At a loss for words? Want to be fluent in Italian? Just pick up this gem of a book, practice the gestures, and before you know it you’ll be freely communicating the entire length of the boot. Speak Italian was first published in 1958 by artist, photographer, sculptor and all around genius, Bruno Munari. The photographs capture something from a time long since past. But the gestures themselves are still as current as can be. The book (a bilingual edition) was reissued a number of years ago by Chronicle Books, something for which I am very grateful.

Vanves discovery. I miss Paris.

Flavorpill posted a nice bit today about Simon Monk’s paintings of superheroes in bags. And, while I love a comic book character (my first true crush was on Speed Racer), I am much more drawn to his series of slightly generic plastic toys in bags. The objects themselves are less caricature and more iconic childhood, which is far more interesting to me personally. Suggest reading his about page in order to better understand the reasoning behind his work.

If you’ve been to Dumbo you may already be familiar with the LAND storefront studio and gallery. LAND is a program of the League Education & Treatment Center, which features the work of artists living with disabilities. It is an amazingly fertile environment, run by the fantastic Matthew Murphy. If you’ve passed by, you’ve also likely stopped in front of the large windows and smiled to yourself after seeing Dean Millien’s menagerie. He calls the series “tin things” because they are all (expertly!) made from aluminum foil. I first saw these a few years ago, and promised that one day I would assemble a post, because my affection for them has never wavered. Dean has been making these creatures since he was a child, and you can tell! With amazing accuracy and humor, he manages to capture both the essence of the animals’ gestures as well as their underlying anatomy. The pieces pictured here are quite small, but he works in a full range of sizes. Pay a visit to the gallery and check out the larger than life-size gorilla! And, while you’re there, definitely make sure to peruse the work of all the other exceptional artists.

One of my favorite books. It measures in at 5.5″ x 8″. Part of a series of volumes that the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris put out years ago that are sadly no longer in print. The hand in these drawings is both expert and full of delight. The book itself is intimate in a way that not many are. It is true about all design being found in nature. I go back to these pages over and over again. I am particularly fond of the curlicues.