Edition Announcement #186 - Jane Mount

Happy Tuesday collectors! Jen is out and about again on some very important business, so it's Sara here, with the honor of introducing today's edition from our beloved Jane Mount. Jane created Ideal Bookshelf 1, JMM just for 20x200, choosing her favorite—and most influential—childhood tomes.

I have a theory about this. Most impressionable when we're young, books and other sources of great ideas are given more weight. These books have also, often, been given to us by adults who regard these gifts as important and inspirational in their own lives. The Little Engine That Could, Goodnight Moon and The Little Prince are all titles that have passed the test of time.

How often—recently or long ago—were you able to accomplish a great task while chanting in your head, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!"? Am I the only one who still nods off some nights with sweet thoughts for the moon and all the other good things in life? And really, where would we all be if we hadn't learned from the young prince to listen to our hearts as often as we listen to our heads? Generations of us owe these books thanks! And so it is fitting that Jane has memorialized them here in Ideal Bookshelf 1, JMM.

While Jane's previous literary editions, Bookshelf 20 and Bookshelf 29 tell us a little bit about the owners of these collections, the ideal bookshelves of this new series tell us more about the books themselves, and their roles as cultural and physical objects.

The significance of books and their various roles in our lives are thoroughly explored in Summer Reading, currently on view at Jen Bekman Gallery. Jane is joined by Lizzie Buckmaster Dove, Nina Katchadourian, Michael Mandiberg, Victor Schrager and Mickey Smith in her exploration of the book as an object. In particular, several of these artists examine the spines of books and the details that help us identify books for what they are, even though, as Jane writes, "It's such a small place for a lot of information, with very little room for distinct characteristics". Each artist makes more or less of these characteristics in their work.

Have you seen the show yet? If not, hurry on over before we close this chapter in JBG history. It'll be worth your while, I promise. NY Art Beat critic Laura Meli writes, "Just as a summer read should be, the exhibition is intriguing, short, and fast-paced, with a few welcome surprises buried within." If you don't want to take our words for it, see what Elle and Artlog have to say. Also, find regular updates about the show and all of the Summer Reading artists on the JBG blog.

Summer Reading at JBG won't last and I have a hunch that Jane's edition won't either—both of her paintings in the show have sold—so it'd be wise to pick up a print while they're available! The exhibition closes in just a few short weeks, on August 22nd.

Previous Newsletter : Edition Announcement #185 - Rachel Hulin