Kanaval

Leah Gordon takes us on a terrifying journey to pre-earthquake Haiti in full carnival season. The book is rich with bizarre images of men in drag and hand made masks. The astounding costumes resonate the Haitians strong vodou beliefs. All in all, a total treat for the eyes, but not for anyone prone to night terrors.

Available now at Artwords.

Pauline Boty

Just a short post to acknowledge the British pop artist Pauline Boty who was coined 'Bardot of Wimbledon' due to her likeness to Brigitte. She died at 28, refusing to risk her pregnancy by having treatment for cancer. She is often a forgotten name in the 60's pop art scene, or simply credited for her beauty and not for her work.

Typo Lyrics

Ever wondered what a song looks like? What typographical form does music take? Hmm. Whether you've given this a thought or not, you should take a look at TypoLyrics. The book is compiled of contributions to Slanted Magazine who challenged designers to create a typeface that captures a song. There are some great contributions from 170 typographers. Pick up a copy at Artwords.

Meryl Smith

New York based artist Meryl Smith's sculptures create an odd bridge between creature and inanimate object, like her 'Hog Ball'. They really sing surrealism. On Halloween, she swaps the usual 'sexy' devil or vampire female costume option for something far more gruesome - 'Me giving birth to myself'. Excellent. See Meryl's blog for further costume ideas.

Her work space and home is featured in 'The Selby is in Your Place', available at Artwords.

Christian Schoeler and some worthwhile opinions

Reading an interview in Metal Magazine with artist Christian Schoeler, you would think that you were hearing the thoughts of a much older man. When questioned about the state of contemporary art, Schoeler reveals that he thinks the magic and glamour have disappeared at the hands of the art business and is replaced by art that is so information based, it is often dull. I like this man's honesty, and his paintings of young men are beautiful.

The interview was in last month's Metal, but the current issue is available at Artwords, and is equally as interesting.

Slim Aarons

When times get stressful, let's say I've laddered my new tights then got on the wrong bus whilst running late, you might hear me chanting "...go to a happy place, go to a happy place..". Well, this is my happy place. These poolside scenes of affluent 60's socialites first caught my attention in an exhibition in Brighton. They are true visions of fantasy lifestyles. Slim Aarons, I salute you.

Else Neulander-Simon

I read the heartbreaking story of this photographer, who worked under the name Yva in this months issue of Glass Magazine. Not only was she working in an industry that left little room for women, she was also oppressed by Nazi Rulers, who eventually confiscated her photographs and banned her from working in her profession. She worked alongside, and is said to have heavily influenced Helmut Newton with her experimental style. The last chapter of her story is the saddest. She recieved an offer from Life magazine to work in New York but her husband was reluctant to leave Berlin. This decision lead to her untimely death in Auschwitz concentration camp, adding haunting irony to her photographs of free, modern women.

Marianne North: more exotic than a Bounty bar

I recently visited Kew Gardens to soak up a bit of leafy heritage. I was absolutely stunned by the Marriane North gallery, home to her life's work as a flower painter. She trotted the globe in the 1800's painting all sorts of exotic botanics and views which have been displayed to great effect at Kew.