Book of the Day > Vestoj: On Capital. “Vestoj On Capital looks at all forms of value or assets: financial, human, cultural, social – you name it. We explore how talent is developed and harnessed in fashion, and how this now intersects with branding (and self-branding) which has become so important in all aspects of culture. The issue also examines how value flows between symbolic assets like taste or beauty or cool and economic profit. And how the traditional schism between cultural and financial capital (cool versus money) has been replaced by a much more self-consciously positive – or nuanced and complex – relationship between art and fashion.”

Book of the Day > Dorothy Ianonne: The Story of Bern, [or] Showing Colors. Published by JRP Editions. "A superb facsimile of Dorothy Ianonne’s 1970 comic-book tale of censorship, sexuality and female autonomy. 'As much as Love and Eros have defined my work since its beginnings, so too has censorship, or its shadow, accompanied it,' recalls Dorothy Iannone (born 1933) in her introduction to this facsimile publication of her legendary The Story of Bern, [or] Showing Colors. First published by Iannone and her then companion Dieter Roth in 1970, in an edition of 500, the book documents the censorship of Iannone's work The (Ta)Rot Pack (1968–69) and the subsequent removal of all his works by Roth, from a collective exhibition at the Kunsthalle Bern. For his exhibition titled Freunde, Friends, d'Fründe, legendary curator Harald Szeemann invited Karl Gerstner, Roth, Daniel Spoerri and André Thomkins to exhibit artist friends; Roth chose Iannone. The censorship of Iannone, and Roth's protest, eventually led to Harald Szeemann's resignation as the director of the institution. Telling the story of this act of censorship as well as the context of the exhibition in Bern and its iteration in a non-censored version in Düsseldorf, The Story of Bern is emblematic of Iannone's distinctive, explicit and comic-book style, and of her openness about sexuality and the strengthening of female autonomy."

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14th
ARCANA-HOSTED EVENTS AT FRIEZE LOS ANGELES
AT THE PARAMOUNT STUDIOS STREET FAIR

3:00 - 4:00 PM
JORI FINKEL: IT SPEAKS TO ME
BOOK SIGNING

4:00 - 5:00 PM
BRIGITTE NIEDERMAIR: ME AND FASHION
BOOK SIGNING

Book of the Day > Agnes Denes: Absolutes and Intermediates. Published by The Shed. “Agnes Denes: Absolutes and Intermediates accompanies the largest exhibition of the artist’s work in New York to date, held at The Shed in fall 2019 as part of the arts space’s opening season. Presenting more than 130 works, this comprehensive publication, presented in an embossed slipcase, spans the 50-year career of the path-breaking artist dubbed “the queen of land art” by the New York Times, famed for her iconic Wheatfield—A Confrontation (1982), for which she planted a two-acre wheatfield in Lower Manhattan on the Battery Park Landfill, in the shadow of the then recently erected Twin Towers. A major undertaking, this superb catalog includes a comprehensive text by the exhibition’s curator, Emma Enderby, an interview with Denes by Hans Ulrich Obrist, essays by prominent scholars and curators including Caroline A. Jones, Lucy R. Lippard and Timothy Morton that examine Denes’ multifaceted practice in new ways, writings by the artist and reflections by curators who have worked with Denes over the course of her career. New works by Denes commissioned by The Shed for the exhibition are presented in a special insert.“

See more of Jen's excellent picks - we're happy to be in such good company! from a woman of such amazing taste (Bird Brooklyn is THE BEST)- here.

4. Arcana: Books on the Arts “It’s an art book mecca,” Ms. Mankins says of this sunny, open bookstore in Culver City. Arcana has a deep inventory of new, rare and out-of-print books and catalogs on cinema, photography, architecture … well, everything including the kitchen sink. The proprietors, Lee and Whitney Kaplan, have been in the business for 35 years and can help locate obscure titles (a Joseph Kosuth, say) with pre-internet zeal. Book signings, receptions and discussions regularly fill up the space, often featuring young photographers and creative types. “They’re really supportive,” Ms. Mankins says. 

Book of the Day > Frank Zappa: The Hot Rats Book. Published by Backbeat Books. "Hot Rats, the second solo album by Frank Zappa, is considered by his fans and critics alike to be a groundbreaking, important record, as well as one of his most innovative efforts of all time. The first recording project after the dissolution of the original Mothers of Invention, Zappa composed, arranged, and produced all of the music on Hot Rats while playing electric guitar on all tracks. The album contains the song "Peaches en Regalia," widely recognized as a modern jazz-fusion standard. This entire groundbreaking and historical record—including using new sixteen-multitrack recording and overdub technics for the first time ever—was captured in photos by Bill Gubbins, who shot the recording sessions and live performances of the record immediately following its release. Most of these images have never before been published in book form, appearing here for the first time. The "Hot Rats" Book: A Fifty-Year Retrospective of Frank Zappa’s "Hot Rats": also contains essays by author Bill Gubbins; Ian Underwood, who was involved in working with Zappa on the recording sessions; Steve Vai; David Fricke; and Matt Groening."