New Art Book Acquisitions

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Vintage Photography Sunday

Found a scrapbook from Weimar-era Germany this weekend. In it were photographs from the Pressa Koln (Cologne) Exhibition of 1928. The international exhibition was a showcase for media and graphic design. One of the images is of a sculpture by Michail Plaksin and El Lissitzky done for the exhibition. I found a similar image, but mine seems to have been taken inside, and has the initials "Ka" on the front.

NYC Hurriquake Week, Shop

So, I was working in NYC last week, surviving the earthquake and flying out just before hurricane Irene. But there was still plenty of time for fun. I'm divvying things up this time, shop first, eat second, because I'm still digesting.

My new favorite store is Kiosk – the entrance pictured above. It's a wonderfully curated selection of items from around the world. Almost as if I picked them out myself – everything from German nun tonic to Japanese powder coated steel toolboxes. I picked up a Kaweco Sport Pen as my expandable Rotring finally fell apart.

To go with my pen, SB picked up a Whitelines notebook for me at Sam Flax. White grid lines (or ruled lines) on a light gray paper instead of dark lines on white. Genius!

For some reason, I had never been to the Strand bookstore – "18 miles of books." The entire second floor is the art section. I picked up Luc Sante's Folk Photography: The American Real Photo Postcard 1905-1930. Now that I know they have a website, I might have to pick up the other books I put down in the store that day.

Needing a friendly neighborhood drug store, I wandered into Thompson Chemists just down the street from my hotel where I was able to find both generic Claritin and Marvis toothpaste.

Lastly, a great store called Love, Adorned that carries beautiful handmade items – especially jewelry. And they had a shoe-maker in-residence making custom moccasins.

NOLA Food/Art Mashup

The image above is "Flaming Watermelon Ship" by Floyd Shaman. The Ogden Museum kicked off it's new season with the opening of several shows, one being Self-Taught, Outsider and Visionary Art from the Collection of Alexa Kleinbard and Jim Roche. Of which the ship is a part. Also on tap was Mississippi Photographs, 1860s-Present featuring friend and Monkey contributor Seth Boonchai. And I ended up having a camera conversation on the rooftop with Birney Imes and his daughter – he has his Whispering Pines photographs up now also at the Ogden.

That was the catalyst for the trip, but of course we had to eat. So, we start off with an incredible lunch at the Green Goddess where we discover Timanoix, a washed-rind cheese made at the Abbey of Timadeuc in the Brittany region of France. And let's face it, monks know how to do these things. We were tipped off that St. James Cheese Company supplied it locally. Unfortunately, they're closed on Sundays in August, but they ship. Or, forget running liquor across state lines, I'll bring a cooler and run cheese.

We then took a short break from eating and went to Euclid Records. I found a few things to pick up, including Cameo's Word Up!. Interestingly, in the credits, Jean Paul Gaultier did their wacky outfits and Paula Scher designed the album.

 Dinner was had at a Mano, and I can now say I've had some good Italian food. We had a large table of 8 and they offered us the Chef's tasting menu served family style. It won by unanimous decision, and a good decision it was. It is more food than you can ever hope to eat, but we gave it our all. I have to confess that I was pretty much all washed up by the time the Secondi came out. Have a Chinotto cocktail while you're there.

Thinking we may never be hungry again, but of course being wrong, the next day we had lunch at Middendorf's. I've heard about it for years, and now understand the pull of the "thin" fried fish. Cheers to a light dinner and the week ahead.

Bud's Broiler

There's no excuse for eating at a fast food chain in New Orleans because there's Bud's Broiler serving up char broiled burgers 24 hours in a row. Saved my life this weekend.

And while you're there, check out the Birney Imes show at the Ogden Museum – portraits that are part of his personal work.

WWI Photographs

From WWI Set

I recently acquired a set of 45 WWI images from an estate sale right around the corner from my house. They are actual photographs, but seem to be some kind of souvenir set, although any wrapper or box is long gone. They're small – 2.75 x 1.625 – almost like a cigarette card, but these have no printing or writing on them except for the handwritten descriptions on the front. They're pretty interesting, so I thought I'd scan in and post a few every now and again. If anyone has any info on these sets, please comment and let me know. By the way, "Boche" is slang for a German soldier.

Diana Mini Shots

Half and Half

I have just been introduced to Circle Rectangle as they have posted a nice interview with Tokyo Camera Style. But check the vintage half-frame cameras in his shop! I love me some half-frame – I have a Mercury II CX. Here's a photo taken with mine.

Bratwurst Line At Germanfest

Back In NYC

I recently travled to NYC for some business, but I also had to include some eating as well. Luckily, SB was more than willing to join me and show me some great new places. Hopefully, he'll add some pics because I was way too busy chewing.

Russ & Daughters – The holy grail of smoked fish. So hard to decide which one, but we both tried the Pastrami Cured Salmon on a bagel with a schmear of scallion cream cheese. Heaven. I could have stopped here and been quite happy. But noooo.

Yakitori Taisho – Super happy fun food and best menus ever. Monkfish liver is always a highlight. Also the fried frog. There was something else but now I can't remember. Lastly, you get a small cup of flavored sugar with your check. It's for the self-serve cotton candy machine out front. Yep.

Black Hound NY – Lots of good looking sweets, but we stocked up on the cookies. Specifically the anise bones (like a dog treat for people). And they did not last long.

Momofuku Milk Bar – Had to try the Cereal Milk soft serve. Yes, it tastes just like you ate Frosted Flakes and then turned the resultant milk into ice cream.

I think that covers Day 1. More tomorrow. By the way, the image is from MOMA's show, "The Original Copy: Photography of Sculpture 1839 to Today."

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

There are tons of Carte de Visites around, and most are nice portraits but not that interesting. Flip them around though, and sometimes the backs are pretty great – beautiful printing and typography and sometimes a bit of historical info. Click the image to see an enlargement and also a couple more.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

Here's a little girl photographed by Sweeny, Jackson, Mississippi wearing a pretty cool daffodil costume. If you click the photograph and go to the album, there's also a shot of the board it's mounted on that has a beautifully embossed figure on it. Couldn't find out much info on Sweeny, so I'll have to do a little more digging.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

Here's a portrait taken by "Beadle's Studio, Jackson, Miss." Richard Henry Beadle was a prominent African-American photographer in Jackson starting in 1900. This source says he apprenticed with Elisaeus von Seutter, although another source says von Seutter died in 1900. The Smith Robertson Museum (Sorry, looks like their web site is undergoing some turmoil.) has some of his photo collection and studio equipment on display. From the Museum:

In 1906, he set up a studio in a tent near Roach and Capitol streets in Jackson. Later he moved his studio to North Farish Street where he operated for 54 years. In 1968 Beadle was cited for outstanding leadership by the National Council for Negro Women. In 1977 his work was cited by the heritage committee of Jackson's Bicentennial Committee and in 1980 he was honored with an exhibit of his works by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The exhibit includes vintage cameras, studio equipment and a collection of photos from the Beadle collection.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

Here's another little mystery for this week – a photo montage of pilot, plane and crop dusting action shot. It's stamped "Bryan's Studio, Clarksdale, Miss." on the reverse. Handwritten on the front is "To the World's best. Jack Robinson." I did some research trying to find this famous crop duster or stunt pilot who signs autographs. What I did find is the more famous Jack Robinson, photographer, who grew up in Clarksdale. Check out this signature – it's kinda similar. And he looks a little like the pilot. Maybe the pilot is his father, Jack Robinson, Sr.?

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

For this week, here's a Julia Margaret Cameron-esque 8x10 portrait by an unknown photographer.

Vintage Photograph Tuesday

From Vintage Photographs

Here's a photograph that I've always doubted the authenticity of. The model appears to be wearing an Egyptian style wig and "snakes" of some sort. I think her necklace is made out of lace bobbins. It would seem to be within the genre of art/nude carte de visite. Given the style of the paper mount, with its hard corners and two simple gold lines, that dates it to about 1860-1868. On the back is written: W. Ward Photographer, Richmond, Virginia, Also Army of Northern Virginia, In The Field, which would seem to date this more specifically during the Civil War. Here's my problem, for being almost 150 years old, the paper mount is in immaculate shape. Also, the paper the image is printed on feels a little thick for this era and is shiny almost like a satin or pearl RC paper. I believe it's an old image, but somehow a modern print married to an old backing? Any thoughts out there?

Obsolescence Is Just A Lack Of Imagination

Recently, a friend gave me some vintage cameras. As I was checking them out, I realized one still had a roll of film in it. Naturally, I want to have it developed. My go to place is Film for Classics, a website that's been around for quite a while. The guy not only processes vintage film formats such as 126, 127, 620 and 828, but also purchases new roll film from Kodak, then cuts and spools this film into these sizes. Alas, he no longer sells the film direct but through B&H and Central Camera. And he no longer processes either, but recommends Dwayne's Photo. Dwayne's processes 110, Disc, 126 and 127 film formats at a reasonable price of 9 bucks a roll. However, as I was about to seal up the film in an envelope and send it off, I realized that the film was Kodacolor-X and process C-22. Dwayne's expressly does not process C-22 film. A little Googling revealed Rocky Mountain Film Lab. It appears that RMFL can process just about any old film you send their way including movie film. The C-22 films are $42.50 per roll, and because they wait until they have a batch, the wait time is 6-12 months. But, hey, after sitting in a camera for 40 years or so, what's a few months. My hope is that I'll just forget about it until a surprise arrives at my door.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

This is a Wallace Nutting print from 1915 taken at Paul Revere's home in Massachusetts. Nutting largely photographed pastoral country scenes, but also period interiors such as this one. All are hand colored photographic prints, but mass produced. Each print has a studio number written on the back – this is #3580 which seems to be a variation of this one from the Wallace Nutting Library site. It seems to be a fairly extensive site of his work if you're patient enough for it to load. From the site:

Wallace Nutting started taking pictures in 1899 while on long bicycle rides in the countryside. In 1904 he opened the Wallace Nutting Art Prints Studio on East 23rd Street in New York. After a year he moved his business to a farm in Southbury, CT. He called this place "Nuttinghame". In 1912 he moved the photography studio to Framingham, MA. A home he called, "Nuttingholme". In the peak of his business he employed about two-hundred colorist. Only a few of whom were authorized to title and sign his photographs. In fact, Wallace Nutting signed very few of the pictures he sold. Because of the sheer number sold, ten millions by his own account, It would have been difficult in light of ill health and his interest in publishing and furniture making for him to sign them all. This accounts for the various signature styles that can be found. Collectors have learned to recognize an authorized signature as well as Wallace Nutting's own. Signature styles can date a picture and the combination of other elements can authenticate a signature.

Seems that mine was not signed by Nutting himself.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

For this week, here are a couple novelty or souvenir photos with a bull theme.

From Vintage Photographs

This one is a tintype. On the back is handwritten in pencil, "Who would of thought it?" Fun Souvenir Photo Flickr Group here.

By the way, for all you sellers of photographs, if you really must write a price on the back of an image, please, please don't use a pen.

Vintage Photograph Mondays

From Vintage Photographs

This is page 1 of a photo album showing a young group of boys on a climbing trip in South Korea. In addition to the photos, there are great drawings in white ink throughout the album. Click the image to see in more detail. Dr. Sheeyong Lee was kind, patient and thorough in translating the writing in the entire album for me. In addition to the straight translation there is also some supportive information.

Moving clockwise starting from the drawing in the lower left corner.

1. KWAN-ARK-SAN, A mountain located in Seoul, South Korea. SAN means mountain. In memory of climbing KWAN-ARK mountain. May 3, 1943 (at the age of) 18.

2. From the Northern side (of the Han river), the crystal water trickles down and goes around the beautiful rocks. Up to the sky, snow white clouds form the flowers of Lotus.* Under the heaven, forests are shadowed with the color of fresh green. From the forests, I can listen to the songs of small birds. A bright day in April*, at WOO-EE-DONG.*

*the flowers of Lotus (YON-HWA) – An idiom from Buddhism, symbol of purity, noble and clean mind.
*April (sha-wol) – The author uses the lunar calendar April even though it is May. It seems he emphasizes the romantic and joyful mood by using April which symbolizes the season of spring.
*WOO-EE-DONG – A town in Seoul (?) Characters translate to cow-ear-village.

3. 1947.6.15 On the top of MAN-JANG-BONG. In memory of conquering DO-BONG-SAN MAN-JANG-BONG

4. A continuous rain! To climb ?? mountain which boasts her rich in green leaves and beauty. The weather was not good today. A woodman gave us a tip to find a pathway which was covered with thick green bush. In the picture: Mr. Jung and friend Lee watching dark clouds in gloomy sky. After seeing KUM-RAE-GOOL (KUM-RAE cavern).

5. Autumn! – the season of CHEON-GO-MA-BEE* Autumn! – the breeze of pine trees. Facing the wind, I embrace the golden KWAN-ARK mountain. I climb on horse rock behind ?? which stands very curiously. As seeing all around, I feel dizzy and confused as if there is a cliff near me and a heaven above me. Far away, I can see cloud-covered NAM-HAN mountain. Friend SEO took a snap shot.

*CHEON-GO-MA-BEE – Sky is high, horses are gaining weight. Originally, these words derived from an old Chinese legend. Whenever autumn came, the Northern people (the Hun?) had to prepare to overcome the harsh winter. So they fed their horses during spring and summer and invaded the Chinese border (the Great Wall) in autumn which shows clear sky. Therefore the Chinese always had to enforce their defense when autumn came. To the Northener, autumn was the time to invade to get food and riches. To the Chinese, it was time to alert. In Korea, this idiom is used to describe the beauty of the season. Autumn is the season of nobly high sky, season of abundance, season of philosophy, season of poets, and season of men.

7. The early summer: the green leaves seem like silk texture, irises show their flowers beautifully. On May 3, a happy and joyful day, a lark is singing, willow are hanging by the creek near KWA-CHEON. Going around KWAN-ARK mountain and seeing ??. It is a happy day wandering all around the mountain.

8. In memory of climbing KWAN-ARK mountain.