Modern Art Obsession

An Event not to Miss.. NY Art Book Fair this Weekend

NY ART BOOK FAIR at Phillips De Pury, October 24 - 26th

www.nyartbookfair.com

FAIR HOURS
Friday/Saturday, October 24 & 25, 2008, 11am - 7pm
Sunday, October 26, 2008, 11am - 5pm

Some of the best thing in Life are FREE.. Yes.. the NY Art Book Fair is Free this weekend!

(Photo by Abe Morell, Dictionary, 1994, silver print, Also...Don't miss his new show PicturesinPictures at Bonni Benrubi Gallery till Dec 6th)

Here's some of the book fair press release...

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Printed Matter, Inc. presents The NY Art Book Fair, New York City’s annual fair devoted to contemporary art books, art catalogues, artists' books, art periodicals, and zines. Over 140 international exhibitors, from major distributors and antiquarian dealers to independent publishers and artists, will participate in the third annual Fair, taking place this year at Phillips de Pury & Company at 450 West 15th Street at 10th Avenue.

Exhibitors and participants from New York City to Oslo to Tokyo will be attending the Fair to showcase both contemporary and classic works within the medium of artists' publications. Back by popular demand, Friendly Fire, a curated zone of artists and independent publishers, features artists and art collectives who self-publish in a free-spirited range of forms from books and zines to CDs and DVDs.
Artists present for book signings include Gary Panter, Marina Abramovic, Slava Mogutin, Jason Fox, Leigh Ledare, Terence Koh, Micah Lexier, Matt Keegan, Michel Gondry, and Carlos Motta, Duke Riley, Chris Stain and Steve Lambert who will a sign A Guide to Democracy in America. For a full signing schedule see www.nyartbookfair.com.

Artists Paul Chan, Matthew Higgs and Anne Collier, and Jonathan Monk have created new limited editions for the fair’s opening night Benefit Preview. Tickets are available at three price tiers and each level of admission is accompanied by a limited edition artwork.
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There's also some cool events worth checking out...

On Saturday, October 25th..
5pm - Terence Koh signs the journal, entry 24, supplement "Moby Dick" (Booth O5)
6pm - Terence Koh signs his new book, A Beaver Tail (Art Metropole)

Sunday,October 26th
12pm - William Powhida signs his collaboration with Jeff Parker, The Back of the Line (DECODE BOOKS) 4pm - Performance by Erik den Breejen (Freight + Volume)

Look for MAO.. casue we'll be there.. trying not to spend any money, cause times are difficult on Wall Street these days!

So...Here's a little more Wall Street Humor...

Question : What is the Capital of Iceland?

Answer : About three dollars and forty eight cents!

Yikes!

Free Artist talks by Bill Owens, and Christopher Wool at Strand Books

Free Artists talks, and book signings by Bill Owens, and  Christopher Wool at Strand Books in downtown NYC.

The MAO favorite NYC bookshop is holding 2 events the next 2 nights. Both are well worth checking out.

Both artists have new books out...

1. Legendary photographer Bill Owens has a new monograph with images from 1969 to present. 

  (Photo  #1, by Bill Owens, Richie playing with guns, from Suburbia, 1972)

2. Painter Christopher Wool has collaborated with writer/musician Richard Hell on a limited edition book titled Psychopts.

(Photo #2, by Christopher Wool, Fuckem, 1992   Enamel on aluminum, 108" X 72")

Here are the details.. get there early cause seats are always hard to get!

June 24th, 7 to 8:30 pm  - Photographer Bill Ownes talks

California photographer Bill Owens is best known for his critically acclaimed series Suburbia, which was published as a monograph in 1972, and has long been considered one of the classic photo books of the era. For this influential and evocative project, Owens simply shot friends and acquaintances in his Livermore, California, neighborhood and allowed them to speak for themselves. Ordinary people had rarely been so riveting. A comprehensive monograph, this volume consists of several sections of work from 1969 to the present, opening at the height of flower power, with images of the Beat generation, Woodstock and the protests against Vietnam.

June 25th, 7pm to 7:30pm

Richard Hell & Christopher Wool in Conversation with Artforum co-editor Barry Schwabsky

Richard Hell is a musician known for his image and his facility with words; Christopher Wool is a painter who first became famous for his words. The two are friends and they have collaborated on the creation of a series of gorgeous word images. These provocative, funny pictures comprise the content of their beautifully designed and printed new book, Psychopts. Barry Schwabsky, a poet and a frequent writer on art for The Nation and co-editor of Artforum's international review section, will moderate a discussion with the artists.

See you there!

FYI.. if you can't make it to the lectures. you can order signed copies online at www.StrandBooks.com

New Richard Misrach Book Signing...

There's just something about these huge dreamy beach and water images that make the MAO heart sing... If you've never seen these photo's by Richard Misrach in person... be sure not to miss this new show. We've already seen copies of the new book.. and it's ridiculously BIG !  Let's just say.. you could easily make a coffee table out of this book!

So, to celebrate the launch of the new Aperture book, Richard Misrach: On the Beach.  Richard Misrach will be at The Strand on Wednesday, November 28, where he will discuss the work from this stunning series followed by a book signing.

Coinciding with the book, Pace/MacGill Gallery is hosting an exhibition of his work, the opening reception and book signing with Misrach will be Thursday, November 29.

WHEN AND WHERE:

Wednesday, November 28, 7:00 p.m.

The Strand
828 Broadway

Thursday, November 29, 5:30 p.m.

Pace/MacGill Gallery
32 East 57th Street, 9th floor
This book signing coincides with an exhibition of Misrach’s work on view:

Friday, November 30, 2007– Saturday, January 5, 2008

Marco Breuer - Free Artist Talk and Book Signing

The ever insightful Aperture Foundation & Gallery, will have a Marco Breuer talk and new book signing next week!

Event details...here... Tuesday.. 6:30.. Aperture Gallery. His new book is called Early Recordings.

We've not talked up enough about this ground breaking artists.. but if you're a fan of innovative methods of photography... like the work of Adam Fuss, Susan Derges, The Starns, and Christopher Bucklow.... you'll just love Marco's work.

We've never herd Marco talk... but if he's half as interesting as his photographs.. the evening will be a huge success.

Sadly.. MAO will not be in attendance... we've got a super dull business dinner this Tuesday night at the new Uber Chic NYC hot spot.. Morandi !!  Yes... It's tuff being MAO..

But we're most certainly going to get this book.. We've seen an advance copy.. and it looks amazing!

His photographs were prominently show at the summer 2005 - PS1 Grater NY show, as well as at MOMA.

And he shows with the Von Lintel Gallery in NYC where Marco is curating their next show. The show, Drawing, Thinking  will open on March 29th.

Marco Breuer.. yet another exciting artist to watch!

Authors' Book Signings

OK.. Check This Website Out! The find of the Book Geek Century!! I've got to go out and celebrate!! Time to do the happy snoopy dance!!

www.stilljohn.com

Now as much as I thought I was alone in my neurosis on collecting signed art books.. I found a website today giving A daily calendar of NYC area book signings!! WooHoo!

This is the truly wonderful thing about living in NYC.. just when you think you're the one way out on the edge.. there's always someone in this city who is more out there than you are!! Still John.. you're my hero!

Laurie Simmons Does 6th Ave

One of MAO's major Obsessions... Meeting and getting a Signed 1st Edition Art Book! WooooHooo!

Ok.. I guess that's technically 2 obsessions.. But who's counting!

There are some things in life we just don't outgrow from High School... "Can you sign my year book?" Yikes, I'm such a Geek!

Well.. it was cold and pissing down rain... but I schlepped over without an umbrella to the Chelsea Barns & Noble on 6th Ave the other night to hear Laurie Simmons give a talk about her work, and her new book Walking, Talking, Lying published from the great people of Aperture.

Well... there were about 12 brave wet souls in attendance..so it was reassuring to know, I'm not the only Art Book Geek in Manhattan!! Laurie is super nice for a famous photographer, which, sad to say, is somewhat out of the norm for an Artist of her importance. Laurie read very eloquently from her book, which she actually wrote some of (also not the norm for a photographer) along with a thoughtful essay by Kate Linker.

Ms. Simmons then gave us a sneak private screening of one of her 3 new short films she's been working on with an entire staff of major film talents. They are all to be shown at MOMA in May'06 I believe. The film we saw was called Audition, and featured several of Laurie's most memorable photographic characters come to life... all from her great series "Things on Legs"  They are featured Tap dancing to music! So funny..! OK.. I know I've had dreams like this.. mostly when I was experimenting in college!!  Anyway.. I won't give away the plot.. but needless to say.. I'm looking forward to seeing the other 2 films in May!

And of course the night was topped off by getting one of her new books signed for the MAO library.. Thanks Laurie!