MOMA PS1 Book Arts Fair

I exited the 21st st G train in Queens and flocked to MoMa PS1 with many other artsy hipsters. My wallet was in trouble because zines, buttons, pins, and other DIY materials are my favorite things in the world. My room is a hoarder’s nest of books and art supplies. Flipping through artists’ zines and art books was almost like looking into their sketchbook. I felt a very intimate connection to many of the artists by being able to handle their work first hand. I felt re-inspired to just make work and not care how ugly it looks or how imperfect it is. Seeing how many of the artist’s work dealt with political issues made me proud of my fellow artists, but also slightly insecure about making more humorous work about aliens with no political context. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the idea of responsibility that my art should speak to people and have a powerful message. But I also remember that I need to make work for myself, what I am interested in, and what will make me happy. I am a selfish self-absorbed millennial that is bad with money and spent way too much on a very silly button set (pictured below) and that is who is reflected in my work.

Fig 1 - Food, Sex, and Art. In my opinion the only things you need to survive in life.

Fig 2 - “Damn Son Where Did You Find This” I love the waviness of the font combined with the collaged, faded background. The stark contrast drew me to it. The actual title is also very humorous to me.

Fig 3 - I purchased a set of Guerrilla Girls postcards with their various works of art on it. I found this one especially powerful “What’s the difference between a prisoner of war and a homeless person? Under the Geneva Convention, a prisoner of war is entitled to food, shelter and medical care”.

Fig 4 - These posters were reminiscent of the hateful words used in protests by the Westboro Baptist Church, but with content shifted to more liberal progressive ideas. There was also a striking crocheted Trump turd like shape with a KKK hood.

Fig 5 - This room was filled with vaginas and other female genitalia. The genitalia plastered the walls in gentle “feminine” watercolor iterations transformed the space.

Fig 6 - Inspirational posters incorporating text and image seamlessly and beautifully

Fig 7 - Stamps for every occasion. I felt particularly moved by “curate my ass” and “you were less insufferable when you were still drinking”. I wish I ended up buying them so I could subtly send a message to some people in my family.

Fig 8 - All the buttons I bought. I am particularly intrigued and excited by the strange black “Grimace” shaped character reading a book.

Fig 9 - A zine by Heather Benjamin, her linework and patterns are beautiful.