Customer Reviews

Raymond Pettibon (Contemporary Artists)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
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I was a bit skeptical before purchasing this edition, I had bought a copy of "Otto Dix / Raymond Pettibon: Traue deinen Augen [Trust your Eyes)" and was quite disappointed. However this was not the case with volume. It's loaded with lots of pics of Pettibon's work, excellent book and a recommended choice.

Content:

Like a journal of the personal journey, Pettibon draws and writes cartoons and screenplays over a period of time. He starts with the letter A, then moves into the most exalted of human efforts, his intent at the age of 14 to serve God first. Such freshness and honesty from a desirous-of-Nancy-Reagan degenerate. The effort starts off with the highest of intent then gradually and steadily mires.

Surfing, politics, artistic considerations, drugs, sex, Gumby, rockandroll. Almost every theme starts off insightfully but becomes an ordeal to read through. Even beyond the artist's desire to include his Gumbyesque dishonor, especially the screenplays could have used editing. Maybe he feared that editing would have left us the genius aspects when clearly Pettibon feels entitled full human expression, mud splats included.

If you prefer genius take Pettibon at his best and skim when it stops entertaining. Then again, juicy tidbits are hidden everywhere.

Form:

The publishers printed in black and white and color. The drawings aren't pretty but sometimes deftly, sometimes not, they convey effectively. Words on the drawings are sometimes reduced to a size requiring a magnifying glass if you want to search out the tucked in phrases Pettibon wasn't yelling.

An amazing collection of Raymond Pettibon's work spanning over the years. High quality book loaded with images and information as well as interviews with Pettibon. Up until now no other book offered as much insight on this relatively obscure artist. Buy it!!!

Tons of great illustrations, includes many Black Flag flyers and a few album covers. 2 great interviews with Pettibon; he reveals a lot while remaining distant, if that makes sense. There's a handful of essays on his work and texts of scripts from "unrealized video." I found "Psychedlic Translation of Allen Ginsberg's Howl" particularly tedious, but that's a minor complaint. If you want to know more about Pettibon this is a great place to start.

An amazing collection of Raymond Pettibon's work spanning over the years. High quality book loaded with images and information as well as interviews with Pettibon. Up until now no other book offered as much insight on this relatively obscure artist. Buy it!!!