{"title":"Erik Benjamins","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"butts-of-florence-book-erik-benjamins-9780982923405","title":"Butts of Florence","description":"\u003cp\u003eI've been in Florence for now two days, still brutally jet-lagged. I keep waking up at a 4 or 5 in the morning. These have been slow, long days. Already a pace aggressively different than the last few weeks in LA for me. It feels good though. There's a kind of whiplash, still reeling from the absurd, unnecessary non-stop-ness of my end-of-semester weeks in late April\/early May. Many things to learn from, which is why it feels so good to be here. And why I write to you now, not simply because it's been far too long, but also because you are an inspiration  I cannot help but think about your travels and yes, your wisdom, when reeling slowly and pleasurably, freshly here in Tuscany.\u003cbr\u003e --Erik Benjamins, Butts of Florence\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn 2006, Erik Benjamins, a Los Angeles-based artist, spent six months in Florence, Italy as an American student abroad. Eight years later, in 2014, he returned for six weeks to teach, walk, watch, think, eat, and learn. Butts of Florence, published now for the first time by No Style Press, is a collection of writing and photographs taken during this six-week stay. Formally stunning black and white photographs of the butts of various Florentine sculptures punctuate writing that adopts the forms of diaristic entries, appropriated letter writing, travel guide tips, restaurant reviews, and poetic prose. Together, text and image build the arc of a humorous, hungry, critical, introspective, romantic, and grateful visitor to one of the most storied cities in history.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis compact volume packs a punch-the perfect literary companion for a jaunt to Italy. A game changer.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e --Dr. Anthony Martin, molecular biologist and director of PATAO\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51010293924113,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51010297069841,"sku":"NIN9780982923405","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0982923406.jpg?v=1751109282"},{"product_id":"last-day-first-day-book-erik-benjamins-9780982923429","title":"Last Day, First Day","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNovember 9, 2016\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLast Day, First Day\u003cem\u003e proposes Presidential letter-writing as a reflexive and political act.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eYou are invited to write and share two letters: one for a President leaving, and another for a President arriving. The mental, physical, poetic, and political space of letter-writing is a platform to communicate outwards to our leaders at profound moments in their careers as much as it is for us a means to reflect inwards during a profoundly fractured moment in American history.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWriting prompts a communicative space to rebel, to lament, to plead, to warn, to praise, to digest, to move forward. Please feel free to share this project with your community. Letters from any person, anywhere in the world are wholeheartedly welcome.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWith great love and great thanks, \u003cbr\u003e Erik\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e------\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePolitical action takes all forms. Artist Erik Benjamins, shocked after the November 8 election, began to collect letters addressed to Obama on his last day in office, and addressed to Trump on his first day in office. Those letters, contained in this book, viscerally demonstrate the hopes and fears of a nation during a moment of political upheaval. The 168 letters range from political analysis to guttural reaction, they take the form of photograph and drawing. They come from artists, students, friends, citizens. There is even space in the book for you to write your own letter. Will you be heard?\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51157059371281,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":51157062353169,"sku":"NGR9780982923429","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52740848714001,"sku":"NIN9780982923429","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0982923422.jpg?v=1750948789"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-erik-benjamins.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}