Arts & Culture

Library Books at Home 3

Look what I got from the library this month. Isn't this an inviting pile of books?

High Line: The Inside Story of New York City's Park in the Sky is a complete history of New York's most recent public park -- the enourmously successful High Line.

American photographer Joel Sternfeld took these pictures when the High Line was still an abandoned railway line.

This elegant park has become a magnet for both tourists and locals. Expect a crowd.

Being one story above street level makes all the difference. It gives one a feeling of being connected to the city and yet removed from it -- contemplating it in tranquility.

I noticed Be Your Own Decorator on my last visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario's gift shop. I wrote down the title, put in a hold at the library and here it is. Let's have a look.

I was pleased to recognize the Erwin Olaf photograph over the fireplace on the right. I know it from the front cover of this book.

Designers: Stephen Shubel on the left, Eric Cohler on the right

Here's another view of that Shubel room. I like those two couches pushed together and I like all the tables and the low mirrors. This would be a great room for a party.

Designers: Annie Brahler on the left, Alex Papachristidis on the right.

Darryl Carter, another designer in the book, has some decorating advice: "It's...about buying the things you love and making sure they don't match." Pretty funny!

Looking through The Sacred Image in the Age of Art: Titian, Tintoretto, Barocci, El Greco, Caravaggio made me want to learn a lot more about Renaissance painting. I find I can start reading on almost any page and the writing draws me in.

And the design is superb. Look at this chapter opening -- with that gorgeous Bellini on the left. Don't you want to know more about "The Dilemma of Naturalism"?

Who could look at this double page spread and not want to know more about "Michelangelo's Last Judgment and the Failure of the Sacred Image at Midcentury".

What a stunning Titian: a detail from his Christ Carrying the Cross, 1575. The text says this was in Titian's studio at the time of his death.

One more treat. Do you know the boxes and assembliges of Joseph Cornell? Joseph Cornell: Navigating the Imagination is the perfect introduction to his work.

I've never seen this piece before. It's Untitled (Porthole Cage) from 1949. I find it mysterious and haunting.

Cornell did many different versions of what he called Medici Slot Machine. They are among his most popular works.

Look what a master artist can do with a piece of wood, a map and three little toys! Cornell makes being amazing look easy.

Such a nice set of books. What a satisfying way to spend an afternoon!

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More: Library Books at Home and Library Books at Home 2.

Official Photographer of the City of Prague

Josef Sudek: The Window of My Studio, 2007

 

Czech master photographer Josef Sudek has just become much better known. A major show of his photographs at the Art Gallery of Ontario, on until April 7th, is finding him a new audience in Canada, including me.

His photographic prints are small and reward close attention. When I was looking at them on the wall of the gallery I kept wishing I had more time to give them.

Then I found these five Sudek photobooks at the library. They are part of an ongoing series by Prague publisher Torst to publish high quality collections of Sudek's work theme by theme. Two more collections have been announced. Click on a book cover or a title for more information or to put holds on these books.

This exhibition at the AGO is an opportunity to see almost 200 of Sudek's prints up close in a public setting. Then enjoy the intimacy you can only find at home with a book.

 

 Josef Sudek: The Ancient Forest of the Beskids (Mionší Forest), 2009

  

 Josef Sudek: Still Lives, 2008.

  

 Josef Sudek: The Advertising Photographs, 2008.

  

 Josef Sudek: Portraits, 2008.

  

If you are rushing down to the AGO to see the Frida Kahlo/Diego Rivera show before it closes try to make time for this charming exhibition.

Library Books at Home

I brought these library books home this week.

Now I finally get to sit down and have a good look at them. 

I put a hold on this book Shoot: Photography of the Moment without knowing much about it. Let's have a look.

We're going to see work by seventeen contemporary photographers who are new to me.

Let's open it at random. Oh, I like these cherry blossoms by Hiromix.

I like these too -- by Jason Nocito. It says Nocito divides his time between New York and Vancouver.

I like this taped-up thing. Another Nocito. Funny. This works for me. Nocito has gotten something out of nothing.

Here's a page by Glynnis McDaris (another New Yorker). What's that at the lower left?

Oh, it's a cat. Pulling some kind of plastic cord? I like this a lot. Those whiskers! Very inspiring!

When I first noticed this McDaris picture I thought it was too pretty and conventional to be interesting. But now that I've seen her picture of the cat I think it looks mysterious and beautuful. 

Let me give you the quickest look at this great collection of Thomas Ruff's photographs. Do you know Thomas Ruff? He's active now, working mostly in Germany.

He's famous for taking formal pictures of his friend's faces and exhibiting then as highly detailed prints seven feet high. He did dozens of these portaits -- all deadpan like these. 

Reproduced in a book without the seven foot high effect they're still fascinating.

I'll finish with two pictures from a series Ruff took at night with infrafed film. I love these.

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Looking at these books made me want to get out my camera and take more pictures.

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More: Library Books at Home 2 and Library Books at Home 3.

New & Improved ! Electric Piano Keyboards for practise at the Toronto Reference Library

Come, see and adore them !

The Performing Arts & Languages Department recently acquired two new Yamaha electric piano keyboards and head phones. These replaced older equipment which had done 20 years of stalwart service.

The keyboards are located on the 5th floor of the Toronto Reference Library near the top of the stairs and are already a hit with the public.  The keyboards are well used and available free of charge on an informal booking system - first come first served for 30 minutes (or longer if no one else is waiting).  The two keyboards share a small practice room which is not soundproof and headphones must be used.  A new soundproof practice room is planned as part of the multi-year renovation of the Toronto Reference Library.

Many musicians use the electric keyboards to try out one of the 40,000 music scores the Toronto Reference Library has available - many of which can be borrowed.   You can also bring in your own sheet music/score.  

 

There are pianos available for practice within the Library system at the following branches:

Parliament Library: there is an upright piano in a soundproof practice room - free of charge - it can be booked one hour per day at 416.393.7663 .

North York Central Library, Languages, Literature and Fine Arts Department: there is an upright Baldwin studio piano in a practice room. The room is available for piano playing, score reading or for playing strings, woodwinds or other instruments. Due to minimal soundproofing, percussion or amplified instruments are not allowed.  You can book 2 weeks in advance for 1.5 hours per weekday and 1 hour on weekends at 416.395.5639 .

Parkdale Library: there is a Yamaha baby grand piano in the library auditorium. When the room is not in use, patrons may book free of charge up to one hour per day to a maximum of two hours per week at 416.393.7686 .