Bookmeat has a meaty and marvelous name,
and a meaty and marvelous mission.”
- NBC Los Angeles

“This is something really special.”
- LA Weekly

For our friends who couldn’t make it out to Culver City for our Bookmeat fundraiser on November 21st, we’re having a showing & sale of some really interesting (and still available) Bookmeat books at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena:

Bookmeat Booksale: PASADENA
Saturday, December 19th, 1pm-4pm
The Armory Center for the Arts
145 North Raymond Ave, Pasdena

For as little as $75, you can walk away with a unique and affordable holiday gift for the art lover in your life— a signed and (in many cases) modified book from the personal collections of artists like Katie Grinnan, Sam Durant, Pae White, Elad Lassry, Hirsch Perlman, Mario Ybarra Jr., Olga Koumoundouros, Ry Rocklen, Tom Lawson, Alexis Smith, Christopher Russell, Jennifer Steinkamp, Kim MacConnel, Martin Kersels, Mel Chin, Alice Konitz, Nathan Mabry, and more!

All proceeds benefit Side Street’s education programs for kids and artists in LA County. Click here to download the pricelist. To arrange a private viewing, please contact Side Street Projects via email, or call (626) 798-7774.

We’d like to thank all the artist, writers, curators who contributed their time, treasure, and talent to help make Bookmeat such a success. We’d also like to thank our steering committee and all the volunteers who helped make it all happen. For a complete list of folks, please visit the Bookmeat page.

What a fantastic evening! Good food, good drink, good friends, and a great cause. Bookmeat was a success on many levels. We’re so grateful for everyone that came out and showed their love for Side Street. For those who were “there in spirit,” here’s a little 2 minute video of what went down @ Bookmeat. Enjoy.

Martin Kersels gave us his 1996 McMaster-Carr catalog! Oh my god, I’m literally trembling. This is a piece of art history, folks. This is THE catalog Martin used & consulted whilst constructing most of his early contraptions, sculptures, and installations. It also includes a (partial) list of the things he’s ordered from this catalog… many of which are immediately identifiable to fans of Martin’s work. Thanks Martin, this is amazing!

Michael Dee contributed a copy of “Fortunate Son,” the unauthorized and unflattering bio of George W. Bush (remember him?). Tucked inside is a beautiful pencil drawing by Michael of a supersonic F-102 Delta Dagger Interceptor — George’s training aircraft from his Air National Guard days.

Artist Jean Lowe contributed a copy of “Diet for a Small Planet,” a book that she read as a child which had a huge influence on her art career. But wait! When we say “copy” of the book, It’s not the kind of “copy” you’re thinking about… it’s a papier-mache copy of the book!

Did you know that Mark has the most beautiful handwriting we’ve ever seen? You’ve got to see it to believe it… it’s like 18th century penmanship. Crazy. Mark contributed a copy of “Black Like You,” a history of blackface & whiteface in American history. Included is a hand-written note by Mark with beautiful doodle drawings in the margins. We love you, Mark… thanks!

Andrea Bowers donated an enhanced version of the “Earth First Direct Action Manual.” Andrea’s work for the past 5 years of so has investigated the strategic use of both violence & non-violence in civil disobedience. This could be yours if you come to Bookmeat.

We’re blown away by Carmen’s amazing & hand-made book: full of portraits she did of characters whilst watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy! Holy fan art, Batman! Life and art intertwined — a day of watching movies beautifully recorded by Carmen for Bookmeat. This could be yours… if you come to Bookmeat!

Artist Kim MacConnel gave us a treasured copy of Mythologies by Roland Barthes that he kept in the trunk of his first car: a 1967 Citroen. Or, is it a replica of a long-lost favorite book that (you guessed it) was kept in the trunk of MacConnel’s car? When you read his explanatory note tucked inside, it actually makes a whole lot of sense. Includes simulated grease stains, hand-written notes, a photo of MacConnel’s first car, and a Citroen rubber gasket in original packaging.

Kim MacConnel is a San Diego based painter and seminal member of the Pattern & Decoration movement. His work is trademarked with brightly colored, loosely rendered patterns borrowed from other cultures or invented, as well as cartoonish clip-art images of contemporary American life and technology. Since the mid 70s, he has been educating students at University of California in San Diego where he has recently retired. He is represented by Rosamund Felsen Gallery in Santa Monica.