Infinite Weave: Public Space One Art Auction

Infinite Weave is the theme for this year's fundraising auction sponsored by Public Space One (PS1), an artist-led, community-driven arts organization based in Iowa City, Iowa. Bidding is entirely online and runs through Saturday, March 11, 2023. The works of over 80 artists are represented, including "The Plasticity of Persistence" by the Common Curator. See the PS1 site for full details. 

Scorpio Rising, The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, and Pariah Among 2022 Cohort Selected for the National Film Registry

Established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, the National Film Preservation Board is an advisory body for the Librarian of Congress. The Board helps shape national film preservation planning policy, and also recommends films for the National Film Registry.

Chosen for their cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance, the Board's 25 annual selections for 2022 cover a wide gamut of genres and time periods, from such early films as the Mardi Gras Carnival and Cab Calloway Home Movies to such later works as Mingus and Pariah. The full list for 2022 is as follows:

2010s

Pariah (2011)

2000s

Iron Man (2008)

1990s

House Party (1990)

1980s

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Tongues Untied (1989)

The Little Mermaid (1989)

Hairspray (1988)

Itam Hakim, Hopiit (1984)

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982)

1970s

Bush Mama (1979)

Word Is Out: Stories of Our Lives (1977)

Union Maids (1976)

Carrie (1976)

Attica (1974)

Super Fly (1972)

Betty Tells Her Story (1972)

Manzanar (1971)

                                                                                   

1960s

Mingus (1968)

Titicut Follies (1967)

Behind Every Good Man (196)

Scorpio Rising (1963)

Charade (1963)

1950s

Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)

1940s

Cab Calloway Home Movies (1948-1951)

         

1890s

Mardi Gras Carnival (1898)

              

Further information on the Registry can be found on the Library of Congress' web site. All 850 films selected for the Registry since 1989 can also be browsed online. In addition, the public is encouraged to make nominations for next year's selections to the National Film Registry.

Random Generator: The 2022 PS1 Art Auction

Random Generator is the non-thematic theme for this year's Public Space One Art Auction. Held annually to help support the extensive programming of the artist-led community arts organization, this year's fundraiser will feature over 75 artists. Bidding will be entirely online, and will commence on Thursday, March 3, concluding with a reception at Close House (Iowa City), 7-8pm, Saturday, March 12, 2022. Further details are available at the PS1 website. 

The Common Curator is offering "Protopseudocryptoplasm" in this year's auction, and also designed the image above for the use of PS1 in a series of promotional materials. 

Lord of the Rings, Pink Flamingos, and Cooley High Among Selections to National Film Registry

Established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, the National Film Preservation Board is an advisory body for the Librarian of Congress. The Board helps shape national film preservation planning policy, and also recommends films for the National Film Registry.

Chosen for their cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance, the Board's 25 annual selections for 2021 cover a wide gamut of genres and time periods, from such early films as the Ringling Brothers Parade Film and The Flying Ace to such later works as Stop Making Sense and The Watermelon Woman. The full list for 2021 is as follows:

2000s

WALL•E (2008)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

1990s

Selena (1997)

The Watermelon Woman (1996)

1980s

Who Killed Vincent Chin? (1987)

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Stop Making Sense (1984)

Star Wars Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983)

1970s

The Wobblies (1979)

Chicana (1979)

Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979)

Cooley High (1975)

The Long Goodbye (1973)

Sounder (1972)

Pink Flamingos (1972)

The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971)

Requiem-29 (1970)                                                                                                    

1960s

Evergreen (1965)

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

1950s

Strangers on a Train (1951)

1930s

Flowers and Trees (1932)

Hellbound Train (1930)

           

1920s

The Flying Ace (1926)

1910s

Jubilo (1919)

1900s

Ringling Brothers Parade Film (1902)

              

Further information on the Registry as well as the films themselves can be found on the Library of Congress' web site. All 825 films selected for the Registry since 1989 can also be browsed online. In addition, the public is encouraged to make nominations for next year's selections to the National Film Registry.

National Book Festival 2021

The 21th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, will be held September 17-26, 2021 in Washington, D.C. The festival is free and open to the public.

More than 100 authors, poets, and illustrators will be making presentations throughout the festival on stages for Children, Teens, Fiction, History & Biography, International, Poetry & Prose, Genre Fiction, Science, and other themes & genres. Speakers include such writers as Kazuo Ishiguro, Roxane Gay, Nikki Giovanni, Joy Harjo, George Saunders, and many others. 

Further information, including a schedule of events and an FAQ can be found at the festival website. 

This year's poster was designed by Dana Tanamachi; a gallery of all Festival posters from 2001 to 2021 can be viewed here.

A Clockwork Orange, The Blues Brothers, and Freedom Riders among 25 Titles Added to National Film Registry

Established by the National Film Preservation Act of 1988, the National Film Preservation Board is an advisory body for the Librarian of Congress. The Board helps shape national film preservation planning policy, and also recommends films for the National Film Registry.

Chosen for their cultural, historic, or aesthetic significance, the Board's 25 annual selections for 2020 cover a wide gamut of genres and time periods, from such early films as Bread and The Battle of the Century to such later works as A Clockwork Orange and Freedom Riders. The full list for 2020 is as follows:

2010s

Freedom Riders (2010)

2000s

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Hurt Locker (2008)

Mauna Kea: Temple Under Siege (2006)

Shreck (2001)

1990s
Buena Vista Social Club (1999)

The Devil Never Sleeps (1994)

The Joy Luck Club (1993)

1980s

Illusions (1982)

Losing Ground (1982)

The Blues Brothers (1980)

1970s

Grease (1978)

Wattstax (1973)

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971)

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

                                                                                                           

1960s

Lilies of the Field (1963)

1950s

Outrage (1950)

1940s

Cabin in the Sky (1943)

                       

1920s

With Car and Camera Around the World (1929)

The Battle of the Century (1927)

1910s

Bread (1918)

Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914)

Suspense (1913)

              

Further information on the Registry as well as the films themselves can be found on the Library of Congress' web site. All 800 films selected for the Registry since 1989 can also be browsed online. In addition, the public is encouraged to make nominations for next year's selections to the National Film Registry.

Fear No Color

Original broadside letterpress printed by Canonymous Press.

New Cohort for National Recording Registry Includes Memphis Minnie, Glen Campbell, Cheap Trick, Selena, Dr. Dre & Colin Currie

Now in its eighteenth year, the National Recording Registry has grown to 550 entries with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden having just announced 25 additional sound recordings as the official entries for 2019, stating: 

“The National Recording Registry is the evolving playlist of the American soundscape. It reflects moments in history captured through the voices and sounds of the time. . . . As genres and formats continue to expand, the Library of Congress is committed to working with our many partners to preserve the sounds that have touched our hearts and shaped our culture.”

Under the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, selected recordings must be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and at least ten years old.

Spanning the years 1920-2008, the selections for 2019 are as follows:

1. “Whispering” (single), Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra (1920)
2. “Protesta per Sacco e Vanzetti,” Compagnia Columbia; “Sacco e Vanzetti,” Raoul Romito
   (1927)
3. “La Chicharronera” (single), Narciso Martinez and Santiago Almeida (1936)
4. “Arch Oboler’s Plays” episode “The Bathysphere” (Nov. 18, 1939)
5. “Me and My Chauffeur Blues” (single), Memphis Minnie (1941)
6. The 1951 National League Tiebreaker: New York Giants vs. Brooklyn Dodgers — Russ
   Hodges, announcer (Oct. 3, 1951)
7. Puccini’s “Tosca” (album), Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Angelo Mercuriali, Tito Gobbi,
   Melchiorre Luise, Dario Caselli, Victor de Sabata (1953)
8. “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” (single), Allan Sherman (1963)
9. WGBH broadcast of the Boston Symphony on the day of the John F. Kennedy Assassination,
   Boston Symphony Orchestra (1963)
10. “Fiddler on the Roof” (album), original Broadway cast (1964))
11. “Make the World Go Away” (single), Eddy Arnold (1965)
12. Hiromi Lorraine Sakata Collection of Afghan Traditional Music (1966-67; 1971-73)
13. “Wichita Lineman” (single), Glen Campbell (1968)
14. “Dusty in Memphis” (album), Dusty Springfield (1969)
15. “Mister Rogers Sings 21 Favorite Songs From ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ ” (album), Fred
    Rogers (1973)
16. “Cheap Trick at Budokan” (album), Cheap Trick (1978)
17. Holst: Suite No. 1 in E-Flat, Suite No. 2 in F / Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks / Bach:
    Fantasia in G (special edition audiophile pressing), Frederick Fennell and the Cleveland
    Symphonic Winds (1978)
18. “Y.M.C.A.” (single), Village People (1978)
19. “A Feather on the Breath of God” (album), Gothic Voices; Christopher Page, conductor;
    Hildegard von Bingen, composer (1982)
20. “Private Dancer” (album), Tina Turner (1984)
21. “Ven Conmigo” (album), Selena (1990)
22. “The Chronic” (album), Dr. Dre (1992)
23. “I Will Always Love You” (single), Whitney Houston (1992)
24. “Concert in the Garden” (album), Maria Schneider Orchestra (2004)
25. “Percussion Concerto” (album), Colin Currie (2008)

The full National Recording Registry can be viewed online here. The Registry solicits nominations annually for inclusion on the registry; further information on the criteria and procedures for making nominations for 2020 is available at the Registry website. Individuals may submit up to 50 nominations per year. 

National Book Festival 2019

The 19th annual National Book Festival, organized and sponsored by the Library of Congress, will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The festival is free and open to the public.

More than 100 authors, poets, and illustrators will be making presentations throughout the day on stages for Children, Teens, Fiction, History & Biography, International, Poetry & Prose, Genre Fiction, Science, and other themes & genres. Speakers include such writers as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, José Andrés, Raina Telgemeier, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Barbara Kingsolver, and many others. Further information, including a schedule of events and a map of the festival grounds, can be found at the festival website. Mobile apps are also available for the Festival.

This year's poster was designed by Marian Bantjes; a gallery of all Festival posters from 2001 to 2018 can be viewed here.

The Woodstock Music & Art Fair: Freedom

Fifty years ago, on August 15, 1969, musician Richie Havens [1941-1913] had the honor of opening the Woodstock Festival on Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York. Billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music," the event was unprecedented in both scope and cultural influence, drawing numerous internationally-recognized artists and a crowd estimated at over 400,000. 

The video above shows Havens performing "Freedom," a song he improvised in the moment, and which closed out his set launching the festival. The poster to the right was designed by Arnold Skolnick, who was said to have received about $15 for his efforts. 

Public Space One Launches Campaign for New Headquarters

Public Space One (PS1) is creating a permanent home for artistic experimentation and community in downtown Iowa City in two historic houses at 225 & 229 N. Gilbert Street:

—a gallery embedded in a welcoming community space

—increased space for the Iowa City Press Co-op, a community-access educational print and book arts studio, with a new dedicated classroom space
—a public reading room & archive for The Center for Afrofuturist Studies
—a dedicated residency studio for the CAS and Free Studio Residency
—light-filled private studios for local artists

—an outdoor space for community gatherings and creative events of all kinds 

Please visit PS1's Kickstarter campaign site to learn more about this vibrant community arts organization and how you can help fulfill the vision for their new space. 

Herman Melville at 200: Call Me Ishmael

Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Herman Melville [1819-1891]. As canonical in American and world literature as his compatriot, Walt Whitman [1819-1892], Melville's wondrous novel, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, was published in London in October 1851, and a month later in New York. The London edition was simply titled, The Whale; it also lacked the book's Epilogue, which is essential to the story's understanding. 

It was at Arrowhead, his farmstead in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, that Melville wrote Moby-Dick, and other such classics as Bartleby, the Scrivener. From his second-floor study, Melville had a view onto Mount Greylock, the tallest peak in the state, which he noted reminded him of a great white sperm whale breaching the ocean surface. Nathaniel Hawthorne was a nearby resident in the Berkshires, and he and Melville first met on August 5, 1850 during a literary gathering.

Hawthorne is perhaps the one contemporary who best apprehended the true merit of Moby-Dick, and Melville famously dedicated the book to his newfound friend: "In token of my admiration for his genius, this book is inscribed to Nathaniel Hawthorne." Melville, however, did not have an equivalent reception from the reading public during his lifetime. It was not until the 1920s, after his critical (re)discovery, that his literary reputation began to grow into what it is today. Rockwell Kent's compelling illustrations for a 1930 edition of Moby-Dick also helped fuel renewed interest in Melville.

The illustrations above are from the Arion Press deluxe edition of 1979. The project was designed by Andrew Hoyem, and printed by letterpress in an edition of 250. It features 100 engravings by renowned artist Barry Moser, as well as a bespoke typeface, Leviathan, that was used for the initials of each chapter (Charles Bigelow and Kris Holmes designed the capitals).

Arion Press has been called the last "full-service letterpress" in the country, replete with type foundry and book bindery. One copy of Arion's Moby-Dick was auctioned last year at Sotheby's for nearly $14,000 (from actor & bibliophile Robin William's estate). First editions of the original London and New York imprints are relatively scarce and even more expensive. Two useful Melville guides from leading antiquarian booksellers are "Collecting Herman Melville," by William S. Reese, and "A Checklist of Herman Melville's First and Major Editions," by Kevin MacDonnell.