NYC Layered

Posted on November 19, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I have never seen anything quite like this very trippy, multi-layered time-lapse video below. Here’s what the filmmaker Julian Tryba had to say about the process:

Traditional time-lapses are constrained by the idea that there is a single universal clock. In the spirit of Einstein’s relativity theory, layer-lapses assign distinct clocks to any number of objects or regions in a scene. Each of these clocks may start at any point in time, and tick at any rate. The result is a visual time dilation effect known as layer-lapse.

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Mustachio On The Orient Express

Posted on November 18, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

h/t Tom Gauld

 

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What we live with now

Posted on November 17, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Those of you who follow TBTP on a regular basis are well aware that I’m a huge fan of the Spanish artists collective Luzinterruptus. Their international environmentally focused art installations always make bold and memorable statements. “The Plastic We Live With” or “El Plastico con el que vivimos” was their most recent project. Last month, it transformed a former Virgin Megastore in Bordeaux, France to help graphically visualize the excess plastic all around us.

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Fillory and Further

Posted on November 16, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I’m a big fan of author Lev Grossman’s The Magicians trilogy. The brilliant and always entertaining fantasy series is like a rollicking mash-up of Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The books come with some very cool Tolkien-like maps of the magical world of Fillory created by Roland Chambers. Now, the illustrator is offering high quality limited edition prints of the maps on his website.

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Bookstore Tourism Lisbon

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Portugal is well known to traveling bibliophiles for its extraordinary bookstores and libraries. One of Lisbon’s most popular book browsing destinations is the popular Livaria Ler Devagar in the Barrio de Alcantara district. Set in a 19th century newspaper printing factory, the bookshop shares space with two cafes, galleries, and performance spaces. Packed floor to ceiling with thousands of books, the shop, whose name means “read slowly, is the cornerstone for a growing creative neighborhood. It’s open daily, but go on Sunday for the local street market.

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Homage a George Seurat

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Homage a Seurat by Jonathan Burton

h/t M. Wuerker

 

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They Promised Me Ponies

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

I am not the least bit embarrassed to admit that I am a devoted fan of the Simpsons. The show often offers unparalleled insights into American culture and frequently functions as a guide to moral philosophy. From the first season, books, newspapers, and magazines have been an important creative element to plot lines. Guatemala City-based art director Carmen Lopez may be an even bigger Simpsons fan that I am. She searches through old episodes and catalogs literary elements from the series for a wonderful Instagram called “Simpsons Library”. Since Lisa is the show’s most avid reader, most of the posts focus on her book selections.

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Literary Dioramas

Posted on November 12, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Spanish artist Malena Valcarcel transforms abdondoned books into fanciful, poetic dioramas and book sculptures. You can see more of her lovely work, and even purchase a piece, on her Etsy site.

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There is a crack in everything

Posted on November 11, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

It’s hard to believe that Leonard Cohen has been gone for a year, but this week his hometown of Montreal marked his passing with a wonderful mural portrait in the heart of downtown. Created by LA-based artist El Mac, the enormous painting took 10 weeks, 100 gallons of paint, and 240 cans of spray paint.

The moving image is based on a 2008 photo of the iconic poet/singer/songwriter/novelist taken by his daughter Lorca Cohen.

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Art of the Cover

Posted on November 10, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

As a book collector and a book seller, I have often purchased a book just because the dust jacket art caught my eye. In this terrific new book, The Illustrated Dust Jacket 1920-1970, author Martin Salisbury explores the transition from plain paper dusk covers to book jackets designed by skilled artists and illustrators whose aim was to promote interest in the book.

The fascinating book includes not only iconic dust jackets, but also obscure book cover art that has been all but lost. Salisbury has wisely chosen to focus on fifty British and American artists, designers, and illustrators who worked  mainly during the half-century between 1920 and 1970. Happily, he has covered some of my favorites, including Milton Glaser, Ben Shan, Edward Gorey, Tove Jansson, and Mervyn Peake.

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