Weekend Read from Bloesem (in English!)

Don't miss the first Weekend Read from Bloesem (in English!)

"The Artist in His Studio" by Alexander Liberman

I've resently become aware of this book - guess it's one of these things when someone tells you about it and then someone else does straight afterwards, and a few days later you read about (the satoralist for example)... Feels a little bit odd that I didn't know it before, but I definately feel intrigued by what I've heard and seen! Seems to be randomenly out-of-print, but I will look out for it on my little trips to antiquarians or maybe the Strand Bookshop in NYC...

Alexander Liberman worked as Editorial Director at Conde Nast for over 30 years, thereby influencing the direction and creation of many of the magazines we have today. Parallell to this he was also a painter, sculpter, photographer and writer, being especially successful as a sculpter with work represented at the Museum of Modern Art in New York for example. I thought this gave you a good insight.

Editors Review of "The Artist in His Studio" from amazon.com:

"Displaying an artist's sensitivity, an editor's skill, and a camera's perceptive eye, Liberman's 1960 classic, The Artist in His Studio , presented a singular image of the great artists working in France during the 20th century. Twenty-eight years later, he offers a revised and expanded edition, strengthening his contribution to the world of art by adding material to some sections and enlarging the number of artists. Liberman's empathy and erudition, enhanced by fine reproduction quality, is exemplified by his intimate conversations with many of the artists, sensitive shots of the surroundings in which they created, and keen understanding of the creative process. Matisse's hand, a pensive Giacometti, the meticulous line of tools laid out by Braqueall are photographic witness to an intimacy pierced by the author's vision.
Paula Frosch, Metropolitan Museum Lib."

Bloesem - great new site

This site is really great - lots of inspiration! (found via Karin Eriksson)

At a first glance I especially like Freckle Designs (great crockery for little people - and grown-ups too I'm sure...) and the textiles (above) from Lucienne Day (Bloesem is referring to this as Glasgow Textils (I think) - it's in Dutch, which I don't speak - but I think she's referring to the samples being from Glasgow School of Art. Hope I'm getting it right...) More about this site in future I'm sure!

This girl just make me smile

This girl just make me smile - in the absolute best sense of the word!
Doing big things in the UK and signed by Def Jam in the US (and apparently traumatising Jay-Z in the process) I couldn't be happier that that means we will see a lot more of her!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and hope of a fanastic New Year for you all!

My aim for the new year is to get back to writing properly.

Fantastic posts about Orhan Pamuk, PO Ultvedt and other inspiration

I haven't been very well and Christmas is a very busy period for us (everyone has their birthday in December or beginning of January - as well as the different strands of our family living in different countries), but I've felt kinda sad about not having had the energy to post.

Unfortunately this just seems to be continuing, but when I read this wonderful post about Orhan Pamuk (also see this earlier post) and this fantastic post about PO Ultvedt on Anita Elgerot's blog I just felt like I had to share! (Swedish only I'm afraid, but the imagery is also absolutely inspiring.) Also read her here on Svenska Konstnärer (Swedish Artists), search Anita Elgerot here on Magasin 1 for some of her articles or view her work for example on anitaelgerot.com.


If you're in / visiting Stockholm (or even if you're not) make sure to check New York Stories bookstore's blog for author signings, new deliveries and what else is going on (found via this post on Absurdity. Also see my previous post about Independent Bookstores.)

World Aids Day

HIV and Aids is one of the greatest challenges we're facing today.

Despite all advances that's been made in finding drugs to fight the onset of Aids, and the global political consensus that the world need to act the Aids epidemic is in fact getting worse.

Here in the West information and awareness of the danger of HIV and AIDS among the younger generation is faltering (resulting in higher number of younger people infected), and in the developing world children and adults - sometimes several generations of families - are getting infected and dying unnecessarily.

Here are some links to learn more/take action - please do what you can

UNAIDS The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
World Aids Day Get informed/get involved
WAD.se World Aids Day Sweden
RED Make a difference as a consumer
Staying Alive MTV's Global HIV and AIDS initiative for young people
The Independent Today's Independent is dedicated to the fight against HIV/AIDS. Go online for information or if in the UK/Ireland buy a copy as part of the proceeds goes to charity

Even if it's not economically viable for you to donate inform! And now thanks to projects like the high-profile RED campaign, as a consumer you can make a difference through the purchases you make for yourself, friends/family and your business/at your work place.

Make sure to make a difference - not just today, but every day of the year

Gil Scott-Heron at the Village Gate, New York 1976

For some fantastic live tracks from Gil Scott-Heron playing the Village Gate in New York in 1976 click here to go to a great post by Absurdity where you can download them for a limited period.

Trying to keep posting to no more then one a day this was just too good not to add straight away!

The tracks will only be up for a few days - I haven't come across this recording anywhere else - but if you like what you're hearing get on to Amazon/your local record shop and give back by buying some of Gil Scott-Heron's music.

Ord & Text at STREET this weekend

This weekend Ord & Text (Word & Text) - a weekend of author presentations, exhibitions, films, music, readings, book signings and the chance to buy works from small publishers, magazines, fanzines, authors and poets - is taking place at STREET in Stockholm.

As I've written before I very annoyingly missed the last offering so am very excited about (hopefully) being able to go this weekend!

For the full program - which includes a "children's' hour", workshop for teens, reading corner, the party Ord & Öl (Word & Beer) as well as everything mentioned above and more! - click here (in Swedish only I'm afraid), for a list of and links to exhibitors click here and for directions to get there click here. Opening hours are Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th 11am - 6pm (for party click here).

More from the London Artist's Book Fair

Today I thought I'd profile Mike Nicholson, another favourite from this and previous years' bookfairs.
He has "a particular interest in language, and the powerful potential of narratives inside sequential combinations of text and image" - something that's clearly conveyed in all his work.
(For example his love of reading inspired the bookmarks below.)
I've found his work captivating, thought-provoking and intriguing from day one - besides the fact that he's also always fantastically nice and does not mind discussing and explaining his work for whatever long.

To learn more or for where his work can be seen next email.
You can also click here, here and here for some more information of his work/background and exhibitions/commissions. For general information about book art this has very good sources.

"Since 1999 I have self-published my own (written and illustrated) material, exhibiting and selling at variety of 'artist's book' fairs, events and outlets. My ongoing Ensixteen Editions imprint has produced 20 titles to date and I have also been invited to lecture and write on my experiences in this elastic, increasingly evident field. The work has been purchased by private and public collections, cited in paper and online publications and featured in exhibitions in the UK, Australia, USA and elsewhere."

US Midterm Elections

Yes great the democrates got both houses (please get some answers and hold people responsible) - but what the election was more then anything to me was new heights of despicable, ludicrous campaigning.

ALPHABET: an exhibition of hand-drawn lettering and experimental typography

ALPHABET: AN EXHIBITION OF HAND-DRAWN LETTERING AND EXPERIMENTAL TYPOGRAPHY.

This exhibition - organized by Post Typography and Artscape - is still touring so stop by if you have the chance (we're hoping to see it in New York in 2007). For dates click here or email if you want to know if and when they're visiting your town.

Back from the London Artist's Book Fair

So I'm back from the Bookfair, which of course was fantastic as always.
Gathering my treasures together to photograph and scan and will hopefully have those and the photos I forced my husband to take of the fair itself (as I was to shy to) ready soon - hope it will all come out great (and on here in a few days)

I wanted to share a very nice hanging book art sculpture that I found on my return late at night browsing blogs - I was sure it was posted on fiftyRx3 but it's not so there we go...

"6 degrees"
"The structure holds the book together whilst also illustrating the theory (Six Degrees of Separation). No beginning, no end - everyone is connected in whatever direction the reader chooses. The text is of recorded conversations from a trip around the Circle Line, London, between 2-4pm, Friday 19th Nov. 1999"

Instead I thought I'd show some works from one of the most interesting exhibitors at the London Artist Book Fair (this and previous years) Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck. One of her works the Jante Law resonates with me especially (probably as a Swede) and it's my plan to own an edition one day. For now I have "The Process", describing the making of. Unfortunately I couldn't find any images of the book so only the poster is pictured below. (Click on titles above and below to take you to further descriptions or details of which collections houses the work).

"The Jante Law"
"'A Refugee Crosses the Tracks' (Aksel Sandemose, 1933) outlined ten commandments said to reveal how Danish identity is dogged by inferiority and inadequacy. This 'book' investigates and reassembles these commandments in both physical construction and applied design.
Accompanieing the book is the poster; 'the process' (2002), describing the making of the book."

Don't miss London Artist's Bookfair this weekend!

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the London Artist's Bookfair is taking place at the ICA in London - don't miss it!

I'm extremely excited about going (as maybe my previous posts shows) and hope to pick up some amazing pieces this year too - but more then anything I'm just looking forward to being inspired by the creativity that surely will be on show!

For you who have not visited before or are not really familiar with Artist Books or Book Art this is what to expect:

"Artist’s books encompass drawing, painting, print-making, craft, sculpture, photography and graphic design, and are used for sharing social comment, poetry, beauty, fun or mischief. Some have words – others don’t – and the subject matter ranges from serious literature and high art to personal passions and experience. Some are made by full time artists but many are from part-time enthusiasts."

"You will find conventional pages and handsome typography but also un-conventional intricately folded constructed shapes, computer generated graphics printed on a variety of materials from hand-made paper to plastic and metal and messages and slogans."

The hours are Fri Nov 3rd 12 noon - 7pm, Sat Nov 4th 11am - 7pm and Sun Nov 5th 11am - 5pm. Directions to get there here.

Independent Bookstores in Stockholm

One thing with Stockholm that I find kinda odd is that there are very few independent bookstores (whereas in my experience it's always absolutely packed in bookstores here, so people obviously read if you get my drift).

That's why I got so pleasantly surprised last year when Bokspindeln, an independent bookshop dedicated to children's literature (foreign as well as Swedish, in a wide range of different languages), opened up on Odengatan (by St Eriksplan) a few years ago.

A couple of doors down from Bokspindeln an English language bookshop called New York Stories opened up about a month ago. Doesn't it look exactly like the kind of place you could spend all day browsing!

Picture was taken before they actually opened up so not as stocked as now.

Very shamefully I still haven't visited it properly, but said a quick hi to the owner and have an idea of the store's direction - very exciting!

As far as I know they don't have a website, but for a look at what they're about see this and this post from Absurdity.

Don't miss The Hub playing London

One of my absolute favorite bands ever (and I think might actually be the best live act!) the Hub is playing in London tomorrow night (Friday 27th). Don't miss them!
The gig is at the Crypt in Camberwell (directions to get there here). It starts at 9.30-10pm, but get there for 8pm when the Crypt opens if you want to get in!

For the Hub's European Fall 2006 tour click here - or go to their website for their bio, to listen to their music or for further gigs in Europe / their native New York.

New York City - just like I pictured it - skyscrapers and everything

I love this picture Robin

The Battle of Ideas 2006

The Battle of Ideas is an annual festival of social, political, scientific, academic and cultural ideas.
This year it will take place at the Royal College of Art in London on (this) Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 of October.

As they put it themselves:

"Taking ideas seriously means they must be interrogated, argued for and fought over. The weekend makes virtues of free-thinking and lively exchanges of views. We aim:

· to showcase new arguments about the core issues of the day,
while avoiding getting bogged down in the minutiae of everyday policy

· to initiate open-ended discussions regardless of the demands for
immediate practical outcomes, which too frequently act as a brake
on innovative thinking "


For more information, schedule, background, partners & sponsers and more click here.

Satire will save us

I've had a post in the making ever since I re-structured my links list and a few people asked me why I have the Daily Show with Jon Stewart on my link list grouped together with politics.
I suppose I didn't realise that what was obvious to me (satire always fills a function in political reporting) wasn't obvious to everyone else.

Unfortunately most of our news sources are so watered down, angled, conformed (the US media's reporting during the 2000 election for example) and more then often just plain wrong that alternatives are needed.
I read somewhere that more Americans get their news reporting from satirical shows then traditional news sources - I don't think that's true and very much hope it's not - but if you try to make sure to be properly informed (numerous, varied, international news sources, as well as shows like Counterspin for example) you can do hell of a lot worse then watching the Daily Show, Colbert, or similar as well.

I think that often when something is so ludicrously wrong, deadly serious and ridiciously under-reported at the same time all you can do to show all of this is to make a serious parallel in the form of a joke (see for example this clip I posted before).

All this was articulated so much better by Armando Iannucci on "how comedians are filling the gap where serious debate used to be" [the Guardian's tag-line] - an extract of this Tate Britain lecture was published here on the arts pages of the Guardian.

He's making the excellent point (especially valid in the US I think - mind you with my limited experience of it):

"[it] has come about for three reasons: politicians have stopped speaking to us properly, the media has stopped examining their actions in anything like a forensic way, and broadcast culture has become so watered down, so scared of fact, that people are less inclined to turn to anything other then entertainment for information."

I also noticed this post on Absurdity on the same subject this morning - as always more then worth reading!

Beautiful things

These cards are beautiful - and so simple - by home from the sea - found via Karin Erikson. On Karin's site I also found these absolutely fantastic pebble-shaped vases:

Made by Miyoko Onishi - she doesn't have a website, but get her contact details here courtesy of Origin. These are definitely another that has got to go on the to have-list for our house!