Mark Batty Publisher

MBP Presents- Schematics: A Love Story

adynah — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:48:32 +0000

A sparse, meditative, and enigmatic narrative embroidered with schematic diagrams.

“One encounter taught me about gravity, another about majesty. One encounter taught me what it means to set something free, another about what I could hear but couldn’t see. “- Julian Hibbard, Act 1, Schematics: A Love Story.

In Schematics: A Love Story, Hibbard recalls poignant moments and thoughts in his life and conveys them in Acts. This contemporary prose is paired with idiosyncratic, found diagrams, each giving a revolutionized meaning to the concept of storytelling and power of memory. Told through a language of juxtaposition, the schematic drawings are used in conjunction with Hibbard’s original accounts to help unlock meaning and express feelings on the subjects of love, loss, memory and the way time links them.

Whether it is a diagram of magnetism that explores a sense of attraction, or a cross section of a lens to examine a way of seeing, each illustration plays off the text, coaxing out new hints of meaning from what at first glance appears a simple rendering. As the story unfolds, the schematics pull readers in, revealing more and more of the paradoxes and existential qualities that shape love, and life. Schematics, includes an appendix explaining the sources of the original diagrams, adding another layer of intrigue to this short but memorable fiction.

Julian Hibbard is an English photographer living in New York City. His profound and enigmatic images are expressed through his interest and curiosity in storytelling, memory, dreams, film and unique photographic depiction. He has exhibited his work in London, Scotland, Santiago de Chile, New York City, and Los Angeles; Hibbard is also the author of The Noir A-Z, also a Mark Batty published title.

Mark Batty Publisher (www.markbattypublisher.com) is an independent publisher dedicated to making distinctive books on the visual art of communicating, showcasing the visual power and innovation of contemporary culture in all of its varied poses. Today, the visual comes at us from more places than ever, and its dissemination is faster and more advanced every year. Books from Mark Batty Publisher capture this acceleration on the pages of every book. Affordable, well designed, thoughtfully created, and produced to last, MBP books are artful products that readers want to hold onto forever.

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Julian Hibbard

Pub Date: November 29, 2011

Page Count: 80

Size: 6.7 x 5.1 x 2 inches

Format: Hardcover

Price: $24.95

ISBN: 978-1-935613275

Schematics

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:48:28 +0000

In Schematics: A Love Story, Julian Hibbard meditates on schematics, demonstrating how love and loss intersect with time. Every spread pairs a quietly unfolding, enigmatic narrative with a visually arresting schematic diagram. Whether they plot simplistic dance steps or chart chemical decomposition, the illustrations complicate and supplement the deceptively simple narrative. As readers try to reconcile how the images and text interact, they will find themselves more and more engaged with the puzzle, making new discoveries about the nature of memory. The book also includes an index explaining the original schematic diagrams and an afterword by philosopher David LaRocca, which add another layer of intrigue to this short but memorable fiction.

Dogs in Books

Melissa — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:45:16 +0000

As the saying goes, dogs are man’s best friend. It’s no wonder, then, that the written evidence of the relationship between dogs and humans is almost as old as literature itself. Since the Stone Age, our canine companions have been illustrated, described, dramatized, and eulogized in one form or another. Dogs in Books celebrates the role of dogs in literature throughout the centuries, from Pliny’s description of domestic dogs in the sixth century BC to Toto, Lassie, and Snoopy.

Culled from the British Library’s incomparable archives, Dogs in Books features illustrations from rare editions of classic literature and contemporary renderings from popular books. With everything from illuminated manuscripts to comics, Dogs in Books demonstrates the timelessness of our undying love and respect for dogs and proving that they have always been more than just a pet. Illustrated in color throughout, this is an ideal gift for every dog lover.

Catherine Britton is a former senior editor at the British Library and is currently senior editor at ACC Publishing. This is her first book with Mark Batty Publisher.

The Art of Todd Bratrud

Melissa — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:09:00 +0000

“No one is more prolific, more hard working, more distinct in his style than Todd Bratrud.” —Chris Nieratko, ESPN

“Bratrud is a mastermind that hasn’t stumbled in years … All killer, no filler.” —Bradley Carbone, Complex

“I started skateboarding around ’89, and then basically started making art at the same time,” Todd Bratrud said, and he’s been working feverishly on his shockingly fresh skate graphics and personal art ever since. Todd Bratrud’s work runs the gamut from cute to crude, but each piece is visually arresting, with bold lines and eye-popping colors. Bratrud’s wild imagination gives us tattooed babies wrestling, a skateboarding lawn gnome, sexy lizard ladies, grisly dismemberment, and plenty of blood and skulls.

Todd Bratrud has his own skateboard companies, The High 5 and Teenage Runaway. He has designed and illustrated for the best in the business, including The Skateboard Mag, Consolidated Skateboards, Flip Skateboards, Enjoi, Familia Skateshop, Burlesque Design, Volcom, Nike SB, Burton Snowboards, and Creature Skateboards. In 2010, he was named Complex’s #1 Skateboard Artist Right Now.

The Art of Todd Bratrud is the second installment in Mark Batty Publisher’s Seen Unknown series, edited by Winston Tseng. As art director for Enjoi Skateboards, Tseng has worked with some of today’s most genre-defying visual artists and designers whose work extends well beyond skateboard culture. From sneaker and apparel design to product packaging, posters, high-profile ad campaigns, and fine art galleries, the work of Seen Unknown artists is often recognizable, though their creators’ names remain unknown—until now. The Art of Marc McKee is the first title in the Seen Unknown series.

Polish Cold War Neon

Melissa — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:36:11 +0000

“Ilona Karwińksa’s images of communist-era neon preserve a unique and significant moment in Poland’s history.”
—David Crowley, Royal College of Art, London

In 1929, the first neon sign in Poland went up in Warsaw. Popular from the start, the earliest neon signs were made to order—free in design, shape, and color, and significantly influencing other forms of advertising like poster design and typography. Polish Cold War Neon tells the fascinating story of neon in Poland by preserving and celebrating the remnants of this rich and influential history.

Designed and built by prominent architects, graphic designers, and artists, and overseen by a chief graphic designer in the state-run company Reklama, Polish neon signage was renowned for its outstanding technical and artistic qualities. During its peak, Reklama maintained over 1,000 neon signs, whose playfulness and folly stood out in dark and oppressed Poland, ornamenting otherwise drab cities and towns. In Polish Cold War Neon, Ilona Karwińska collects her own stunning photographs, archival images, original neon designs, and interviews with their designers to reveal the untold story of Polish neon.

British photographer Ilona Karwińska specializes in portraiture and world cultures. Based in London, she is a graduate of Goldsmiths College and the London College of Printing. She has been exploring the disappearing world of Cold War Era neon and graphics for more than five years, and has been credited with starting a new “school of neon,” as well as helping to found the Neon Muzeum. Her work has been featured in Creative Review, A4, Icon, The Telegraph, Newsweek, and Time Out. Karwińska regularly exhibits in international galleries.

Balance

Melissa — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:35:18 +0000

Borne out of the American punk scene of the late 1970s, hardcore music raged through the 1980s, spreading to towns and cities across the globe. The hardcore network spans all of Europe, and Balance visits every major node of it, opening the doors of the bars and dives that host Europe’s hardcore bands. Capturing the chaos of the mosh pit, the monotony of the office, and the sheer energy of the music, Balance pays homage to the bands, promoters, designers, and supporters who have made the decision to live a hardcore life.

Balance focuses on the current European scene, documenting the lives of musicians who strike a balance between their day jobs and this vital musical force. From tattooists in Portugal to miners in Poland, Balance uncovers the twin lives of those working to support their passion. Hardcore has always been more than just music and although the performers and fans across the continent speak different languages and live in different places, they are tied to each other through a communal music scene that transcends borders.

Tom Barry is the drummer for London hardcore band Kartel and has been a fixture of the city’s hardcore music scene since the 1990s. He began covering alternative and underground music as a staff writer with Big Cheese magazine before moving into youth work and continuing to contribute to community-focused publications. His writing has covered a variety of subjects, from interviews with Slayer to the content of local school meals.

Sophia Schorr-Kon is a freelance photographer who took up photography at the London College of Communication. She has covered a large range of UK music festivals such as Glastonbury and Bestival. She has also worked with many bands and musicians, shooting for labels such as Sony. Schorr-Kon also works within the political sphere and regularly contributes to the New Statesman.

Kill, Marry, Fuc

Melissa — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:55:37 +0000

Part party game, part celebrity trivia, part voyage of self-discovery, and all laugh-riot scintillation, Kill, Marry, Fuc presents readers with trios of celebrities and objects, asking, Who would you kill, Who would you marry, and Who would you fuc? On each page you have the addicting power to take home your favorite star and kill off your least, with cameos from the sexiest starlet to the most repulsive reality TV personality.

Each trio of photos in KMF highlights a different quirk of stardom and popular culture. Author Sarah Huber makes electrically funny connections, from putting together a group of has-been gingers like Carrot Top to probing readers’ reactions to bombshells from cinema’s golden age. Each page is full of Huber’s witty commentary and little-known facts that will appeal to snark lovers anywhere. A bit crude, very fun and funny, and completely irreverent, KMF will find a place in the homes of pop-culture connoisseurs the world over.

Give it a whirl! Who would you kill, marry, and fuc of…

The Kardashians: Khloe, Kim, and Kourtney
The Dictators: Stalin, Hitler, and Mao
The Talk Titans: Ellen Degeneres, Oprah Winfrey, and Tyra Banks
The Guidos: Vinny, Ronnie, and Paulie D

Invite friends to play along with the book, and continue the fun with the KMF companion app, free at www.kmfapp.com, which includes global rankings so you can see how your choices stack up.

Sarah Huber graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Television Production and went straight to work for Entertainment Tonight. For the past five years she has worked as the voice over coordinator for ET’s sister show, The Insider.

MBP Presents – The Art of Todd Bratrud

Melissa — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:01:35 +0000

“No one is more prolific, more hard working, more distinct in his style than Todd Bratrud.” —Chris Nierkato, ESPN

“Bratrud is a mastermind that hasn’t stumbled in years … All killer, no filler.” —Bradley Carbone, Complex

New York, NY – Nov. 4, 2011 - “I started skateboarding around ’89, and then basically started making art at the same time,” Todd Bratrud said, and he’s been working feverishly on his shockingly fresh skate graphics and personal art ever since. The Art of Todd Bratrud: Seen Unknown collects everything from iconic board designs to magazine covers, Nike shoes to skeleton finger puppets.

Todd Bratrud’s work runs the gamut from cute to crude, but each piece is visually arresting, with bold lines and eye-popping colors. Bratrud’s wild imagination gives us tattooed babies wrestling, a skateboarding lawn gnome, sexy lizard ladies, grisly dismemberment, and plenty of blood and skulls. But even the most gruesome illustration is light-hearted, and the illustrations in The Art of Todd Bratrud are full of Bratrud’s signature humor and passion for skating.

The Art of Todd Bratrud is the second installment in Mark Batty Publisher’s Seen Unknown series, edited by Winston Tseng. As art director for Enjoi Skateboards, Tseng has worked with some of today’s most genre-defying visual artists and designers whose work extends well beyond skateboard culture. From sneaker and apparel design to product packaging, posters, high-profile ad campaigns, and fine art galleries, the work of Seen Unknown artists is often recognizable, though their creators’ names remain unknown—until now. The Art of Marc McKee is the first title in the Seen Unknown series.

Mark Batty Publisher (markbattypublisher.com) is an independent publisher dedicated to making distinctive books on the visual art of communicating, showcasing the visual power and innovation of contemporary culture in all of its varied poses. Today, the visual comes at us from more places than ever, and its dissemination is faster and more advanced every year. Books from Mark Batty Publisher capture this acceleration on the pages of every book. Affordable, well designed, thoughtfully created, and produced to last, MBP books are artful products that readers want to hold onto forever.

The Art of Todd Bratrud: Seen Unknown
Winston Tseng and Todd Bratrud
Pub Date: November 2011
Page Count: 96
Size: 6.5 x 8.5 inches
Format: Paperback
Price: $19.95
ISBN: 978-1-935613-22-0

MBP Presents – Kill, Marry, Fuc

Melissa — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:46:10 +0000

New York, NY – Nov 4, 2011 – Part party game, part celebrity trivia, part voyage of self-discovery, and all laugh-riot scintillation, Kill, Marry, Fuc presents readers with trios of celebrities and objects, asking, Who would you kill, Who would you marry, and Who would you fuc? On each page you have the addicting power to take home your favorite star and kill off your least, with cameos from the sexiest starlet to the most repulsive reality TV personality.

Give it a whirl! Who would you kill, marry, and fuc of…

The Kardashians: Khloe, Kim, and Kourtney
The Dictators: Stalin, Hitler, and Mao
The Talk Titans: Ellen Degeneres, Oprah Winfrey, and Tyra Banks
The Guidos: Vinny, Ronnie, and Paulie D

Invite friends to play along with the book, and continue the fun with the KMF companion app, free at www.kmfapp.com, which includes global rankings so you can see how your choices stack up.

Sarah Huber graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in Television Production and went straight to work for Entertainment Tonight. For the past five years she has worked as the voice over coordinator for ET’s sister show, The Insider.

Kill, Marry, Fuc
Sarah Huber
Pub Date: November 2011
Page Count: 128
Size: 7 x 9 inches
Format: Hardcover
Price: $24.95
ISBN: 978-1-935613-37-4

MBP Presents – Dogs in Books

Melissa — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:30:20 +0000

New York, NY – Nov 2, 2011- As the saying goes, dogs are man’s best friend. It’s no wonder, then, that the written evidence of the relationship between dogs and humans is almost as old as literature itself. Since the Stone Age, our canine companions have been illustrated, described, dramatized, and eulogized in one form or another. Dogs in Books celebrates the role of dogs in literature throughout the centuries, from Pliny’s description of domestic dogs in the sixth century BC to Toto, Lassie, and Snoopy.

Culled from the British Library’s incomparable archives, Dogs in Books features illustrations from rare editions of classic literature and contemporary renderings from popular books. Dogs appear in works by Shakespeare, Jack London, Rudyard Kipling, Charles Dickens, and many more well-known authors. From narrating an entire story to rescuing the hero, dogs are key characters: Odysseus had his faithful dog Argos and King Lear’s pack of dogs barked away at him to warn him.

With everything from illuminated manuscripts to comics, Dogs in Books demonstrate the timelessness of our undying love and respect for dogs and proving that they have always been more than just a pet. Illustrated in color throughout, this is an ideal gift for every dog lover.

Catherine Britton is a former senior editor at the British Library and is currently senior editor at ACC Publishing. This is her first book with Mark Batty Publisher.

Dogs in Books: A Celebration of Dog Illustration Through the Ages
Catherine Britton
Pub Date: November 2011
Page Count: 112
Size: 5 x 8 inches
Format: Paperback
Price: $19.95
ISBN: 978-1-935613-40-4