Drew Friedman: Vermeer of the Borscht Belt
Drew Friedman is as among our favorite working artists, crafting eerily lifelike faces that leap off a page in all their warted glory; he is also a highly opinionated cultural sponge deeply schooled in odd nooks of showbiz, particularly old-school American comedy. Over the years, we have been thrilled to feature his work in the Lowbrow Reader. Also thrilling? The opportunity to view Drew Friedman: Vermeer of the Borscht Belt, Kevin Dougherty’s finely wrought documentary about the artist. The movie, which has screened at Film Forum and YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, is now available to watch from one’s very own couch.
Dougherty’s lively film has everything you might desire in a Friedman documentary, including a flow of art popping up on screen, funny talking head testimonials, and, especially, tales from the raconteur subject himself. (It also may be the first time the Lowbrow Reader has been mentioned in a movie—will the Spaceballs sequel follow suit?) Now that the wild World Series is over, return thee to your TV! Screen Drew Friedman: Vermeer of the Borscht Belt—via Amazon, Apple, and other such benevolent companies—and marvel at its wit and wisdom!
Fashion Projects: 15 Years of Fashion in Dialogue—The Paperback
Last year, the chic British publisher Intellect Books shed a glimpse of light onto our dark world with Fashion Projects: 15 Years of Fashion in Dialogue—a superb anthology of the brainy fashion journal Fashion Projects. The book ran over 200 pages, packed with the astute interviews and essays for which the New York fashion zine was long celebrated. Alas, there was a catch: the hardcover book, geared to libraries, came with a steep price tag.
But, never fear! This month, the publisher introduces an affordable paperback edition. In fact, this book is a bona fide bargain! Edited by Fashion Projects founder Francesca Granata, the book features interviews from way back in 2005 through 2022, including work from all five Fashion Projects issues as well as its website. Dig into Q&As with Harold Koda, Robin Givhan, Guy Trebay, Suzy Menkes, Stefano Tonchi and other hotshots. Let us proudly note here that Fashion Projects was born in the same Chelsea apartment that coughed out the Lowbrow Reader.
A New York book event should be rolled out in due time. For now, only those fashionistas of Norway are covered: On October 14, Oslo’s Stasjonsmesterboligen International Library of Fashion Research hosts a conversation with Dr. Granata about the book. The conversation will be moderated by the fashion critic and archivist Elise By Olsen and introduced by Hanne Eide, curator of contemporary fashion at the National Museum of Norway.
In the meantime, those unfortunates who cannot make it to Oslo must buy Fashion Projects: 15 Years of Fashion in Dialogue, pronto! Pick the book up at once through Intellect, the publisher’s U.S. arm University of Chicago Press, or other outlets!
Gabba Gabba We Accept You: Chicago Event
The children’s book “Gabba Gabba We Accept You: The Wondrous Tale of Joey Ramone” was unleashed on the known universe earlier this summer by Drag City. Written by Lowbrow editor Jay Ruttenberg and illustrated by Lucinda Schreiber, the book has met with some lovely praise—do check out these kind write-ups in Moonbuilding and the Kirkus Review.
Since its publication, “Gabba Gabba We Accept You” has been celebrated with events in New York and London. Now, it hits the other great city of the world: Chicago, home to the book’s mighty publisher. On Saturday morning, August 16, City Lit Books hosts a story time with the “Gabba” writer. Kids are encouraged; all are very much welcome. Come on down to City Lit Books in Chicago’s beautiful Logan Square—and maybe even buy a book!
Gabba Gabba We Accept You: London Events
The Joey Ramone picture-book biography “Gabba Gabba We Accept You” was brought into the world last month by Drag City Books—and, really, what could the world want more than a children’s book about Joey Ramone? Written by Lowbrow editor Jay Ruttenberg and illustrated by Lucinda Schreiber, the book is making smart fans of all ages: Please do check out this School Library Journal article by A Fuse #8 Production’s incomparable Betsy Bird.
In June, “Gabba Gabba We Accept You” was welcomed with a trio of fun-filled events throughout New York (at 192 Books in Chelsea, Codex Bookstore near CBGB, and Queens’ own Kew and Willow, near the Ramones’ original Forest Hills stomping ground). Punk, of course, originated in New York before blowing eastward to London. Now, the “Gabba” book charts the same course! This July brings a pair of readings in London, and we urge all punk-inclined Londoners to join us there.
On Wednesday, July 23, Mr. Ruttenberg appears at the Denmark Street location of the fabled Rough Trade Shop.
On Thursday, July 24, “Gabba” heads to the lovely Artwords Bookshop at noon (or, for you Englishmen, “midday”).
Come on down! You can buy a book at the shops—or, of course, through Drag City itself!
One-Liners and Bits
“54321”?!! I thought numbers only went up!
A bird flew into a window but its reflection kept on going. Its reflection tried to live the life that the bird would have lived, but it could only fly in a straight line. In fact, this is what always happens with birds. The bird-reflection flew back into the window, then flew into another window and rescued itself—“almost!,” said the bird’s reflection.
All of the blurbs for my plagiarized book are pretty much predictable—enraged (e.g., “Hey, I can’t believe you did this!!”), or indignant (“I don’t get where you get off; you just took my whole book and copy-pasted it”)—but, on the other hand, look at some of the big names I got: Ernest Hemingway, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Jack Kerouac, Jane Austen, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Oh, wait: those are just the names of the authors I plagiarized. No wonder they aren’t even more upset: in a way, they are credited on the back of the book! Still, I think I deserve full credit for the work, and for the blurbs—“Hey, I think I should step in here; I did not write a blurb only so that you could”—all right, all right: that’s also in the book, Jack Kerouac! Remember?!! And blurb part is over! And what’s with the tone of that blurb; that is not your best writing! I am questioning whether you even wrote that superstar blurb. “Hey! I am writing this right now and I am Jack Kerouac—no, I am writing this, and it is my work!” I guess anyone can write an outraged blurb. Hey, wait! What if I just remove the authors’ names from the back blurbs? And, also, huh? Isn’t the book already published?!! “No”??!!
Lucky for me, the driver’s education teacher drew a mirage instead of an overpass, when teaching overhead clearance. Now, the overpass thinks I have a diagonal flying-car. (more…)
Gabba Gabba We Accept You: NYC Events
This month marks the arrival of “Gabba Gabba We Accept You: The Wondrous Tale of Joey Ramone,” a children’s book written by Lowbrow editor Jay Ruttenberg and illustrated by contributor Lucinda Schreiber. The book is being published by Drag City (the incredible publisher of the Lowbrow Reader’s book anthology). It’s in stores next month, and you can order it today through the usual web portals. If you’re interested in ordering the book online, considering purchasing it straight from Drag City; it’s cheaper than other web retailers, and even comes with free shipping!
For those of you in New York, there are some fun publication events scheduled for the next few weeks. All of them are free and friendly to adults and kids alike.
On Monday, June 9, Chelsea’s amazing 192 Books is hosting an event in Clement Clarke Moore Park (a.k.a. Seal Park) next door to the bookstore. The author and illustrator will read the book to the kids and then Yonatan Gat will play some acoustic Ramones songs. If you happen to have exceptional taste, Yonatan is one of your favorite musicians anywhere. Maybe you first knew his music through the wild Tel Aviv punk band Monotonix, then through his scorching solo records, and then through the outstanding electric powwow band Medicine Singers. The event is at 5pm. (If it rains, it will be inside 192 Books.)
On Thursday, June 26, Codex Books is hosting a “Gabba Gabba We Accept You” gathering. Codex is another gorgeous Manhattan bookstore; just being inside, you get smarter by osmosis. Codex is located at 1 Bleecker Street just off the Bowery—right across the street from CBGB and Joey Ramone Place. The event starts at 7:30.
On Saturday, June 28, the super cool Kew and Willow, in Queens, the Ramones’ home turf, hosts a kids-oriented event. Jay will read the book, and Lucinda will run an art workshop for kids—our city’s future Ramones.
“Gabba Gabba We Accept You” is the first children’s book from both the author and illustrator; both are incredibly proud of it. The book tells the story of rock music’s ultimate underdog sweetheart and also, in a way, of punk rock itself. Punk can seem weird associated with kids. But at its core, punk is a celebration of idiosyncrasy and acceptance; it’s among the best places to learn the joys of doing what you want to do, instead of what you think other people want you to do. Hopefully, the book relays this sentiment. Buy a copy to read to your 6-to-12-year-old child; then buy a second copy to read to your 79-to-98-year-old grandparent. And if you happen to be in or around New York, come to one of the events in Manhattan or Queens!
Gabba Gabba We Accept You
Heads up pipsqueak punks! We are delighted to announce the imminent publication of “Gabba Gabba We Accept You,” a children’s picture book about your hero and ours, Monsieur Joey Ramone. Written by Lowbrow editor Jay Ruttenberg and illustrated by ace Lowbrow contributor Lucinda Schreiber, “Gabba” hits stores this June. The book, in lovely hardcover, is being published by Chicago’s mighty Drag City, our favorite cultural hosting company. It joins DC’s handsome roster of books by talents including David Berman, Rudolph Wurlitzer, Harmony Korine, and—oh hey, look at that!—the Lowbrow Reader.
“Gabba Gabba We Accept You” falls in the grand tradition of picture book biography. But it is also about punk itself, considering the music as a liberating force that encourages kids and adults alike to follow their own path. And the illustrations are ravishing. In short, we’re excited! The book is out in June, but it’s available for pre-order as we speak. You can order it on the usual web portals, but we recommend getting it straight from Drag City. (You can pick up a King Kong or John Mulaney record while you’re at it.) So snap up “Gabba” for any kids in your life—and if there are no kids in your life, find some, pronto! Order “Gabba Gabba We Accept You” today, and thank yourself tomorrow!
Nathan Gelgud: Zines, Shirts, and Totes!
Among the majestic talents gracing the Lowbrow Reader’s pages is Nathan Gelgud, a nimble cartoonist whose work zeroes in on cool corners of art-house cinema. Check out Gelgud’s piece in our latest issue: “Elaine May Is Missing!,” a four-page cartoon about the fraught birth of May’s Mikey & Nicky.
Honestly, there’s no such thing as too much Gelgud. Now, smart readers can inch into the holiday season with a veritable bounty: Through his newly launched Patreon series, the cartoonist is offering stylish film-related shirts and totes, online content, and a series of zines that can be delivered to your mailbox by your friendly neighborhood postal worker. (Already, there are three: Movie Major, Reel Politik, and Movie Matters.) We can think of few other artists better suited to guide readers through brainy byways of cinema. There also may be opportunities to treat your walls to Gelgud originals. So dig into Gelgud’s Patreon at once! Look sharp in his T’s and sharpen your mind with his zines!
Burt Kearns’s “Shemp!”
As we have been reminded yet again, America can be a cold-hearted and vaguely moronic place. But let the optimistically inclined remember that, along with contemporary political disasters, these very qualities can lead to occasional glories—none more cold-hearted and moronic than the endlessly fabulous Three Stooges.
Even the lowliest bumpkin can celebrate Larry, Moe, and Curly. But Stooge cognoscenti have long bowed to those alternate Stooges who, at various points in the group’s history, emerged from the bullpen. Of those players, perhaps none has been as beloved as the singularly odd Shemp Howard, older brother of Moe and Curly. Lowbrow Reader subscribers read Drew Friedman and M. Sweeney Lawless’s odes to Shemp back in issue #10. Now, the Stooge receives a graceful, full-blown biography in the form of Shemp!, by the sharp-eyed author Burt Kearns, featuring a foreword by (him again!) Friedman. Thorough, engaged, and loving, the book explores a long-gone entertainment ecosystem through an unlikely hero. To read it is to love Saint Shemp even more than before.
So perk up and turn this autumn around! Run to a real (or, if you must, virtual) bookstore and pick up Shemp! today. For if Abraham Lincoln can be the subject of more than 15,000 books, Shemp Howard certainly deserves at least this one, right?
Announcing…Lowbrow Reader #13!
We are thrilled to announce the publication of our new issue, Lowbrow Reader #13. Honestly, you do not want to sleep on this one. The issue features a long Q&A with our hero, Joan Rivers, conducted at her penthouse apartment in 2007. And that’s just the start! It also brings a new humor piece by Jesse Eisenberg, Nile Rodgers talking about his work on Coming to America, a Nathan Gelgud comic about Elaine May, and a newly discovered children’s manuscript by Amos Vogel. Eat our dust, Vanity Fair!
Lowbrow #13 costs $5, shipping included. Order it via our ordering page!
Check out the Table of Contents:
