Reading 1932

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Pablo Picasso, La Lecture (The Reading) 1932 : The artist’s “muse” Marie-Therese Walter asleep in a chair with a book in her lap.

 

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There is no frigate like a book

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry –
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll –
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears the Human Soul –
Emily Dickinson
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It’s Good To Have Goals

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

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A Love Letter To New York

Posted on March 4, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Photographer Jonathan Higbee describes his ongoing street photography project Coincidences as a “love letter to New York City”. Higbee’s paean to his adopted hometown documents serendipitous moments of people on the streets of the city. Although the images sometimes seem posed or staged, the photos are all the result of random coincidences. You can follow the series on Higbee’s website and even buy prints.

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Be On The Watch

Posted on March 3, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

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Travelers, Bibliophiles and Digital Nomads Welcome

Posted on March 2, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

The Japanese bookstore and retail electronics chain Tsutaya recently opened an innovative concept store in Tokyo’s Shinjuku District. The six-story Tsutay Book Apartment includes co-working spaces, a bookshop, short stay accommodations, a Starbucks, quiet lounges, a sake bar, a convenience store, and a floor reserved for women with sleep and work spaces. The project is open 24 hours daily and rents rooms by the hour. Seems like an idea that would work for any city.

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The Shapes of Stories

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

The always spot on cartoonist Grant Snider created this terrific graphic representation of Kurt Vonnegut’s timeless lecture on the shapes of stories.

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Bowie In Brooklyn

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Tomorrow the critically acclaimed traveling exhibition David Bowie is will open at the Brooklyn Museum in New York City. The retrospective on the late artist’s five-decade career began at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum in August 2013 and has been touring ever since. This is the final stop on the tour and the last chance to see the show, which runs from March 2 to July 15, 2018.

The exhibition curators had unprecedented access to Bowie’s personal archives and collections. Items in the museum show include sixty custom-made performance costumes —including ones from Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane—set designs, personal photographs and videos, handwritten lyrics, Bowie’s musical instruments, album artwork, journals, music videos and performance films, and unreleased audio clips from his longtime producer and collaborator Tony Visconti.

Timed tickets are required for the show. For more information click here. It’s also a good opportunity to visit one of America’s great museums.

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Imagination Library

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

You probably know Dolly Parton as a country singer and actress, but you may not be aware that she is a philanthropist and huge supporter of childhood literacy programs. In 1995, she launched Imagination Library, a literacy program that mails free books to children from the time of their birth until they enter kindergarten. Parton was inspired by her own father’s illiteracy to create the program.

Today, Imagination Library will reach the extraordinary milestone of 100 million donated books. The event will be celebrated at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. with a ceremony and a reading by Parton. You can view a livestream on YouTube here.

 

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Are We There Yet ?

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

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