Hi all—
Sorry I’ve been busy! I just finished a internship over at David Zwirner in publishing and books so I haven’t been as attentive to the newsletter as I would like. Hopefully, I’ll be moving onto another artbook publishing gig soon, but in the meantime I would really appreciate any jobs, fellowships, or internship suggestions that you think I’d be into. I’m looking to get into art publishing/book work, but also experienced and invested in art/cultural public programming at institutions or curatorial assistant work, particularly focused on photography or New York City. I’ve also set up a donation link for anyone looking to send one-time donations. Any and all donations are super appreciated.
I’m thinking about starting up a podcast as part of the newsletter where I’ll interview friends and my favorite publishers. So, stay tuned for that. In the meantime, here’s some goings-on!
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Playground Queer Book Fair at Playground Coffee Shop (1114 Bedford Ave.)
Tomorrow, 6/10 11am-4pm
It’s been a while since I last visited Playground. My first time there, 8-Ball Community had just lost it’s headquarters space in the basement of RetroSuperFuture in Chinatown, and the radio team needed a place to set-up their equipment for DJs to come mix and go live. Unfortunately, I’ll be selling bread and pastries during the book fair, so I’ll be looking forward to hearing and seeing how the event turned out.
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June 9, 2023
Tribeca Film Festival: Kim's Video screening at Village East by Angelika & AMC 19th Street
Tuesday, 6/13 8:30pm & Wednesday, 6/14 6:15pm at Angelika, Friday, 6/16 5:30pm at AMC
If you were a New Yorker with a taste for unconventional movies, you likely perused the aisles of Kim’s Video and Music. Its owner, Yongman Kim, became as much of a legend as the films he collected over the years. When the store meets an unexpected end, he strikes a deal with an Italian city’s government to preserve his vast film collection. However, that is far from the end of the story for Kim’s Video, as directors David Redmon and Ashley Sabin find out.
E.V. Grieve: The Kim's empire had a modest start in Kim's dry-cleaning business at 99 Avenue A in 1986 ... the last Kim's Video & Music closed in 2014.
And [SPOILER]... the massive collection of DVDs and videos from Kim's is now available to rent from the Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan. (Background on all this here.)
I learned about the screening from the great neighborhood blog, E.V. Grieve— it’s analogous to the New York Times for my dad. I was pretty young when Kim’s was still on St. Marks so most of my memories are from buying the Simpsons movie on DVD at the last location on 1st Avenue between 7th Street & St. Marks. I remember getting a gift card and then learning that they were closing so I spent most of it on shitty cassette tapes they were selling for a few bucks each and a DVD copy of Aaron Fisher-Cohen's Damn! (2011), a documentary following “the rent is too damn high!” guy, Jimmy McMillan. In any case, I’m excited to see the eclectic store get its big screen recognition.
P.S. There’s some great— and strange— tapes available for free rental at the downtown Manhattan Alamo Drafthouse outpost of Kim’s Video. And if you don’t have a tape player, no sweat— you can take one out on rental for free.
Alex Ross Perry on Instagram: “Many people know I “got my start” working at Kim’s Video in the east village. The loss of that collection when the store closed was a crushing blow. But as people may know the collection now lives again, at the lower Manhattan Alamo Drafthouse. About 20,000 titles are available (mostly DVDs). But about 50,000 are still in storage. Until now. For the last few months, Sean Price Williams and I have been reorganizing and rebuilding the collection, one video at a time. All the tapes themselves have been separated from their boxes. So we rematch. We make decisions about what should be on the floor and help curate a collection of exactly the kind of rare, unique titles that made Kim’s special. Stuff that isn’t available on blu ray or streaming, still! I always said Kim’s was slightly too early to benefit from social media. A “hashtag save kims” campaign could have made all the difference. But now there finally is a social media presence!Follow along @kimsvideounderground and we will share the rare finds, explain what makes them special and encourage people to get involved and then come explore some true cinematic treasures.” May 13, 2023
Flo Fox, Meryl Meisler, and Donna Ferrato zine release at Dashwood Books (33 Bond St.)
Wednesday, 6/14 6-8pm
I ran into Ferrato, renown photojournalist and documentarian following domestic abuse, at an exhibit of Robert Giard’s work in Chelsea some months ago. I overheard her speaking about the release of her zine at Dashwood, and was super interested to see how it would look! I’m excited to check out the three new artists’ zines— published in collaboration between Dashwood and Two by Two Media, who represents the three women— and celebrate the release.
Meryl Meisler on Instagram: “The Zines are coming! file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/f0/00/31621C5B-1A75-4A73-A363-A3B2E8CE0B35/IMG_3487.GIFThe Zines are coming! Please join us on Wednesday, June 14th from 6-8PM for a signing of three zines by Donna Ferrato, Meryl Meisler, and Flo Fox, Two by Two Media artists. Ironic Reality by Flo FoxIronic Reality portrays daily events in the artist’s hometown of New York City, in which something obvious isn’t readily apparent. This is the way Flo sees LIFE. Raw by Donna Ferrato“Raw is what brings pleasure to the senses. sex and food are at the top of the list. I see it as a way to annihilate one’s ego and pursue moments of pleasure without protection. These photographs are all real moments of raw pleasure.” DF Duos by Meryl MeislerMeryl Meisler’s zine DUOS celebrates twosomes: friends, lovers, co-workers, parents & children, strangers, and celebrities at nightclubs and the streets of 1970s NYC. Many photographs in this collaboration between Meisler, Two By Two, and Dashwood have never been shown before. Two by Two Media is a service organization founded by Gigi Stoll dedicated to providing older (70+) women artists in New York City with the free technical, digital and marketing support they need to pursue and grow their careers. Published by Dashwood Books and Two by Two Media20 ppZines Price $18 each Wednesday, June 14th 6-8PM To pre-order copies of these zinesDashwood Books33 Bond StreetNY, NY, 10012(212) 387 8520info@dashwoodbooks.comwww.dashwoodbooks.com #merylmeisler #donnaferrato #flofox #gigistoll #twobytwo #twobytwomedia #zines #artistszines #badasswomen” June 7, 2023
Photoville Festival: Another Perspective exhibit at Brooklyn Bridge Park -- Emily Warren Roebling Plaza (1 Water St.)
On view through 6/18
Curated by Jamel Shabazz and featuring himself among Joseph Rodriguez & Khary Mason, this show brings together two of my favorite New York City photographers-- Shabazz & Rodriguez. I wasn't previously familiar with Mason but excited to be exposed to his work and learn more. I was introduced to Rodriguez through following his Instagram where I drooled over his photographs from his years spent as a New York City taxi driver from late 70s to late 80s. Excited to see this exciting blend of artists come together. See below for a clip from a discussion between the artists from Sunday.
Photoville Festival: Clayton Patterson's Front Door: Residents and Writers at LES Coleman Skate Park (62 Monroe St. & Pike St.)
On view through 6/18
I'm sad to have missed the opening of this amazing public-exhibit, but hoping to swing by before it comes down. Shoutout to the fantastic writer Lei Takanashi and curator Ali Rosa-Salas for organizing this needed recognition of the great archivist and documentarian Clayton Patterson.
Abrons Arts Center on Instagram: “Photographer Clayton Patterson has documented the Lower East Side for over 40 years. Clayton Patterson’s Front Door: Residents and Writers presents the “Front Door” series, portraits taken in front of Patterson’s 161 Essex Street studio between the mid-1980s and early-2000s. Residents of the Lower East Side vied to have their portraits photographed and displayed in the window of Patterson’s studio, which became the “Hall of Fame.” But for local graffiti writers, Patterson’s door became an ever-changing canvas known as the “Wall of Fame.” Patterson’s door, filled with an overabundance of graffiti as shown in this photo, was a neutral ground for Lower East Side writers. One writer who took much space on the door can be spotted towards the top of this image in white spray paint. The tag reads SENO LK. Organized by Lei Takanashi, creator of the graffiti archive Instagram account @CrookNYC and Ali Rosa-Salas, Vice President of Visual and Performing Arts at Abrons 📍LES Coleman Skate Park (Monroe and Pike Streets)📍Martin Luther King Jr. Community Park (216 E Broadway)🗓 Opening Reception June 3, 4–6pm at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Park (216 E Broadway) 🖼 Clayton Patterson. Image courtesy of the artist. #AbronsArtsCenter #Exhibition #ComingSoon #LowerEastSide #ClaytonPatterson #photoville2023 #photovillefestival #NYCGraffiti” May 26, 2023
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Scroll Down and Stop Scrolling at Center for Book Arts (28 W. 27th St., 3rd Fl)
Thursday, 6/22 5-8pm
In the last few months, I’ve become increasingly interested in bookbinding and making, and have made a considered effort to get more involved at CBA— I’m in the process of applying for a bookbinding class after I made a Smyth sewn book of my mom, Susan Schiffman’s photographs for Mother’s Day. The upcoming event— hosted by CBA librarian Gillian Lee— will be a place particularly for photography book enthusiasts, collectors, and makers to come together and look at Gillian’s selection of photobooks from the CBA Fine Art Collection “plus some heavily illustrated books, encyclopedias, and exhibition catalogs from the Reference Collection.” Also, BYOB! Free registration required here, where you can learn more information, or see below for Instagram post.
Center for Book Arts on Instagram: “Details: Scroll Down and Stop Scrolling Photobook Hang Number 1, Thursday June 22, 2023, 5-8pm at CBA. Swipe for high-contrast version. Hey random question but are you sick of looking at your phone? Do you find it inspiring to let a stream of images wash over you? Do you think it would be nice to do so in the company of friends and artist peers? If any of these questions made your little ears perk up, you’ll probably be interested in an event I’m calling SCROLL DOWN AND STOP SCROLLING, or, THE BOOK AS VIBE, hosted by me, Gillian, Librarian here at CBA. I’ll be pulling a huge selection of photobooks from our Fine Art Collection plus some heavily illustrated books, encyclopedias, and exhibition catalogs from the Reference Collection and they’ll be out and available to peruse quietly or while ooh-ing and aah-ing with friends. I also want to recognize that it’s still Pride month and while this isn’t an LGBTQIA+ themed event, it will be a space with many books by queer artists, and I encourage our LGBTQIA+ community to come through and enjoy a quiet space to hang out. This is truly just a little kickback where you can look at some pictures in book form, fill your brain with images that an algorithm wouldn’t even know how to find, unplug from the content tube that makes you feel bad, and plug in to some art community. This event is open to anyone at any level of creative practice who likes to hang out and wants to look at some cool books. BYOB. Sober friends, heads up that some folks may be bringing alcoholic bevs. Please register at the link in our bio, and let us know if you can’t come. Masks encouraged. Remember, this is our library, so please come prepared to handle books with care. Membership is NOT required to attend this one. See you there! The event name Scroll Down and Stop Scrolling is an homage to a 2015 book by Fiona Banner titled Scroll Down and Keep Scrolling, which will be out at the event. The image in the background is scanned from a gorgeous plant encyclopedia which will also be e at the event.”
June 8, 2023
8-Ball Community & Printed Matter: East Village Zine Fair on St. Marks Place between 1st and 2nd Ave.
Saturday, 6/24 11am-7pm
Well, it’s time for the annual 8-Ball / Printed Matter East Village Zine Fair. I missed the first one, but made the second one last year. It truly was a chaotic, beautiful gathering of possibly everyone in my life from running into my elementary school librarian Cheryl Wolf, groups of friends I made at Bard College, friends from volunteering at 8-Ball Community that I hadn’t seen in years, and more. I think I spent way over what I budgeted, and I plan for the same to happen this year. I wish I had more time to check out the programs organized, but was happy with the experience I walked away with. Be warned, this is not a book fair for those uncomfortable with crowds and pushing past people. Information on vendors and programs listed here.
Printed Matter Art Book Fairs on Instagram: “Printed Matter / St Marks and 8-Ball Community are excited to welcome you back to St Marks Pl on Saturday June 24 for the third annual East Village Zine Fair, a celebration of NYC’s zine-makers, independent publishers, and the East Village’s history of DIY culture past and present. 🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼The EVZF and its programs are free and open to the public. Details about programming in community gardens, fundraising editions, musical performances and more are forthcoming! ☀️ Applications to exhibit at the EVZF are now OPEN through Monday, March 27 ☀️ Follow the link in our bio for instructions on how to apply and further information about the fair. @printedmatter_stmarks@8ballcommunity Flyer by Eric Alexander @e.p.alexanderssssss” March 10, 2023
I also wanted to shout-out some exhibitions that have recently opened that I’m looking to check out.
En Foco, the Center & Gabriel G. Torres: Divine Queerness, Tools and Forms: Methods of Healing at the The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (208 W. 13th St.)
On view through 9/10
En Foco, Inc. on Instagram: “LINK IN BIO -- There is still time to RSVP to Divine Queerness: Forms and Tools Methods of Healing; a visual investigation of the different ways queer identity shapes the healing mechanisms and processes of People from the Global Majority. 7 artists examine their own personal, ancestral, and communal journey with healing through different forms and tools, rooted in radical imagination as a way of resilience and a necessary form of reclamation; overcoming all obstacles to achieve a notion of divinity The opening reception is tomorrow, June 1, 2023, 6-9 p.m.”
June 2, 2023
Shana Sadeghi-Ray & Wayne Bruce: For What It’s Worth at Whaam! (15 Elizabeth St., 1st Fl.)
On view through 7/15
WHAAM! on Instagram: “Opening tonight – Shana Sadeghi-Ray and Wayne Bruce, For What It’s Worth, a duel exhibition of new work by New York based artists, from 6-8pm at 15 Elizabeth Street, New York. Opening reception: Thursday, June 1, 6-8pm Whaam! 15 Elizabeth StreetNew York, NY, 10013 @scorpioincharge @animalhomosexuality #waynebruce #shanasadeghiray” June 1, 2023
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That’s all I got for now. Stay posted. :-)
Rainer