Library of Dust is a haunting photographic odyssey by David Maisel. The work depicts individual copper canisters, each containing the cremated remains of patients from the Oregon State Hospital. The patients died at the hospital between 1883 (the year the facility opened, when it was called the Oregon State Insane Asylum) and the 1970’s. All have remained unclaimed by their families.How did the title come about?During Maisel's first visit to the hospital a "young male prisoner in a blue jumpsuit, with his feet planted firmly outside the doorway, leans his upper body into the room, scans the cremated remains, and...
The Pyramid Collapses : BookWise Folds
BookWise the multi-level marketing (aka pyramid scheme) / book-club founded by Richard Paul Evans has failed.Once touted by Evans as "the most intelligent home-based business in the world" BookWise has now merged with another multi-level marketing company iLearningGlobal, "a revolutionary success mentoring company, utilizing the power of online learning with an incredible compensation plan, higher payout and international opportunities."In an email sent to BookWise members Evans says of the demise:A couple months ago I learned a life changing lesson. I asked a billionaire friend of mine how do you know when it's time to quit. His reply sent chills down...
Live, from the Santa Monica Book Fair!
I leave tomorrow for the Santa Monica Book Fair where I'll be exhibiting (Booth 712a) and thought I would try something a little different.Through the wonders of modern technology (read: my iPhone), I'll be posting nearly-live updates from the fair - from set-up to break-down and everything in between, maybe even a few from the road - via both Flickr and Twitter. If you'd like to follow along, here are the links:The Santa Monica Book Fair - A Flickr Set (also available in RSS flavor)Me on Twitter (or RSS)Booth shots, interesting books, behind-the-scenes info...The next best thing to being there....
Orwell Was Right
Vacant house. West Seattle. September, 2008Image © Book Patrol
The Page Curler hits Seattle : Cara Barer Exhibit at Wessel & Lieberman
Carousel 25" x 25" Edition of 25Wessel & Lieberman Booksellers is pleased to announce an exhibition of the work of Cara Barer.The event will highlight the dynamic photographs the Houston-based artist and showcase her sculptural approach to the book.Shot on a black background, found books take on color and shape, elegantly transposed by the artist’s hands into recognizable forms. The dirtied, warped, and sometimes dyed leaves of text may become the wings of a butterfly, the gills of a mushroom, or the intricately symmetrical crystals of a newly formed snowflake.Two Dreams 14" x 14" Edition of 25Cara Barer studied Art...