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Things that Bug Me Laurie Fox Pessemier Acryllic on printed paper 11 x 8” 28 x 20cm 75.00 |
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After purchasing yet two more “used” books at a price beyond their original sale value, I found a library with a large collection of English books. I love physical books (I have a couple thousand), but I simply can’t afford to buy many more. Case in point: I just tried to purchase a 1995 “bodice ripper” (with a Greek twist) that a friend of mine loves and recommends. It sold for 4 dollars new -- today’s price for this same paperback, used, on Amazon? $21.00. This is not an art book, mind you. Art books are over-the-top. One museum catalog I looked for, in paperback, was 235.00 Euros on World of Books. Currently World of Books in UK is my go-to bookstore. I was able to get Man Ray’s Self-Portrait biography delivered for less than 20 Euros from them. Formerly I found my best used books on ABE books, but I believe the company was sold to Amazon. They still have some stores they work with in Italy and Germany, which I buy from if it’s a mostly pictures book. |
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Bumper Cars Blair Pessemier Acryllc/Canvas 14 x 20” 35 x 50cm 490.00 |
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I suspect this sudden jump in prices has to do with the millions of used books recently sold to the tech industry for educating AI. The back and spines of these books are removed and the content is fed through a scanner to train AI programs. There is an actual term for this: scraping. Many rare and incredibly valuable texts, are being destroyed (info courtesy Forbes). I am worried some books might be relegated to online only reading as a result, and we all know how easy it is to change online content. I am supporting my writer friends who are suing the perpetrators of this travesty, for copyright infringement. If you have written a book, there is a website where you can check to see if your material is being pirated. |
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Still Life with Wood, Rope and Apples Laurie Pessemier Acrylic/canvas 17 x 18" 42 x 45cm 490.00 |
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This has caused a rift between me and Claude, my AI program. I am off the service at the moment, but it is likely I will be forced to use it again. When has technology ever gone backward? I feel like Mark Twain with the introduction of the telephone. Twain had among the first private telephone lines installed in his house in Hartford in 1877 – and later had it removed, as he was convinced it just brought unnecessary noise and annoyance into his daily life — no future. |
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Early Apples red / yellow Laurie Pessemier Acryllic on printed paper 11 x 8” 25 x 20cm 75.00 each |
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In any case, I discovered that the library in Bologna has one of the largest English language lending collections in Italy. And, I can go to a library significantly closer to my home (Monteveglio or Castello di Serravalle, both in the Bologna province) to pick up books I order from the Bologna facility. When it cools down a bit, maybe we’ll go check out the Salaborsa Library in Bologna in person. Bologna is a “no car” city, so one must walk 15 minutes to the library, and out (carrying books? Blair says we can bring the caddy). My card also includes books from the library of Belle-Arti, the visual arts center in Bologna. |
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St. Teresa Stamp Box Laurie Fox Pessemier Acryllic on printed paper 11 x 8” 25 x 20cm 75.00 eac |
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I am enjoying reading about Man Ray. I never knew he was actually an American who spent lots of his life in Paris. We had an art show on rue Campagne Premiere at the place he lived and worked; our gallery on rue Servandoni backed up to his rue Ferou residence. His time in Paris covered much of the same ground as ours, but his was 50 years earlier. I would have like to have had his marvelous array of artist friends. The Salon of Miss Drier, who Man Ray worked with in New York City, before his time in Paris, makes me think of developing our own salon into something more. Isn’t it amazing how a book can inspire us? |
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Another Bunny Day Blair Pessemier Acryllc/Canvas 12 x 9.5” 30 x 25cm 290.00 |
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Artnote is taking a vacation break next week, and possibly the following… see you mid September.
HOUSEKEEPING:
We make art to order, including portraits by Blair Pessemier.
Follow us on Instagram @lauriepessemier
See all of our paintings at https://paintfox.com
Most of our work is available as reproductions, custom sized and framed.
Write to me at lfpessemier@gmail.com
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INVITING All Artists to present their Work: Paint, Literature, Crafts, Food....
Pessemier's Sunday Salon
Weekly on Sunday No Reservation Necessary
How it works: Bring a piece of your ART: that could be visual, like painting or printmaking; or literary, as in poetry or prose; or crafts, like metalwork or knitting; or food, or music. Something you made, or feel particularly inspired by. You have about 5 minutes to present, and we'll ooh, ahh, or answer questions you have. You can also come and see how we work before diving in. Just show up on Zoom at a minute or two before the hour.
No selling, no networking until after everyone has presented. No politics, no sales pitches, please. |
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