Way back in the 20th Century, back before one small, viral meme could have more impact and influence than tons of Times op-eds, newspapers still mattered. But it was also a time of severely limited access to communication outlets. As A.J. Liebling noted: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.” Yet, during the youth counterculture movement from a half-century ago, presses were a pivotal part of bestowing power to the people. And as a reminder of that by

Certain cultures honor and respect its elders for their knowledge and experience. The graphic designer tribe, not so much. What’s new, what’s hot, what’s trending: on it! Regardless, we now have 20 Over 80: Conversations on a Lifetime in Architecture and Design. 20 Over 80 is a collection of new and original interviews with twenty of the most successful and acclaimed post-80 seniors in the visual arts, most of whom continue to be significant movers and shakers, a couple of wh

If you’ve been captivated by the bold, atmospheric cinematography of Daredevil‘s first season on Netflix, you might want to seek out the similarly stunning comic book version by Alex Maleev. Series executive producer Jeph Loeb credits Maleev as a key visual influence: “With Alex’s art, we looked at that and said ‘that’s the look of the show.’ And that really captures it.” And even if you haven’t tuned in, and like your action-adventure tales on a human rather than super-power

Stan Mack’s “Real Life Funnies” strip, created in the mid-1970s for the “Village Voice,” presaged the documentary comics of artists such as Art Spiegelman and Joe Sacco. And now it appears that his Print feature from 17 years ago also anticipated today’s digital communications environment. Here’s Mack’s personal, behind-the-scenes details about one such story. It involves freedom fighters, street signage, and political and technological revolutions. “In many countries, the In

Students: If you plan to cheat on your book reports, take a look at Graphic Classics. As Art Spiegelman put it, “Comics are a gateway drug to literacy”; for the visually oriented, this series will open doors to literature. It’s also a stunning contrast to those dreadful 1950s Classics Illustrated comic books, with their dry, tedious plotting and bland, pedestrian art. Ah, progress. Rather than unabridged novels, each Graphic Classic is an anthology of stories and poems, usual

In the late 1970s, bohemian hipsters on L.A.’s west side were getting Wet. Despite its small circulation, it became highly influential among local artists, designers, and architects. And now, “Making Wet: The Magazine of Gourmet Bathing,” provides a sampling of its spirit. Poster illustration and design: John Van Hamersveld. Leonard Koren admits in his book that when he launched Wet in Venice Beach in 1976 he had “no skills in writing, editing, designing, art directing, adver

Forget the Rose Parade; the real reason to be in L.A. right now is Pacific Standard Time… the arts program, not just the zone. A six-month “happening” that kicked off in October, PST is the largest collaborative art project ever undertaken in Southern California. Over 60 museums, galleries, and other institutions allow us to immerse ourselves in the various creative scenes that were exploding and expanding all around Los Angeles from the 1940s through to the ’80s. PST‘s prima

Blab! #13: "Joker," page 1 of 3. ©2002 David Goldin A floating bed of nails is ablaze. A crying child floats down a river in a coffin. Disembodied hands drip blood from the sky. These are just a few “Scenes from the Afterlife,” a.k.a., the 2010 Blab Show. It premiered at the Society of Illustrators’ Museum of American Illustration in New York, and is now on display until October 2nd at Copro Gallery in Los Angeles. Illustration? Gallery? So are these paintings just glorified