Category: The Arts

June 7, 2019

Building Turned Into Jaw-Dropping Bookcase Illusion

Stand by for a warm and fuzzy feeling.

It has often been said, by those who enjoy a good book, that we live inside of our soft and hardcover friends. Such a notion has never held more validity than it does for the lucky residents of an anonymous building in Utrecht, Netherlands. The aesthetically pleasing surprise comes courtesy of illustrious street artist Jan Is De Man and tattoo artist Deef Freed‘s handy-work.

Image Via Mymodernmet.com

The owners of this building, who love a good read, asked their delineating friend, Jan Is De Man to deface—or rather reface their previously boring structure. De Man took it upon himself to ask local residents to suggest book titles he could include in his creation; his goal was to create something that reflected a culturally-diverse community in unison (without offending of course: no trigger-happy literature). The result is a mural displaying a wide variety of books which includes literature spanning eight different languages. Unfortunately, I will not provide a list of those books in this article—feel free to pinch and zoom at your leisure.

Image Via Mymodernmet.com

“We’ve noticed that this project brought people together without pushing it,” said De Man, “they met each other through books. Regardless of the differences in cultures, regardless of the differences in political point of views. Regardless of being extreme right or extreme left. Books are magical. They tickle your brain. And everyone can read the same book, but feel something different.”

De Man’s friend, who also lives in the building, had wanted the artist to paint a mural on his home for some time; however, De Man’s original plan was not of the literary variety. Being a huge fan of Forest Gump (I can only assume), De Man wanted to paint a huge smiley face on the building. Typically, when people see a smile, their moods are naturally lifted. After studying the shape of the building, it dawned on De Man that smiles are provoked by all sorts of things—therein lies the idea of a bookcase. A structure that’s functionality most closely resembles that of a community, a family, a hug, a home.

Featured Image Via Mymodernmet.com

May 30, 2019

Bookstr’s Three to Read This Week 5/29/19

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Ferris Bueller’s sage advice is as apt as ever. Time waits for no one, and there’s no sign of it slowing down any time soon. However, one of life’s greatest pause buttons will always be a good book. Whether you’re reading more about the things you love, how to develop yourself further, or imagining the kind of character you want to be, committing to a good book will always feel like time well spent. And we can help with that.

Check out Bookstr’s Three to Read, the three books we’ve picked for you to read this week!

OUR HOT PICK

Game of Thrones: The Storyboards

Why?

It goes without saying that Game of Thrones will always hold a special place in the hearts of fans everywhere. In spite of how the show’s final season was received, the series has reached legendary heights in television history with its grand storytelling. You can get an in-depth look into the process of bringing George R.R. Martin’s fantasy to screen with Game of Thrones: The Storyboards, which collects early concept pieces and storyboards by artist William Simpson. This behind-the-scenes glimpse is a must-have for fans who want to learn more about the development of their favorite show, and how its iconic moments were brought to life.

OUR COFFEE SHOP READ

Start at the End

Why?

If you’ve ever daydreamed about something you just wanted to create and get out into the world while sipping on your local coffee spot drink, then Start at the End is for you. Entrepreneurship is hard. Creating something people will find worthwhile is hard. Obtaining the skills to see your project through is hard. There’s no shame in asking for help and this book can provide just that. You’ll learn all about behavioral scientist Matt Wallaert’s strategies for designing products according to user needs and behavior. Your creative impulses are valued and are waiting to be tapped into. You can even do it while you read and caffeinate.

OUR DARK HORSE

Orchid & the Wasp

Why?

The Gael Foess character can serve as both an inspiration, and a cautionary tale, for those wanting to live the fullest life possible. Caoilinn Hughes layers her debut, Orchid & the Wasp, with all sorts of personal, familial, and identity conflicts that carry true emotional weight. This modern epic about a heroine becoming all that she can be, for the sake of her family and for her own self interests should appeal to admirers of stories such as Molly’s Game. You’ll want to find out how Gael makes it through her journey of emotional turmoil, and maybe even adopt the strengths she picks up along the way.

All In-Text Images Via Amazon.

Featured Image Made With PhotoCollage.

May 7, 2019

FX’s ‘Fargo’ Is Getting a Tell-All Book

Created by author Noah Hawley, Fargo is a television series inspired by the Coen Brothers’ film of the same name. Each season features a new cast and story, which all follow a group of peculiar characters who get embroiled in crime and murder around the general Minnesota area.

With a fourth season on the way, Hawley is revealing some behind-the-scenes secrets in the form of a new book. Entertainment Weekly reported that Fargo: This Is A True Story will give fans an inside look at some of the show’s lore.

Image Via Amazon

Among the stuff included in the book are script excerpts, cast interviews and exclusive pictures related to each season. There are also some reference to various mysteries from the show that were never solved when the seasons concluded.

Image Via Entertainment Weekly

Fargo: This Is A True Story released October 8th. Season four of Fargo begins production later this year.

Featured Image Via Filmographia

April 1, 2019

5 Incredible Books for Celebrating National Poetry Month

For the non-poetry reader, finding ways to celebrate National Poetry Month can be hard. We’re making it easier for you to find your next favorite book while also celebrating the beautiful art of poetry!

**1. Slammed by Colleen Hoover**

IMAGE VIA PINTEREST

After the death of her father, Layken moves away from sunny Texas to snow-ridden Michigan with her brother and mother. She immediately finds love in their neighbor, Will Cooper. Will introduces Layken to the wonderful world of slam poetry through an open mic night at a local club. Though their relationship gets more and more complicated, their love for poetry remains true through the book and its sequels.

**2. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas**

IMAGE VIA GOODREADS

Sixteen-year-old Bri dreams of becoming a rapper and ultimately making it out of her neighborhood. Before his death, her father was “an underground rap legend” leaving Bri with some big shoes to fill. The book is filled with fresh rhymes written by Angie Thomas herself, leaving readers inspired and with a renewed love of music.

**3. The Rose that Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur**

IMAGE VIA CESAR VELEZ

Published after his death, the book chronicles the poetry Shakur wrote from the time he was a teenager. Each poem is filled with the most intimate of thoughts and emotions. These poems will speak to each of his fans and fill them with the Shakur’s spirit, energy, and hope for a better future.

**4. Crank by Ellen Hopkins**

IMAGE VIA THRIFTY BIBLIOPHILE

Hopkins has a unique way of telling her story, using lines of poetry instead of prose to convey the narration. The book chronicles the disturbing relationship between Kristina and her monster. Kristina is inspired by Hopkins’ own daughter, while the monster is crystal meth or ‘crank’. Kristina is introduced to the drug after a visit with her father. Under the influence, she turns into her “sexy alter-ego ‘Bree’.” The book is sure to provoke an emotional response and inspire a love of poetry.

**5. Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson**

IMAGE VIA EVENTBRITE

After her debut Speak, which touched upon the very serious effects of sexual assault, not much has changed. Shout is her response to the continued fight to end sexual assault. These poems are thought-provoking, personal anecdotes by Anderson. If Speak didn’t make you angry, Shout is sure to have you screaming. The book is filled with “reflections, rants, and calls to action” all written in free-verse to inspire the activist in you.

Do you have a favorite poetry book not found on this list? Let us know!

featured image via susan gaylord

March 13, 2019

Authors Oprah Winfrey, Jane Goodall Included in Activist Art Installation

Equal rights activists, artists, and married couple Gillie and Marc Schattner are bringing gender-balanced public art to global cities with their new initiative, “Statues for Equality,” which aims to introduce statues of living women to cities that favor statues of male figures (so, most cities). New York will be the first city to display 10 of the artist-couple’s statues, all of which will pay tribute to living women. Authors among these women will include renowned public figures Oprah Winfrey (author of What I Know for Sure) and Jane Goodall (author of In the Shadow of Man).

According to the couple’s website, fewer than 3% of public statues in New York depict women, and even fewer depict historical women who made or are making significant contributions to society—as opposed to children’s book characters. Writers, world leaders, researchers, and more will debut at 1285 Avenue of the Americas on August 26th, 2019.

A statue of Eleanor Roosevelt sits at West 72nd Street and Riverside Park. Image Via Wikipedia Commons.

Gillie and Marc are perhaps best known for their widely popular sculpture The Last Three, a massive work featuring three life-sized northern white rhinos stacked precariously on top of one another that was installed at Astor Place and which was intended to immortalize the three remaining northern white rhinos in the world. (Since the statue’s debut, the last male northern white rhino has died while two females are still alive; all three are depicted in the sculpture.) The statue is now located at the San Antonio Zoo in Texas. According to their website, Gillie and Marc have nicknamed themselves “the world’s most loving artists” due to their tendency to focus on humanitarian causes in their work.

Gillie and Marc’s Astor Place installation ‘The Last Three.’ Image courtesy of Gillie and Marc Schattner.

In addition to Goodall and Winfrey, the summer installation will also feature Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, P!nk, Tererai Trent, Janet Mock, Tracy Dyson, Cheryl Strayed, and Gabby Douglas. You may recognize Harriet Tubman (St. Nicholas Avenue and West 122nd Street) and Joan of Arc (West 93rd Street in Riverside Park) as two of the existing five statues of historical women figures in the city—sculptures depicting fictional figures include Alice from Alice in Wonderland and Fearless Girl.

There are no plans for the statues to remain permanently at 1285 Avenue of the Americas after the exhibition closes, but the team’s website emphasizes that Statues for Equality is a global initiative, and the sculptures will likely travel. Gillie and Marc will expand their initiative to other cities after the New York launch and are still accepting nominations from the public for future statues.

Featured image via Wikimedia Commons.