Book of the Day Posted Jul 20, 2019

Book of the Day > Apollo to the Moon: A History in 50 Objects

Book of the Day > Apollo to the Moon: A History in 50 Objects. Published by National Geographic. "A celebration of the 50th anniversary of NASA's Apollo missions to the moon, this narrative uses 50 key artifacts from the Smithsonian archives to tell the story of the groundbreaking space exploration program. Bold photographs, fascinating graphics, and engaging stories commemorate the 20th century's most important space endeavor: NASA's Apollo program to reach the moon. From the lunar rover and an emergency oxygen mask to space food and moon rocks, it's a carefully curated array of objects--complete with intriguing back stories and profiles of key participants. This book showcases the historic space exploration program that landed humans on the moon, advanced the world's capabilities for space travel, and revolutionized our sense of humanity's place in the universe. Each historic accomplishment is symbolized by a different object, from a Russian stamp honoring Yuri Gagarin and plastic astronaut action figures to the Apollo 11 command module, piloted by Michael Collins as Armstrong and Aldrin made the first moonwalk, together with the monumental art inspired by these moon missions. Throughout, Apollo to the Moon also tells the story of people who made the journey possible: the heroic astronauts as well as their supporters, including President John F. Kennedy, newsman Walter Cronkite, and NASA scientists such as Margaret Hamilton."

None Posted Jul 19, 2019

Book of the Day > Alice Neel: Freedom

Published by David Zwirner Books. "One of the foremost American figurative painters of the 20th century, Alice Neel (1900–84) was a humanist—she was fascinated by people. Known for her daringly honest portraits, Neel loved to paint people in all their complexities—to penetrate and reveal their fears and anxieties. She also loved to paint the unadorned human figure. Her nudes, in particular, explore the body with frankness while celebrating the individuality of each of her subjects, and they exemplify the freedom and courage with which she approached her work and her life. Through her paintings and works on paper, Neel was able to free herself from the expected inhibitions and crippling taboos that were placed on women and focus on the beauty and nuanced complexity of flesh and the human body. In their mastery of form, color and implied social commentary, her nudes are as relevant today as when they were painted. This book documents the solo exhibition of the artist’s work at David Zwirner in New York in 2019. Including works that span the 1920s to the 1980s, this presentation focuses primarily on the nude figure—whether male or female, adult or child—and demonstrates how Neel rebelled against and challenged the traditional perceptions of sexuality, motherhood and beauty in our society. The catalog includes newly commissioned scholarship by Helen Molesworth and a foreword by Ginny Neel of the Estate of Alice Neel.""One of the foremost American figurative painters of the 20th century, Alice Neel (1900–84) was a humanist—she was fascinated by people. Known for her daringly honest portraits, Neel loved to paint people in all their complexities—to penetrate and reveal their fears and anxieties. She also loved to paint the unadorned human figure. Her nudes, in particular, explore the body with frankness while celebrating the individuality of each of her subjects, and they exemplify the freedom and courage with which she approached her work and her life. Through her paintings and works on paper, Neel was able to free herself from the expected inhibitions and crippling taboos that were placed on women and focus on the beauty and nuanced complexity of flesh and the human body. In their mastery of form, color and implied social commentary, her nudes are as relevant today as when they were painted. This book documents the solo exhibition of the artist’s work at David Zwirner in New York in 2019. Including works that span the 1920s to the 1980s, this presentation focuses primarily on the nude figure—whether male or female, adult or child—and demonstrates how Neel rebelled against and challenged the traditional perceptions of sexuality, motherhood and beauty in our society. The catalog includes newly commissioned scholarship by Helen Molesworth and a foreword by Ginny Neel of the Estate of Alice Neel."

Book of the Day Posted Jul 18, 2019

Book of the Day > Twenty-Five Bootleg 8-Tracks

Book of the Day > Twenty-Five Bootleg 8-Tracks. Published by Sound Unseen.

Book of the Day Posted Jul 17, 2019

Book of the Day > Cocain: History & Culture

Book of the Day > Cocain: History & Culture. Published by Assouline. "In the popular imagination, cocaine appeared sometime in the 1970s, seemingly out of nowhere, as the ne plus ultra party drug for the disco generation; shortly thereafter, its destructive effects became impossible to ignore. But in fact, cocaine’s history of addiction dates back to the nineteenth century, when it was legal and sold over the counter to treat ailments ranging from stomachaches to cramps to teething pain in babies. For millennia before that, however, the unprocessed coca leaf had been essential to the development of indigenous South American cultures. How did the sacred plant of the Incas become the addictive white powder that held in its grip—and nearly destroyed—prominent figures like Sigmund Freud and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, among countless others? And how did it get to wield the corrosive power depicted in films and television series such as Scarface and Narcos? This book tells that story."

Book of the Day Posted Jul 16, 2019

Book of the Day > Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music

Book of the Day > Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music. Published by Reel Art Press. "This is the official 50th-anniversary celebration of Woodstock, by the festival's creator and founder, Michael Lang. A large illustrated edition, it includes hundreds of photographs and documents accompanied by Lang's fascinating memories and insights into the most famous and influential festival of all time, with images of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Crosby, Stills Nash & Young, Richie Havens, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Santana, Janis Joplin, Joan Baez, Country Joe McDonald and the Grateful Dead. The ephemera from Lang's largely unseen archive include the original designs and plans for the event, correspondence, set-lists, information on artists' fees and much more. This wealth of information is accompanied by the best photographs of the event by famous and unknown photographers such as Ralph Ackerman, John Dominis, Bill Eppridge, Dan Garson, Barry Z. Levine, Elliott Landy, Lee Marshall and Baron Wolman, and notably featuring the archive of Henry Diltz. Diltz was the only official photographer at Woodstock and was there for two weeks, from an empty field of cows to first construction, crowds arriving and the aftermath. He also captured onstage performances and behind-the-scenes moments with the many artists involved. Woodstock is an exuberant volume that conveys the vision, hard work and elusive magic that made up "three days of peace and music."

Book of the Day Posted Jul 14, 2019

Book of the Day > Urs Fischer: Sculptures 2013-2018

"Featuring over 100 works and documentation of forty exhibitions and installations both public and private, New York–based artist Urs Fischer (born 1973) presents six years of work in this substantial volume. Arranged chronologically, this book allows the reader to follow Fischer's developments in form and his frequent adventure into whimsy. The artist's instinct for design is evident not only in his individual works but also in his clarity of vision for a space, beautifully illustrated in this volume. Sculpture inherently has physical presence and Fischer utilizes this to manipulate the viewer's perception of reality. Encountering the immense and the minuscule, the ever-changing and the static, a viewer must reconcile with his or her own presence in time. With this volume, the reader is invited to experience significant ephemeral, collaborative and interactive works in context in over 400 pages plus gatefold inserts."

Book of the Day Posted Jul 12, 2019

Book of the Day > Lautner A - Z

"Through no fault of his own, John Lautner's contributions to Modern architecture have been widely recognized only in the last ten or fifteen years. Even so, he still remains an enigma for some critics. We still have more to learn – and understand – about how he expanded the boundaries of Modern architecture. After years of research, Tycho Saariste and Jan-Richard Kikkert's book adds an invaluable resource for our understanding of Lautner. This book contains a description of the research and the travels to all built Lautner houses. It also contains a description of these houses and photographs the authors made during their visits. With an introduction by American architecture expert Alan Hess."

Events Posted Jul 11, 2019

Roger Herman Ceramics Book Signing 7/20!

We are thrilled to be hosting an event with noted Los Angeles-based artist Roger Herman to celebrate the publication of his new book, Ceramics. Designed by Ross McLain / Art Design Office and featuring a text by Matt Connors, this massive, stylish, and engaging edition is limited to a mere two hundred and fifty copies, and is sure to sell out quickly.

Come to Arcana this Saturday afternoon to raise a glass and hang with our longtime friend Roger! If you cannot attend but wish to purchase either - or both - of Mr. Herman's exquisite books, place your order here or call us at 310-458-1499.

Events Posted Jul 11, 2019

SOVO// Magazine Launch, Saturday 7/13, 4-6

Please join us on Saturday, to welcome editor Farida Amar and our friends from the creative staff of LA's own SOVO// Magazine for a launch party celebrating the spirit of the self-made individual and the release of their fifth issue devoted to the theme of "entrepreneurship"!

Housed in a spectacular etched purple Lucite slipcase produced in a limited to a run of five hundred copies, SOVO// [ Issue 5 ] will be on view along with a one-day exhibition of the 35mm and 120 film works created for it by contributing photographers Adam Hutsell, Ashley Guo, Jeff Leavitt, Jon Pham, Milana Burdette, and Niko Sonnberger.

For the launch, SOVO// are making the issue available for advance order and for sale on the day of the event for the special pre-publication price of $125.00. On Sunday, it reverts to the standard $150.00, so act now and join us for some cold drinks on Saturday! If you cannot attend but wish to purchase one and take advantage of this price, place an order here or call us at 310-458-1499.

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SOVO// Magazine is an independent, quarterly art publication made in South Los Angeles. Its creators have taken on the task of entrepreneurship with the creation of this unique print publication over the past year and a half, and in doing so have developed a deep respect for both the passion and sacrifice it takes to bring a business model to life. Hot-off-the-press, [ Issue 5 ] titled "Entrepreneurship" shares eleven never-before-released editorials from their experience working with local LA entrepreneurs for the first time - each of which has been uniquely designed and handmade to convey the story of the company represented. This issue is filled with inspiring stories of individuals who have turned each challenge into everyday victories, proving that it is possible to live the dream, even when things don’t go as planned. Included are Lee Kaplan of Arcana: Books on the Arts, Jen Berkowitz & Leila Barratt-Deyner of Electric Pony Studios, The Griffith Family of Imperial Equestrian Center, Robin Petgrave of Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum, Theresa Baxter of Allmost Studio & Gallery, Charlie James of Charlie James Gallery, Elisabet Spaulding of Uplifters Kitchen, Sean Knibb of Flowerboy Project, Rick Garzon of Residency Gallery, Michael Delgado of A.G. Geiger Books, and Oren Pius of Cosmic Vinyl.

Book of the Day Posted Jul 10, 2019

Book of the Day > Monster Chetwynd: The Supreme Deluxe Essential Monster Chetwynd Handbook

Book of the Day > Monster Chetwynd: The Supreme Deluxe Essential Monster Chetwynd Handbook. Published by Edition Patrick Frey. "Full to bursting with photographic documentation and source material, this book retraces British performance artist Monster Chetwynd’s (born 1973) work from 2007 to 2018. The photo series are adumbrated by references to sources of inspiration and cast lists."