ART

1. Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers by Deborah Heiligman

The deep and enduring friendship between Vincent and Theo Van Gogh shaped both brothers' lives. Confidant, champion, sympathizer, friend―Theo supported Vincent as he struggled to find his path in life. They shared everything, swapping stories of lovers and friends, successes and disappointments, dreams and ambitions. Meticulously researched, drawing on the 658 letters Vincent wrote to Theo during his lifetime, Deborah Heiligman weaves a tale of two lives intertwined and the extraordinary love of the Van Gogh brothers.

2. Banksy in New York by Ray Mock

Banksy in New York offers a first-hand account of his residency: the defacement and removal of his pieces, reactions from neighbors and building owners and interactions between Banksy's fans and foes. The author draws on his extensive knowledge of street art and graffiti in New York to assess the impact of Banksy's work from a cultural and art-historical perspective. Mock is as much a fan as a critic of the artist's work and delivers his account in the form of a personal narrative that is by turns insightful and humorous, paying homage to Banksy's wit and creativity while challenging the artist and his detractors to consider the true impact of his work. The hardcover edition of Banksy in New York features over 140 photos and illustrations on 128 pages as well as a new foreword by Brooklyn Street Art founders Jaime Rojo and Steven P. Harrington.

3. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray was first published in July 1890. It tells the story of a fashionable young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Taking place in London in the 1800’s, it is a piece of philosophical fiction that questions the price of living forever in one state. Dorian Grey meets artist Basis Haworth who paints his portrait. The painting is set to be Basil’s masterpiece, this comes crashing down when Dorian realizes, with the help of a devil’s advocate, that now he will never again appear as young or youthful as the painting. This starts a whirlwind of events as Gray sells his soul to the devil to negate his horrible revelation. The deal that was struck involves Dorian remaining youthful while his painting will age instead...

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