Author Archives: Brian D. Butler

Books are only human after all

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Rooting through my image files I came across this little series of paintings by British artist and illustrator Jonathan Wolstenholme. He is widely known for his amazingly detailed works deriving from a love of old books and of the paraphernalia … Continue reading →

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Maps of States

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

MAPS OF STATES Terrance Hayes  A map indicating the state of the union may Yield the statues, static & statutes of grave White men while a map indicating disrepair may Yield colorful groundbreakers uprooting graves.   A map indicating the … Continue reading →

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Call For The Dead

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Last week, Viking announced that this year—which happens to be the 60th anniversary of the publication of John le Carré’s first novel, Call for the Dead—they will publish the late writer’s twenty-sixth, and likely last, novel, Silverview. Silverview will be … Continue reading →

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When They Haven’t Really Read The Book

Posted on May 24, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Cartoonist Ward Sutton creates classic books illustrated by artists who have clearly not read the books.

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Waving Not Drowning

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

By now nearly every human being on the planet has seen one version or another of the iconic painting above. What do most of us really know about this sublime work of art ? When woodcut artist Katsushika Hokusai made his famous … Continue reading →

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Gorey on Gory

Posted on May 22, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I was saddened to read that mystery writer and editor Marvin Kaye died on May 13, 2021 at the age of 83. Edward Gorey created wonderful wraparound dust jacket cover designs for eight of the numerous anthologies Kaye produced.  

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Paris on the Precipice

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

As the lockdown comes to a close in Paris, the French street artist JR celebrates  its most iconic landmark by transforming the Esplanade of Trocadero into a monolithic chasm. Check out the video below on this fabulous project that was … Continue reading →

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What Party

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Street artists have come a long way from guerilla art bombers to darlings of the auction houses. These days it’s not unusual for a one-time “vandal” to get an impressive one-person exhibition at a prestigious museum. Currently, the hot show … Continue reading →

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You Have To Draw The Line Somewhere

Posted on May 19, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

 

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Living in the Wild West (of Iceland)

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

At some point during every trip that I take to Iceland I entertain the fantasy of moving to a small coastal town and opening a little bookshop. But reality always wins out when I remember what Icelandic winters are like. … Continue reading →

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