ABOUT BOOKS
by Tee A. Corinne

Gay Rebel of the Harlem Renaissance: Selections from the Work of Richard Bruce Nugent, edited and with an introduction by Thomas H. Wirth, gathers the writing and art of Nugent (1906-1987) who, as a young queen, was active in (and rejected by some in) the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. Includes “You See, I Am a Homosexual” (essay) and artwork on homoerotic themes. Durham: Duke University Press, 2002, 294 pp., $74.95 cloth, ISBN 0-8223-2886-0; $24.95 paper, ISBN 0-8223-2913-1.

Alfonso Ossorio: Horror Vacui, Filling the Void -- A Fifty Year Survey presents work by the Manila-born painter (1916-1990), primarily known for his abstract work, who exhibited at the Betty Parsons Gallery. New York: Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, 2002, 80 pp, $25.00 cloth, ISBN 1-930416-18-0. Check out their other Ossorio publications and order online at www.michaelrosenfeldart.com/publications/

Roy Blakey’s 70s Male Nudes, edited and with an introduction by Reed Massengill, with text in English and German, displays the pioneering imagery of an Oklahoma-born (1930-) photographer who spent 25 years working in NYC. Blakey’s nudes, with their neutral studio backgrounds, sharp focus, and sculptural lighting, convey a love of beauty embodied in the human male. New York: Goliath, 2002, 160 pp., $37.95 cloth, ISBN 3-9807602-1-9

Greg Gorman: Just Between Us documents the year-and-a-half-long obsession of an older photographer with a streetwise, sulking, punky youth. Very personal. Very sexy. Santa Fe: Arena Editions, 2002, 224 pp., $55.00 cloth, ISBN 1-892041-56-1.

Hollywood Cowboy: Paul Jasmin, ed. by Dimitri Levas, is an exploration of style and glamour by a Montana-born (1935-) photographer who did the stills for, among other movies, Midnight Cowboy. Although some images of women are included, it is the males, clothed and nude, which carry an erotic charge. Arena Editions, 2002, 144 pp., $50.00 cloth, ISBN 1-892041-55-3.

Catherine Opie: Skyways & Icehouses is a book of photographs of empty city streets and snowy landscapes. The text -- stories about skyways, buildings, and ice fishing -- is unrelated to the pictures. This is very different from Opie’s (1961-) best-known work, s/m inflected self-portraits and portraits of LA fringe people. Minneapolis: Walker Art Center, 2002, 56 pp., $29.95, ISBN 0-935640-72-X. Dist. by D.A.P.: Distributed Art Publishers.

Mary Colter: Architect of the Southwest by Arnold Berke deals with the career of Colter (1869-1958) who designed railroad stations and hotels known for their use of indigenous architecture and local building consistent with their Southwestern U.S. locations. Often, she used the work of area artists, especially Native Americans, for decoration. I haven’t yet seen information about her lesbianism in print and this volume is no exception. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2002, 319 pp., $35, ISBN 1-56898-295-X, dist. by Chronicle Books.

Nell Blaine: The Abstract Work, text by Nell Blaine and Stephen Westfall gives a brief glimpse of the early paintings of Blaine (1922-1996) who was born in Virginia and moved to New York City to study with Hans Hofmann in 1942. She remained in the New York area for the rest of her life. The abstracts are buoyant and, at times, almost funny. New York: Tibor de Nagy Gallery, 2002, 36 pp., $10.00 (includes postage), no ISBN. Order from Tibor de Nagy Gallery, 724 Fifth Ave, NYC 10019, .

Though not new, you might also be interested in the large-scale biographical study Nell Blaine: Her Art and Life by Martica Sawin, a lusciously produced volume with colorful, delightful images. Blaine’s career moved smoothly through group and solo exhibitions, residencies at artists’ colonies, and critical attention. In 1959, she contracted polio, after which, she had to learn to paint again. Most of the paintings in this book are interiors, often with flowers, tables set in such a way that the viewer wants to sit down in them and enjoy the company. New York: Hudson Hills Press, 1998, 154 pp., $50. ISBN 1-55595-113-9

Eileen Gray: Architect/Designer, revised edition, by Peter Adam presents the work of Irish-born modernist designer and architect Eileen Gray (1878-1976), who spent most of her adult life in France. Independently wealthy, bisexual and photographed by Berenice Abbott, she produced interiors and buildings with a severe elegance of form. NY: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1987 & 2000, 408 pp, $39.95 ($60 Canadian) hardcover, ISBN 0-8109-4143-0.

I have two books about Nancy Grossman’s work on my desk. One is a decade old, the other a recent Michael Rosenfield Gallery publication. The older is distributed by them. The work for which Grossman is best known -- black leather and zipper covered sculpted heads, especially popular in select gay male s/m circles -- are well represented in Nancy Grossman by feminist art historian Arlene Raven. Brookville, NY: Hillwood Art Museum, 1991, dist. by Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, 143 pp, $35.00 hardcover in boxed case, ISBN 0-933699-22-0. Add $3.00 per book for shipping. www.michaelrosenfeldart.com/publications/.

Nancy Grossman: Loud Whispers, Four Decades of Assemblage, Collage and Sculpture, presents a few of the heads, but is more concerned with her complex two-dimensional and low-relief collages, many built up of cast-off materials such as shoes. This volume will find an audience among edgier queer art aficionados and those who like strong designs with small to large psychic twists. NY: Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, 2001, 48 pp, $25.00 hardcover, ISBN 1-930416-07-5. Add $3.00 per book for shipping. See web page above.

I will close with three books distributed by D.A.P: Distributed Art Publishers, Inc., 155 Sixth Ave, 2nd FL, NYC 10013-1507, 212/627-1999. Since they always have more queer titles than I can review, check out their catalog. D.A.P. always has a booth at CAA and, I believe, at the Society for Photographic Education conferences. http://www.artbook.com/

A.A. Bronson: Mirror Mirror, text by Bronson and Bill Arning, is an intense presentation of images by Canada-born photographer Bronson (1946-) who, for 25-plus years lived, loved, and created art as General Idea with Felix Partz and Jorge Zontal, both of whom died from AIDS-related causes in 1994. Here, Bronson shows four of his late images of Felix and self-portraits from 1969-70 through 2001. The book ends with paired kissing images from a 3-channel video collaboration with writer/curator Nayland Blake, followed by Bronson with a baby in his arms. Bronson’s art is about meaning and metaphors, witnessing, death and, here, affirmation and rebirth. Cambridge, MA: MIT List Visual Arts Center, 2002, 70 pp., $20, ISBN 0-938437-63-1. Dist. by D.A.P.

Keith Haring: Heaven and Hell, edited by Götz Adriani with essays by Ralph Melcher, David Galloway, Andreas Schalhorn, Giorgio Verzotti, and Ulrike Gehring and excerpts from Haring’s journals, is a well-illustrated survey of the drawing-like paintings by Haring (1958-1990) whose work is often linked with AIDS/HIV awareness graphics. Ostfildern-Ruit, Germany: Hatje Cantz Publishers, 2001, 2000 pp., $45.00 cloth, ISBN 3-7757-1085-5. Dist. by D.A.P.

Andy Warhol: Drawings and Illustrations of the 1950s, text by Ivan Vartanian, is a delightful gift book with kisses on the cover and line drawings, water media drawings, and prints inside. The text discusses how Warhol’s commercial work shaped his later Pop career. New York: D.A.P./Goliga Books, 2000, 112 pp., $9.95 cloth, ISBN 4-7713-0412-2. Dist. by D.A.P.