The Thousands

Perspective is everything. First time I encountered beautifully produced ‘artist books’, I didn’t get it. It seemed like a publisher ripping me off. “Half the pages are blank and then there are some pictures of trees??”

Sol LeWitt and his NYC conceptual art homies formed Printed Matter in 1976. The name stemmed from a growing fine art predilection for exhibiting work not in an exhibition, but as a published book. Rather than listing the art medium as ‘oil painting’ or ‘gelatin print’ the label simply stated, ‘printed matter.’ Ed Ruscha’s 1963 publication Twentysix Gasoline Stations for instance, is its own artwork, affordable at $3.50 per copy, and meant to be experienced as a book.

A-HA! Now I’m getting it. From this vantage point, it’s less like an expensive book, and more like a super cheap art work.

Printed Matter is still going strong. It’s the world’s largest non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting artist publications – basically the most extensive and awesome selection of artist books and zines around.

With current directors and staff including AA Bronson (of General Idea and the special butt massage) and Shannon Michael Cane (of They Shoot Homos Don’t They?) P.M. continues to produce and promote great works.

And you don’t gotta live in Chelsea. They sell online too!