Staff Picks

Biographies 

As the first official day of summer draws near and the temperatures climb, Worldwide's Trade and University Press Department has been readying its "summer reading lists." Although not the usual sort of light summer fare, some recently published, wonderfully rich biographies could be perfect candidates for beach reading -- they will transport you to a different place and time while still allowing you to brush up on some art history. At the top of our list are the May releases: Joan Mitchell: Lady Painter, by Patricia Albers (Worldwide 144738), and Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted, by Justin Martin (Worldwide 143221). Other notable titles include Modigliani: A Life, by Meryle Secrest (Worldwide 142661), and Lee Krasner: A Biography, by Gail Levin (Worldwide 142339). If you're looking for a great summer romance read, My Faraway One: Selected Letters of Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz, Volume One, 1915-1933 (Worldwide 142545) is one not to be missed. The letters reveal how the two artists met and fell in love and tell a personal history of the American Modernism scene. Read them in sequence to get the full story, or open to a random page to read a lovely little epistolary exchange. Either way, this book is nearly impossible to put down.

Bienal de São Paulo

Created in 1951 and inspired by the Biennale de Venezia, the Bienal de São Paulo was the second major international event dedicated to contemporary art. Held at the Ciccillo Matarazzo Pavilion, which was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the Bienal promotes Brazilian art and its link with the international scene, featuring works by some of the most relevant artists of today. The 29th exhibition, held in 2010, was accompanied by a well-illustrated catalogue documenting works by 159 artists (see Worldwide 33730). Since no formal arrangements for distributing the catalogue in North America existed, Worldwide's Acquisitions staff actively pursued this publication and obtained it directly from the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo. These kinds of acquisitions always prove to be challenging, as such institutions are not always set up or equipped to deal with international wholesale orders. Language barriers, shipping logistics, and customs regulations often further complicate the process. However, it is all the more rewarding to succeed and be able to offer this hard-to-obtain publication to our customers.