmaker at work. All of his works are discussed, with in depth analysis on key works and projects."

 

Events Posted May 06, 2015

McGrath + Templeton Book Signing - SUNDAY!

PLEASE JOIN US SUNDAY, MAY 10th, 4:00 - 6:00 PM FOR A BOOK SIGNING:
DENNIS McGRATH: HEAVEN + DEANNA TEMPLETON: THEY SHOULD NEVER TOUCH THE GROUND

"Dennis McGrath’s Heaven illustrates an incredible journey of a lost soul. Professional skateboarder Lennie Kirk began his career in the early nineties at the ripe young age of sixteen. He was a wild child - fearless and invincible - for whom nothing seemed out of his reach. He was only eighteen when he was run over by a truck. Board broken but otherwise unharmed, he walked away from skateboarding and ‘found God’. However, after finding salvation, his wild antics were no different, and if anything, became crazier. His passion was manic and dangerous, and often got him into trouble. Lennie is currently serving thirteen years in jail - his second incarceration. With an intense collection of letters, photographs, and ephemera, McGrath takes us on a visual journey through Lennie’s wild ride of life".

 

Hot-off-the-press from Arcana favorite Deadbeat Club Press, Deanna Templeton's They Should Never Touch The Ground is a wry,  engaging photographic survey of today's 'creative' uses of the American Flag-motif,  and the sometimes misplaced respect for 'Old Glory' itself. Known primarily for over a decade's work of telling portraits of girls grappling with the transition to adulthood, her photographs have been the subject of five previous books along with a number of gallery and Museum exhibitions.

 

So drop by between 4:00 to 6:00 PM, Sunday, May 10th for a lemonade or a beer, and come and hang with Deanna and Dennis to celebrate the publication of They Should Never Touch the Ground and Heaven!

In the News Posted May 06, 2015

Condé Nast Living, Spring / Summer 2015

Miscellany Posted May 05, 2015

High Praise, Indeed

High praise from 2 venerable sources, exquisite publisher Mack Books of some of our very favorite books and Ed Templeton, one of our very favorite artists!

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