Heavy Max Ernst / Drawing/collage: Have Your Say / Rave on RAW party flyer 1990

 

Oscar Wilde quipped that the only thing he couldn't resist was temptation but I do resist quite a few books in the shop unless something exceptional comes in and Max Ernst by Edward Quinn (pub 1984) was one such exception. It had been sitting there, an art mono-lith atop several other books, for a few weeks. Perhaps the £40 price tag proved especially resistible to potential buyers. With energy bills set to soar now is not the time to indulge in such luxuries! That said, it's not uncommon for someone to spend around £40 on various books, such as a man who bought some the other day, my vispo book included! Turned out it was for his son, who was standing with him and whose face lit up when I said I was the creator. Now that's the correct way to respond (ha-ha!). Don't give me a shrug of indifference because my ego is that fragile. Then, not satisfied with the signature inside, he wanted it dedicated to him, so I obliged, feeling, for a few seconds, like a Proper Artist/Author. 

Back to the Ernst book. It was only when I decided to flick through it that I realised it was something special, more than just another artist monograph. The reproductions are exceptional and large (the book's massive) but more than that Quinn adopted a 'collage' style in the way the texts from various sources are included...and it features texts by Ernst himself. He also personally oversaw the content selection. Yes, finally, it's the Max Ernst book to end cravings for Max Ernst books.

RTomens, 2022

Something I made in the shop a few days ago. Such activity keeps me occupied when it's quiet. Yesterday and man bought a Sickert monograph, asking me if I'd hold it for him whilst he walked around town. He came back and pulled a bottle of whisky out of his bag, saying he was going to enjoy it and the book in his back garden. Then he offered me a sip. I refused. He insisted. I gave in to temptation and poured a glug in my flask full of coffee. That's the kind of customer I like! 

Picked up The Wicked Ways of Malcolm McLaren by Craig Bomberg in the Oxfam shop this morning. At £2.95, it was another thing I couldn't resist.

Inside it was a little card flyer for RAW. It clinched the deal when I found it whilst flicking through the book in the shop. Not that I know anything about RAW. Having done a bit of research it looks like the same club that got big during the, er, New Rave. Good job the date was written on by someone, later presumably. I was never raving, I was too busy Rare Groovin' and even Hip-Hoppin' about as well as Jazz Jivin' around in my own basement club, Giant Steps on Frith Street, Soho. As the new Summer of Love got under way a bit earlier a friend who did 'rave' would turn up at our club, out of his bonce of chemicals. Luckily he actually was training to be a chemist (or something) so he knew what he was 'doing'. 

That's all for now, folks. See you soon.