Photo L.A.

As the 21st Editions/Legacy Editions team leaves for Photo L.A. in Los Angeles, amidst the changes in both the economy and the show itself, our excitement and enthusiasm for the show and for this new year continues to grow.

Accompanying me to Photo L.A. will be Pam Clark and Crissy Welzen, both of whom will be designing our booth (B-208) which will be found in the far left corner of the show.  Our strong optimism for 2011 has been underscored by a very strong response to the announcement of Yamamoto Masao, the first title in our new Prism monograph series of books, and the initial sales of it in the first week.  We have taken many orders from new and ongoing collectors, as well. Yamamoto and his work are clearly loved in the world of contemporary fine-art photography.

The Deluxe Edition of Yamamoto Masao is in the final design stages for the bindings. Mark Tomlinson will be sending the first in-progress prototypes to Los Angeles for the show, so they will be seen for the first time on Thursday night. Mark has told me that he is working with a fine black silk for both the Prism book, as well as for the handmade folder he will housing the three silver-gelatin prints (9-10” at their longest edge) that are printed and signed by Yamamoto. I believe this is one of the first representations of a new direction of larger non-distressed prints the artist is investigating. The Prism monograph represents 110 images in this new larger format. We will also have the 12 platinum prints that will ultimately be presented as a bound folio in the Deluxe Edition. Mark tells me he has selected a mustard-like silk for this binding. The interior book design and typography is by our own Crissy Welzen.

Other new titles we will be showing for the first time include Listen: Herman Leonard and His World of Jazz, of which there are only 7 copies left for sale. Jerry Uelsmann’s Moth and Bonelight portfolio of 10 platinum prints by Jerry Uelsmann, with 20 poems by Harvard’s Steven Brown and an introduction by John Wood, will also be shown for the first time.

And, Graham Nash’s Love, Graham Nash will on view with 10 copies left for sale. Graham and I worked for four years on this project that culminated in the most ambitious work on the music of this genre ever created.  It consists of a set of 2 books, 9 loose signed prints, and a unique disc of 17 songs.  I was thrilled and honored to have Neil Young write the introduction and sign the book, along with David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and of course, Graham Nash.

Our editor, John Wood, continues to work his magic from picturesque Saxton’s River, Vermont, with his lovely wife, Carol. The next time we can pry him away from his desk, pen, and reading spectacles, we hope it will be for an opportunity to meet you because meeting John and Carol is a real gift. By the way, John Wood (multiple prize winning poet) has just published a selection of 32 poems entitled The Fictions of History which is available through 21^ST Editions. We’ll have it at the show and on display for you to see.

Working up to the show I have several meetings with photographers and others developing the projects on deck for the next 21^st Editions, Prism and Legacy Editions titles. More to come…