via artnet:

Eno and Adriaanse’s book looks at why people create art, how it helps people, and the role it plays in keeping communities together. It’s a concern that is as pressing now as it ever has been. What Art Does explores “the function of fictional worlds—such as pop songs, detective novels, soap operas, shoe tassels, and the hidden language of haircuts,” the pair explained in a press release. The result, they say, is potentially “a new theory of art.”

the front cover of Brian Eno's book

The book has a complex and unique release strategy. Initially, What Art Does will be available as a limited edition of 777 copies with each one signed and enclosed by a unique slipcase, hand-painted by the authors. This first edition will be released on December 3, priced at $225, and available exclusively on the experimental creative platform Metalabel in North America and through Enoshop outside of it. Following this, a black-and-white PDF will be available for download for 7 days, for just $1. Thereafter, physical and ebook editions will be available from Faber, after January 16, 2025.

links/2024w07

At around age 60, with her 3 children all grown up and out of her hands, Sugiyama decided to relocate from Saitama up north to Iwate prefecture where she had relatives, and was closer to her birthplace of Aomori. She obtained her chiropractors license and opened a small practice where she served the local community for over 10 years. 

One day, Sugiyama found a pack of discarded colored markers near a dumpster. Noticing that they were still in good shape, she decided to take them home and begin doodling. Soon, images of trees and rivers all inspired by the nature of Aomori began pouring out of her and onto the pages of a sketchbook. After a year or so of sketching with the markers, Sugiyama remembered her mother’s colorful kimonos that had been stored away. There was no use for them in storage so the artist, whose creative juices were now flowing, decided to begin incorporating them into her work, which eventually led to a style she has coined as “Kimono Reborn Art.”

stuck stuck stuck stuck stuck

OK that didn't last long: now it's irritating. But now I know I can, if necessary, move over to something else for a couple of days or a week. Not sure it will help, though – this thing's been like this for awhile now. Last time I let this happen, it took me seven years to realize it wasn't a novella but a paragraph. Won't let it subsume me that much again.

(Unlike then, not afraid of running out of ideas if I give up on one: those things are a dime a dozen. What takes doing is finding the rhythm that both satisfies the present moment (got that part) and provides a means of continuance to the next (that's the tricky part).)

At the point of using Brian Eno's Oblique Strategies (which are very cool and helpful in getting me to think outside my normal thought patterns)

Might be doing two daily text things here (depending on the number of workblocks in the day), just to give me something to jump to if I get stuck like I am now. PARASITE post-script in afternoon, probably. Already on my favorite films list. So good.

Also: POKER FACE is brilliant.