Scene Report: L.A. Art Book Fair 2017

Scene Report: L.A. Art Book Fair 2017

I vividly recall the feeling when Superflat show opened at MOCA. The line stretched across the Pacific Design Center campus, music was blasting from a tented reception area, and contemporary art was suddenly cool for fans of fashion, comics, and rock ‘n’ roll.

The annual L.A. Art Book Fair at MOCA in Little Tokyo is kind of like that, except that my family typically visits right after school gets out on Friday–couched between opening night and before the weekend crush, when it isn’t very crowded at all. What a great place to get lost for an afternoon. Did I mention that admission is free?

In addition to the jam-packed floors full of art book dealers, collectors, publishers, and distributors, there were a few cool installations celebrating outsider art and marginalized culture. For example, button-pushing conceptual weirdos L.A. Cacophony Society and longtime champions or cholo and chola culture Teen Angels (above and below). Rad!

But the best part for me is seeing friends. Rich Jacobs comes down from Oakland every year with his lovingly handmade zines and prints, and he and Eloise have made a pact to collaborate on a publication in 2018. It was awesome to run into Ron Regé, Jr., as well. I used to cross paths with the far-out illustrator and musician at Trader Joe’s until the local supermarket within walking distance finally re-opened!

And then we spotted Hellen Jo wandering the aisles. She gave Eloise some postcards and showed us her Teenage Smokers 2 book that she wanted to get signed by Ed Templeton. I love it when artists come to the Art Book Fair as fans. I also love buying zines straight from the makers. Last year, V. Vale of Search & Destroy and RE/search Publications made a zine about Mike Watt that I bought. This year, it was Jello Biafra.

Whoa. My friend and Save Music in Chinatown supporter Louie Perez III was giving tattoos of artwork by the likes of Mark Mothersbaugh and Kenneth Anger. Too bad I’m so ticklish. Before our two-hour meter expired, we made sure to say hi to our old friend Eric at the Giant Robot booth. I helped make zines with Eric for 16 years and Wendy was the graphic designer for the last 50 issues. It’s nice to catch up with Eric every year at the show, talk about his latest endeavors in indie media and art, and even better to follow up about his family and mutual friends.

Yes, there are plenty of art books, zines, and publications to buy at the L.A. Art Book Fair–and I walked away with a bunch–but it wouldn’t be half as cool  without all the creators, collectors, and friends. Hope to see you there, as well as Ed Templeton, King Tuff, Andy Jenkins, Spike Jonze, Isaac Ramos, Wendy Yao, Calvin Nakamaru, and a bunch of other people I spotted but was too sheepish to talk to or take a picture of.

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