“If you go home with somebody, and they don’t have books, don’t fuck ’em!” John Waters

I can’t recommend Jennifer Taylor’s new blog thelibrarian.com highly enough.

Over dinner with her and her husband Nic in New York last year, JB revealed her plans for a website celebrating books. This, she felt, would offer an escape from the solipsism which engulfs most forms of web expression.

//Photo: Courtesy thelibrarian.com//

So The Librarian showcases other people’s books, their collections and also the visual culture which surrounds reading and literacy. There are sections on great bookshops, libraries and private collectors, such as the West Coast artist Alia Penner, who I’m proud to say files a copy of my book Mr Freedom on a shelf alongside tomes on YSL, Kenzo and Maripol.

As one would expect from JB + Nic, it’s a fantastic-looking site, simultaneously substantial and diverting.

Visit The Librarian here.

Tags: Alai Penner, JB Taylor, John Waters, Kenzo, Maripol, Nic Taylor, The Librarian, YSL

//Photo: Kyle Zeto.//

NAME: Nicholas Abrahams

RESIDES: London

OCCUPATION: Film-maker

Nick Abrahams’ work includes promos for Stereolab, Add (N) To X and sigur rós. More recently he collaborated with Jeremy Deller on the fascinating exposition of fan’s desires,  The Posters Came From The Walls.

Among Abrahams’ current projects is Jayne County biopic Man Enough To Be A Woman. Judging from the rushes shown last year, this will be a doozy.

Last autumn Abrahams created the 30-minute Stooges film Doghouse. The installation at Tatty Devine included a portrait of our hound Rita.

Abrahams cuts quite a dash in any company; as I say below, I admire his ability to combine the edgy with the traditional without pretension.

Here he answers the Blokes Of Britain questionnaire, covering ground from Tiny Tim to gold teeth by way of Cordings, Trickers, Viv Stanshall and William Burroughs. Oh, and not to forget Edward Gorey’s fur coats, Joseph Beuys’ felt suits and Nick’s own creation: The Denton Welch safety bib.

How would you describe your sartorial style?

My girlfriend says I look like a straight bear (IE: a chubby gay man with beard).

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Cordings, Cornershop, Crombie, Cutler & Gross, Dali, David Bowie, Denton Welch, Derek Jarman, Doghouse, Earl Brutus, Edward Gorey, Franz Josef, George Melly, Greta Garbo, Jayne County, Jeremy Deller, John Waters, Joseph Beuys, kabuki, Kyle Zeto, Leigh Bowery, Nick Abrahams, Robert Wyatt, Tiny Tim, Trickers, Uniqlo, Vision On, Viv Stanshall, Wilf Lunn, William Burroughs