The Last Bookstore

Book stores have always been some of my favorite places in the world. When I got my allowance, it was to the book store I sped. I couldn't wait for those order forms to go around for the Book Days at school, and when your order finally arrived, how exciting that was! I just love how many ideas and stories and information swirls around in book stores, though I almost start to panic when I think I'll never be able to read them ALL.

So, last weekend when it was cloudy at the beach and I was all about field tripping, I added The Last Bookstore to my list of stops on our downtown L.A. adventure. I'd been meaning to get there for a couple of years, but it just never worked out. But now it was a cloudy day, we'd just had our minds blown by the spheres at MacArthur Park, and now it was time to blow our minds even further in an awesome book store. Perfect.

The place is huge. It's spread out over two levels, and the amount of writing contained in these walls is just short of overwhelming. There are books everywhere. There are sculptures made from books.

It really is a labyrinth, with new surprises around every corner. I love the way the books are displayed, not in just your standard rows, but sometimes horizontal, sometimes by color, making every aisle interesting and appealing to the eye. There is a vault containing the mystery and science books, that looks very genre-appropriate.

There is a tunnel made from gravity-defying books, giving it all a very Alice In Wonderland vibe, as indeed most of the day had felt (only more so when we stopped for macarons at Bottega Louie after!).

Once outside of the upstairs maze, you come upon a long hallway full of art and galleries and little indie Etsy type shop stalls. There was a lot to see, and a lot to covet, like this piece from Patrick Haemmerlein that I will be back for. Books! Art! Cute stuff! I was loving it.

The Last Bookstore hosts events and readings all the time, and now that I've been there,  I intend to go to them all. It feels good in there.

There were a lot of books I wanted right then and there, but as much as I enjoyed The Last Bookstore, I LOVE my local book store, Small World Books, the most. I want them to be around for a long time in my neighborhood, so when I want books to own, I get them there. To thank The Last Bookstore for their time and for just still being there, I did get a card though, and am now telling everyone to go there, because it's great.

It's called The Last Bookstore because this kind of place is an endangered species. They are treasures to get lost in for an afternoon, and to be inspired by for a lifetime. Support them all, so this one will never truly be the last.


The Last Bookstore
453 South Spring Street
Ground Floor
Downtown L.A. 90013
#213-488-0599
www.lastbookstorela.com

Nick van Woert - The Last Show at L and M Arts

I just got back from checking out the last show at L & M Arts in Venice. As if to reflect my mood about it, the fog rolled in just as I walked in the doors to see Labyrinth, the sculptures of Nick van Woert. It was bittersweet, as I've spent a lot of time in this gallery, learning, appreciating and reflecting ... most often on foggy days like this.

In the West Gallery, van Woert has a series of wall sculptures modeled after mappae mundi - the medieval maps of Europe. Bronze casts of basic tools, like hammers and arrowheads give it all a feeling of the history of man, and the ways in which we got to today.

In the big main piece, Not Yet Titled (2013), van Woert made up his own personal history. According to the press release, "This large sculptural lexicon is the sum of the artist's influences and ideologies. It includes casts of relevant books, childhood toys, peace pipes, and other meaningful objects that, together, helped to amass his character." Cool.

The work builds "a link between seemingly antiquated notions of construction, industrialism, and sustainability amidst shifting societal values and consumer demands.

The West Gallery is all serious and tangible feeling, heavy with permanence.

In contrast, the East Gallery houses the title piece, Labyrinth (2013), a maze of plexiglass boxes that contain, well, junk. Plastic, man-made junk. AstroTurf, pinatas, aquarium rocks, a hot dog, dirt, cat litter, fabric, what have you. This gets a little into the territory of "What is art? Anyone could do that!" To which John Waters famously said, "Then you should." Right on.

Where the West Gallery feels all museum-like and hallowed, the East Gallery feels ephemeral and cheap.

Interestingly, the press release - and thus, van Woert, acknowledges exactly that, saying his sculptures "are ammunition for a material revolution that rebels against the dividing qualifiers of 'fake' and 'authentic'. Selected for individual traits, rather than an ability to replicate the favored materials of antiquity, van Woert engages the inherent aesthetics, palettes, and textures of each material he chooses ... His work challenges us to become increasingly aware of the artificial concoctions that populate our contemporary habitat." In other words, art is everywhere.

I loved these moments of solitude, just me and the creativity and ideas of the artists shown at L & M Arts, thinking and understanding. The Gallery closes its doors for good on August 23rd. They will be fondly thought of and most assuredly missed. Thank you for the beautiful time you spent with us here in Venice. And thank goodness art IS everywhere here.