The Art of Reportage

Comics from the book Clumsy By Jeffry Brown.

My first homework assignment of the week was to come to class prepared to share about a reportage artist that I admire or a sample of my own work.
Definition of Reportage:
reportage |rəˈpôrtij; ˌrepôrˈtä zh |
noun
the reporting of news, for the press and the broadcast media : extensive reportage of elections.
• factual presentation in a book or other text, esp. when this adopts a journalistic style.

I can think of plenty of artists that I admire, but ones who specifically report on an event, or events? I realized that mainly the artists that interest me are the ones that report on their own lives. If they make things about themselves, their personal lives, and feelings it tends to make me interested in them and their stories. This goes for books as well.
As a starting point I made a list of artists who I admire that fit into the Reportage category (some may argue though that my definition of Reportage is a little loose...) Also, many of these artists have been listed in previous blog entries.
Artists/Graphic Novelists:
Marjane Satrapi-Persepolis and Persepolis 2. She also has two newer books that I need to read-Plumes of Feathers and Embroideries.
Don Nace-Drawn Out -Autobiographical sketches surrounding his life.
Jeffery Brown- His work is pictured above. I recently purchased his graphic novel titled Clumsy It is a collection of sketches done at the time of a relationship that he dedicated to anyone who has loved and lost. The actual drawing style doesn't interest me, but the story is full of embarrassing moments, heartfelt times between lovers, and true reflections of relationship blisses and disapointments. It is strikingly honest. Here is a proper review of it: http://beardedmonkey.wordpress.com/2007/02/
Sonja Ahlers-Another artist I had forgotten about. I have her book Fatal Distraction which is a combination of imagery, text, poetry and self-reflections. Read an article about her here: http://www.taddlecreekmag.com/bunny-heads-and-stranger-things
Ralph Steadman-has written and illustrated various books, but is known especially for his work with Hunter S. Thompson.
Photographers
Richard Avedon-Incredible black and white photos showing American people of the mid-west(among other photos, including one of Barack Obama before he became president.)
Diane Arbus- Do I really need to explain? Known for taking photos of freaks and sideshow acts, people who count as strange.
Edward Burtynsky-Large colour photos that deal with the masses of destruction that society inflicts on the earth-mines, oil-drilling, Chinese landfills, etc...
Edward Muybridge-Does his work count as reportage? He staged most of the images in his work; early film/photography studies in movement, and the human body.
Sculptors:
Ron Mueck-He may not have occurred to me at all, but I saw a postcard of his work at the British Museum today, but sadly his exhibit occurred two years ago, so I won't get to see it. Larger than life creations of the human form.

Lynda Barry's "What it is"

I spent a healthy amount of time at the library today, and found Lynda Barry's Graphic Novel/sketchbook diary titled "What it is." It is a lovely compilation of self-directed visual exercises into an exploration of images, making things, creating, and attempting to explain some of the reason behind art as a stream of consciousness. Lynda Barry is a painter, cartoonist, writer, illustrator, playwright, editor, commentator and teacher, known for various comic book series, books, and particularly her comic strip “Ernie Pook's Comeek.” Her book reminds me just a little of the recently published Kal Barteski book, "Love Life." Lynda says that much of what is in the book are exercises she uses with her students to get ideas flowing and the mind engaged in making something it doesn't have to think about. Based heavily in a combination of drawings, writing, and collage each page is full of something-sometimes silly images, sometimes ominous, sometimes endearing, and sometimes with dream-like qualities.
Drawn and Quarterly, the publisher of the book, describes it as follows:

"What It Is” is based on “Writing the Unthinkable” which is based on a tried-and-true creative method that is playful, powerful, and accessible to anyone with an inquisitive wish to write or remember. Lynda explores the depths of the inner and outer realms of creation and imagination, where play can be serious, monsters have purpose, and not knowing is an answer unto itself."

Mixed in between the pages of artistic Inquisitions are pages devoted to telling Lynda Barry's story of what art means to her. She tells her own story of growing up, creating, and what it meant for her to create and how that changed as she got older. These sections are told in graphic novel form, but less confined than most, with more of a sketchbook feel to them.
Most pages have yellow legal loose leaf hidden in the background, and I would have loved to have seen the original pages-would love to touch them, and feel the textures of the papers and fabrics that had been glued down to complete each collage page.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes to create, and who sometimes feels stuck, because this book will help to inspire you a little(at least it did for me). Or, even if you don't feel stuck, check it out anyways. I find myself not satisfied with only viewing it at the library, and may have to order it for myself.

Here is an amazon link to it: http://www.amazon.ca/What-Lynda-Barry/dp/1897299354/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277768900&sr=8-1#noop

Nog a Dod: Prehistoric Canadian Psyckedooolia Book

I recently purchased the book Nog a Dod: Prehistoric Canadian Psyckedooolia. It is a contemporary art book made up of reproductions of extra mini art books put out by a variety of Canadian artists mainly based out of Vancouver. The book includes drawings, paintings, text-drawing-combos and parts of it that border on comic or graphic novel. All in all, I enjoy this book. Because it is made up of previously published works, there isn't a true kind of flow to it other than that it follows a somewhat doodle-based drawing order. The original works were put out over a span of 10 years up to 2005, with the peices included in the book becoming a great collaborative work full of strange characters, funny artistic interventions, and bizarre combinations of text, image and ideas. It was edited by Marc Bell, a Canadian self-publishing cartioonist who has tried to represent works that were not published previously other than in the original 5" by 4 1/4" format. This book is definatly worth the $25.oo retail price. It is entertaining to look at, to read, and just to take in the sheer oddities that more than 15 artists have contributed to.

Don Nace's Drawn Out

I ordered the book "Drawn Out" by Don Nace, which arrived recently. I am intrigued, find his drawings alluring, and decidedly this was an excellent art book purchase. It reads as a form of a visual journal: black and white drawings document Don Nace's life-his struggles, joys, and perceptions. I find it glaringly and shockingly honest throughout many parts of the book. His style is strongly gesture-based, with lines and scribbles that make up the figures and relationships. Nearly each picture is narrated with a caption letting the viewer in on the events in the drawings. The majority of Don Nace's drawings were done on the subway train during his daily commute, which explains some of the abruptness of the drawing style. I first discovered Don Nace when doing a search for Art-a-day artists; artists who create something new every day. Don Nace is one of those artists who maintains a webpage with a new daily drawing. His site and his unique drawing style urged me to order his book. For his work check out: http://www.drawingoftheday.com/