Go Ask Alice

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll with illustrations by A.H. Watson, Collins 1939.

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Boom for Real

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

The ever elusive British street artist known as Banksy has confirmed via Instagram that two new artworks on the walls of London’s Barbican Centre are his creations. One image is of a ferris wheel with people lining-up at the ticket booth and crowns replacing the ride’s passenger cars. The second piece is a reference to the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and an upcoming exhibition at the Barbican titled Basquiat: Boom for Real. This mural seems to be a commentary on how the black artist would be welcomed by London police today.

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The Mind Loves The Unkown

Posted on September 18, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

“The mind loves the unknown. It loves images whose meaning is unknown since meaning of the mind is itself unknown.”

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Entropy Always Wins

Posted on September 17, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

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Bench Press

Posted on September 16, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Poland’s Zaczytani Foundation recently completed the installation of a series of benches modeled on open books. The colorful seating, which can be found in the center of Warsaw, Gdansk, Kracow, Poznan, and Wroclaw, references works by famous Polish writers, such as Jan Brzechwa and Agnieszka Osiecka. Along with promoting literacy, the project is also raising cash and book donations for libraries and charitable organizations.

You can learn more about the book bench project at the Zaczytani Foundation’s Facebook page.

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Spend Your Money Wisely

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Roughly translated: Spend your money wisely, buy a book.

 

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Every Picture Tells A Story

Posted on September 14, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Placing ordinary objects such as globes, books, lights, and furniture in wilderness locations, Norwegian artist and photographer Rune Guneriussen creates unusual narratives and surprising stories. The video below explores his artistic process in the creation of these extraordinary installations.

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Save That Book

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

Anyone who has experienced a wet book will appreciate this primer on rescuing water damaged books. The video from Syracuse University Library provides a practical action plan to rescue that paperback you dropped in the tub or your rain-drenched textbook. With back-to-back hurricanes here in North America, it’s particularly timely.

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Support Your Local Library

Posted on September 12, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

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Airport Art

Posted on September 11, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

As I’ve mentioned on more than one occasion, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is one of my favorites in Europe. The international gateway is not only well-equipped and conveniently located, it’s also home to a wonderful branch of the world-famous Rijksmuseum.

The mini-museum, which is situated on “Holland Boulevard” beyond security, is free and open 24 hours daily. This past week, they launched an all new exhibition of landscapes, still lifes, and portraits from the 17th century.

Schiphol also has an excellent mini-branch of the NEMO Science Museum and its own library. Who could ask for more for a long layover?

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