Book Reports

Born in Norman, Oklahoma, David Salle is a well-regarded, thoughtful, and charming presence in contemporary art. How to See keeps the “artspeak” at a minimum, making for a delightful collection of essays that attempts to answer the question, “So what is this I’m looking at?”

Jerry Saltz is a well-known art critic at New York magazine who is best known for his plainspoken, straightforward style. He brings his distinct voice to this book with the goal of inspiring anyone and everyone to embrace their inner artist. Full of lists, questions, and creative prompts, it’s a book that’s easy to pick up over and over again.

A playful mix of tutorials, activities, and profiles of legendary photographers, this book is a must-have for the seasoned camera collector and the casual smartphone user.

First published in 1979, this is Clara Luper’s direct account of the historic sit-in at Katz Drug Store in Oklahoma City. In her words, Luper discusses how the local movement she led and organized was instrumental in ending legal racial segregation across the nation. This commemorative edition includes a new introduction and thirty-three historical photos.

Seeing Things, edited by legendary designer Julian Rothenstein, revels in the act of observing the small marvels around us. By gathering images from the Instagram profiles of cultural luminaries like Jarvis Cocker, David Byrne, William Kentridge, and Roz Chast, this satisfying book serves as a reminder that there is joy in the mundane.

Mitch Goldstein is an associate professor of design at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Here, he covers the who, what, when, where, and why of design school on both sides of the lectern with humor and insight.

Featuring 308 artists from all twenty regions of Latin America, this expansive A to Z survey of Latin American art features household names like Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera and contemporary legends Ana Mendieta and Felix Gonzalez-Torres.

A helpful book that’s not only for parents but for anyone whose mental clutter gets in the way of achieving one’s true potential. Dr. Caroline Leaf combines psychology with neuroscience to create a five-step plan for managing and organizing the internal thought process.

Swiss artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss first found this ten-point list on a bulletin board at a factory in Thailand and made it an art piece that has become an ethos for design and a part of the MoMA’s permanent collection. The book, How To Work Better, is a survey of work from this irreverent duo.

Legendary British designer Neville Brody is best known for defining the post-punk aesthetics of the 1980s and 1990s. His style relies heavily on DIY typefaces and experimental layouts. This third volume of work explores his body of work from the mid-nineties and beyond.

The relationship between art and social change is the topic of a book club discussion presented by Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center and the Metropolitan Library System on October 21, 2023.

Led by senior director of curatorial affairs Carina Evangelista, the Oklahoma City community conversation will focus on 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows by Ai Weiwei, a 2021 memoir exploring the life of the Chinese artist and activist who was secretly detained without charge for months by state authorities a decade earlier. A thousand copies of the book were donated by Kirkpatrick Foundation (publisher of ArtDesk) for distribution at libraries across Oklahoma County.

“Reading this book was a profound and eye-opening experience for me,” says librarian Julianna Link. “I was challenged throughout the process of learning about Ai Weiwei’s life. The way he structured the story of his father’s life, then his own life, gives such a personal perspective on the whole of modern China. It’s a diary and an epic at the same time. I keep thinking about how Ai Weiwei and his work touches so many people around the world. I’m grateful to have read it.” —JEZY GRAY

For more information about the 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows Book Club visit: oklahomacontemporary.org