SP(Mr.)X
We've got a new episode with David Leopold and Al Hirschfeld and Stephen Sondheim, a new Instax and some art, and my travel plans
The Virtual Memories Show News
A 2x/week email about a podcast about books & life
Podcastery
This week, I posted Episode 653 of my Virtual Memories Show, as curator and archivist David Leopold rejoins the show for a wide-ranging talk centered on the amazing new HIRSCHFELD’S SONDHEIM: A Poster Book (Abrams ComicArts). We talk about David’s decades as Hirschfeld’s archivist, Sondheim’s love of Hirschfeld’s work, the process of making his first book of Hirschfeld’s art that focuses on a single creator, the connections between Al & Sondheim in David’s text pieces for the book, and the joy of getting an intro from Bernadette Peters. We get into the work that the Hirschfeld Foundation does for regional theaters, why the drop-off of arts criticism is a disaster for culture, how younger people experience and appreciate Hirschfeld’s art, and the time David held a seance at the Algonquin to promote the Hirschfeld Broadway Tarot. We also discuss our all-time fave Prince songs, what it’s like being an archivist in a post-object world, the Steve Cohen magic performance that blew his mind, his new exhibitions at the Studio of Ben Solowey, how the next generation of theater organists (!) is getting trained, how aware Sondheim and Hirschfeld were that they were making history in their lifetimes, and more, so give it a listen!
Last week I posted Episode 652, feat. the record-holder for appearances on the show, Dmitry Samarov! What’s he been up to since his last episode in 2024? Plenty! We talk about his new project of redesigning and illustrating public domain books, why he started off with the White Whale itself, and why Babbitt was next in line, what the common themes are among the six books he’s illustrated since this project began, and how it all ties into his reaction to the 2024 election. We get into what it’s like working with publishers after controlling his own books for years, how he discovered James Hogg’s The Suicide’s Grave on the Beyond The Zero podcast, how he’s exploring visual interpretation and different tools with each book, and how this project has him reading and rereading differently than he used to. We also talk about how he looks back at his art in the wake of his self-monograph, how he got into a relationship with someone after a long time solo, what other books he’s considering illustrating, his new series of ‘zines about bookselling, and more, so give it a listen!
Recent episodes: Ask Me Anything • Dan Goldman • David Levithan/Jens Lekman • Sacha Mardou • Oliver Radclyffe • Eulogy • Rachel Cockerell
SP(Mr.)X
I’ll be at Small Press Expo this weekend; if you’re there and want to meet up, drop me a line! I’ll also be on Capitol Hill tomorrow, meeting with Congressional staff and wearing my new Coppley suit from Hiltons.
Last night was a rough one, with a megaton of anxiety about all the stuff I’ve gotta do in the hours days weeks months ahead, so I’m going to sign off with an old fave:
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Instaxery
Shot a new Instax at a podcast session. Looks kinda low-grade trashy fashion photography, which fits.
Artistry
I finished drawing the 2-page comic on Sunday. Gotta do the lettering tonight so I can place everything in InDesign and get the files out. Here’s what I drew for “Gil podcasting” and “life in Ringwood, NJ”:
You should go to the Flickr album of most of the art I’ve made & find something you like.
Postcardery
Let me know if you want to be on my postcard-a-day list. (Financial supporters of the podcast get a hand-drawn or painted postcard as a thank-you.)
Until Next Time
Thanks for reading this far. I’ll be back on Sunday with links, books, & workout-/meditation-craziness, and on Wednesday with a new episode, and maybe some more art & new Instaxes.
The music is swelling / The guests are inside / The parents are kvelling / And look at the bride,