Wayne White: Maybe Now I'll Get the Respect I So Richly Deserve is a monumental 400 page look at the deadpan, strange and endlessly mesmerizing body of work White has created in his 30 plus year career as a fine artist, illustrator, and director. Divided into two chapters and with an extended interview between Todd Oldham and the artist, this monograph first takes an intimate look at White's unpublished sketchbooks, drawings, and paintings during his tenure as co-creator of Pee Wee's Playhouse, music video director, and as art director for dozens of influential children's programs.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Residing now in Los Angeles, the Chattanooga-born painter has amassed a wild body of work, from set and puppet designs for 'The Pee-Wee Herman Show' to production design for Peter Gabriel's 'Big Time' video, to the mesmerizing phrase-in-landscapes, and to more abstract works. Nearly all of it has been packed into this heavy, satisfying, exhausting book, which, by all accounts, is being very well received (by both art and book lovers)." —Oxford American
About the Author
Todd Oldham is one of the most beloved and mediagenic designers working today. Originally a couture fashion designer with several stores in New York, and a commentator on MTV's House of Style, Todd's career has evolved to include all areas of design, from film and photography to furniture and graphic art. Todd appears frequently as a consultant on NBC's Today, as well as on MTV's enormously popular Crib Crashers, for which Todd redesigns teenagers' homes in the likeness of their favorite stars' abode. Oldham designs his own line of dorm room furnishings for Target in addition to a line of furniture for La-Z-Boy, and he is currently developing a television series based on Handmade Modern. Most recently, he has become a contributing editor to ReadyMade magazine. He lives in New York City.
Artist Wayne White grew up in Tennessee and his nostalgia for his youth and Southern heritage is addressed in the rustic landscapes that he fills with monumental sized text.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
You might know Wayne's work from Pee Wee's Playhouse and if you are a fan of that great show you will be immediately smitten by and sucked into Wayne White's world. (White also created the great Peter Gabriel video for "Big Time" and sets for The Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight"). The book is a retrospective that includes puppet sketches of Randy, Ptery, Conky, etc while these puppet forms were still being worked out and chronicles the artist's evolution--one that is both whimsical and somehow completely cerebral. In other words, Wayne is a fine artist--he has painterly chops and a great sense of humor f which is demonstrated by his current work--phrases painted over found paintings. The magic here is that by adding words and fitting them onto the readymade canvas he alters the scene and lends noise to a flat surface. Wayne's skill with a brush is evident by his attention to fitting these jumbo sentences into the landscapes (there are shadows from overhanging trees, etc) it's like he built these giant 3-D letters and drove them out to a field where he propped them up and left them to linger. The scale forces the viewer to stop and rubberneck and there is also a complete and total joy in trying to figure out what it all means. Therefore, this book ends up being a joyful page turner and one that I would save in a fire. The first time I saw this book, I had to sit down and look through the whole thing.
Todd Oldham does a beautiful job curating Wayne's art and the interview between the two men is an art nerd fest. I'm grateful to Todd for touting work that he loves (see his Charley Harper book) and wish the man had his own gallery or a TV show where he talked about art Sister Wendy style.
A beautiful book and one that will live forever on my shelves.
Todd Oldham does a beautiful job curating Wayne's art and the interview between the two men is an art nerd fest. I'm grateful to Todd for touting work that he loves (see his Charley Harper book) and wish the man had his own gallery or a TV show where he talked about art Sister Wendy style.
A beautiful book and one that will live forever on my shelves.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Frenchpetal
Format:Hardcover
Sometimes, growing up weird in the 1960s southern USA (which was still like the 50s, as he points out) can only propel a young creative mind to venture further out within their imagination. I know it to be true, and apparently, so does Wayne. I'm glad he had the confidence to move away when he did - so many of us haven't, yet.
This book covers a lot of his early comics and drawings that at times outdo his more popular text work, in my opinion, but it's all good. Incredible, really. I am compelled to say YES to everything I see in the book. The interviews with him are funny, insightful and loving. He's just a great guy. And I admire any man who lauds his wife (the beautiful and talented Mimi Pond) with the credit she deserves as his partner in life.
GET THIS BOOK. IT'S FABULOUS. I believe WW is one of America's most exhilarating artists right now - a brilliant artist with a brilliantly designed simpatico book.
This book covers a lot of his early comics and drawings that at times outdo his more popular text work, in my opinion, but it's all good. Incredible, really. I am compelled to say YES to everything I see in the book. The interviews with him are funny, insightful and loving. He's just a great guy. And I admire any man who lauds his wife (the beautiful and talented Mimi Pond) with the credit she deserves as his partner in life.
GET THIS BOOK. IT'S FABULOUS. I believe WW is one of America's most exhilarating artists right now - a brilliant artist with a brilliantly designed simpatico book.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By woid
Format:Hardcover
I recently saw Wayne White's current show (through 7/25/09) at the Mireille Mosler Gallery in Manhattan. Mostly recent paintings interspersed with sculptures, the show is dazzling, hilarious, and unfathomable. In Wayne's case, that means DEEP.
Wayne's newest paintings use cryptic backgrounds -- either laid down by him, or, more often, done on thrift-store oils by anonymous artists -- through which even more cryptic words and phrases snake and hover. The words are far more painterly and better executed than their settings, making them seem hyperreal, and at the same time gnomic, as they explode out of clichéd landscapes. There's something happening in these paintings but I don't know what it is... do I, Mr. White? And that adds to their fascination.
In an uncommonly excellent feat of art book publishing, "Maybe Now..." presents Wayne's pieces with all of the impact they have in person. It's just a beautifully produced volume. I haven't read the interviews (just sneaked a peek at the display copies at the gallery!), but the art looks sensational.
This is definitely your next coffee table book. And if you don't HAVE a coffee table, the low low Amazon price will give you a great start on paying for that Ikea Glürmmnf.
Can't do 3D block letters here, so just imagine them: HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Wayne's newest paintings use cryptic backgrounds -- either laid down by him, or, more often, done on thrift-store oils by anonymous artists -- through which even more cryptic words and phrases snake and hover. The words are far more painterly and better executed than their settings, making them seem hyperreal, and at the same time gnomic, as they explode out of clichéd landscapes. There's something happening in these paintings but I don't know what it is... do I, Mr. White? And that adds to their fascination.
In an uncommonly excellent feat of art book publishing, "Maybe Now..." presents Wayne's pieces with all of the impact they have in person. It's just a beautifully produced volume. I haven't read the interviews (just sneaked a peek at the display copies at the gallery!), but the art looks sensational.
This is definitely your next coffee table book. And if you don't HAVE a coffee table, the low low Amazon price will give you a great start on paying for that Ikea Glürmmnf.
Can't do 3D block letters here, so just imagine them: HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Wendy Perez
Format:Hardcover
For those of us whose artistic spirit was born watching Pee Wee Herman as a kid, this book is a perfect fit. Fresh, unique, beautifully crafted art. Clever and thought-provoking. Both simple and complex, subtle and in-your-face. This artist deserves this respect! Todd Oldham, as always, demonstrates impeccable taste. AND it looks and feels far more expensive than its cost!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Frenchpetal
Format:Hardcover
Sometimes, growing up weird in the 1960s southern USA (which was still like the 50s, as he points out) can only propel a young creative mind to venture further out within their imagination. I know it to be true, and apparently, so does Wayne. I'm glad he had the confidence to move away when he did - so many of us haven't, yet.
This book covers a lot of his early comics and drawings that at times outdo his more popular text work, in my opinion, but it's all good. Incredible, really. I am compelled to say YES to everything I see in the book. The interviews with him are funny, insightful and loving. He's just a great guy. And I admire any man who lauds his wife (the beautiful and talented Mimi Pond) with the credit she deserves as his partner in life.
GET THIS BOOK. IT'S FABULOUS. I believe WW is one of America's most exhilarating artists right now - a brilliant artist with a lusciously designed coordinated book.
This book covers a lot of his early comics and drawings that at times outdo his more popular text work, in my opinion, but it's all good. Incredible, really. I am compelled to say YES to everything I see in the book. The interviews with him are funny, insightful and loving. He's just a great guy. And I admire any man who lauds his wife (the beautiful and talented Mimi Pond) with the credit she deserves as his partner in life.
GET THIS BOOK. IT'S FABULOUS. I believe WW is one of America's most exhilarating artists right now - a brilliant artist with a lusciously designed coordinated book.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
fabulous
what an imagination Wayne White must have. All aspects of his work are wonderful. Nobody does the printed word better.
Published on March 19, 2010 by Owney Zerwer
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite Art books of 2009!
I love this book! It's extra thick and filled with Wayne's paintings of words in different colors and arrangements placed over a pre-painted 'thrift store' style painting. Read more
Published on August 20, 2009 by W. Rosen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Respect!!!
As a puppeteer, Wayne White created much of the visual wit of Pee Wee's Playhouse, and now as a painter he is a double threat: he sets monumental letters, spelling out brilliant... Read more
Published on June 13, 2009 by Barbara Lippert
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS ONE "DESERVES" IT!
This book is phenomenal. For once editor and subject are simpatico. Oldham gets the irony in White's fine art paintings, Emmy-winning set designs, puppets and early cartoons as... Read more
Published on June 13, 2009 by Maryedith Burrell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant, hilarious
Wayne White's work is amazing in its ability to make you think while making you laugh, and sometimes making you cringe in discomfort of the shared feeling. Read more
Published on June 13, 2009 by M. Ricci
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mary Jane Horton
What an amazing book!! The reproductions and quality are first rate and the material is engaging -- in both content and design. Read more
Published on June 13, 2009 by Mary Jane Horton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Most awesomest art book in the entire universe
MONSTER TALENT: Amazing 400 pages of densely-packed page after page of astonishing beauty, gorgeous drawings, fantastic paintings, all beautifully reproduced and designed... Read more
Published on June 13, 2009 by Mimi Pond
5.0 out of 5 stars
NOT TO BE MISSED!
This magnificent monograph on 25 years of the paintings and commercial work of artist Wayne White is a stellar and beautifully-designed work of staggering genius! Read more
Published on June 13, 2009 by Alan Negus
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