Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Art: Eric Drooker Illustration


Eric Drooker is a native New Yorker, born and raised on Manhattan Island. He’s the award-winning author of several books, including “Flood! A Novel in Pictures” and “Blood Song: A Silent Ballad.” He’s the Animation Designer on the new feature film, “Howl.” His paintings appear frequently on covers of The New Yorker, and hang in numerous collections.

Via: Cuded

Monday, April 23, 2012

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Interview: Marjane Satrapi


Iranian Graphic Novelist Marjane Satrapi of Persepolis Reflects On Her Early Influences
Source: Nowness.com

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Marjane Satrapi relates memories of her childhood growing up amid Iran's turmoils and her artistic family in today’s film by Chiara Clemente. Shot in Satrapi’s colorful studio in the Marais district of Paris, the short is a new chapter in Clemente’s Beginnings series for the Sundance Channel in which cultural icons reveal the experiences that set them on their paths. “Marjane has such strength to her personality and creative vision,” says Clemente. “She explodes when you talk with her, everything is so alive.” Satrapi’s graphic novel series Persepolis—which she adapted into a 2008 Oscar-nominated film—traced her life as a rebellious child growing up in Tehran, through the overthrow of the Shah and later under a brutally restrictive Islamic Republic. The teenager’s (illegal) collection of Iggy Pop and Iron Maiden tapes, her outspoken political views and reluctance to wear a veil, lead her left-wing intellectual parents to dispatch her to Vienna aged 14 for her own safety. “Marjane told us stories of her parents returning from travels with these forbidden things—a denim jacket, a Michael Jackson pin or Batman comics––and her obsession with them,” says Clemente. Last year Satrapi released a feature film adaption of her graphic novel Chicken with Plums, which chronicles the final week in the life of her great-uncle, starring Mathieu Amalric.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Lecture: What we learned from 5 million books


Have you played with Google Labs' NGram Viewer? It's an addicting tool that lets you search for words and ideas in a database of 5 million books from across centuries. Erez Lieberman Aiden and Jean-Baptiste Michel show us how it works, and a few of the surprising things we can learn from 500 billion words.

How Old Books Get That Distinctive Smell


Walk into a used bookshop and you will encounter the unique aroma of aging books. The smell is loved by some, disliked by others, but where does it come from?

Art: Literature Heavyweights

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"Literature Heavyweights" (bricks faking books) by Daryl Fitzgerald

Monday, April 9, 2012

Art: Weapon of Mass Instruction


"Arma De Instruccion Masiva" ("Weapon of Mass Instruction") by Raul Lemesoff
Photographs by Raul Lemesoff

Built from a welded frame atop a 1979 Ford Falcon, Raul Lemesoff drives around the streets of Buenos Aires distributing free books to anybody who wants to be assaulted with some serious learnin’


Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Bookshelves: Pac-Man Ghost


Pac-Man Ghost Bookshelf by Barcelona artist LightYourselfUp

Ever wanted to decorate your room to the theme of Pac-Man? Or are you just a Pac-Man fan? Well, either way, you will love this Pac-Man Ghost bookshelf. You can get this wonderful accessory for €250 (about $342 USD). Via: Technabob

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Merchandise: Wall Map Vinyl Wall Sticker

The world map vinyl wall sticker is perfect for the well-travelled individual. The design comes complete with various sized positionable dots for marking your travels, or even planning your next trip. A great way to keep track of all the places you have visited. by Vinyl Impression


The world map vinyl wall sticker is perfect for the well-travelled individual. The design comes complete with various sized positionable dots for marking your travels, or even planning your next trip. A great way to keep track of all the places you have visited.