I already wrote my love letter to Keith Haring when I reviewed “Haring-isms” edited by Larry Warsh back in 2020, so I won’t rehash it here. Let’s just say Haring and his art has a special place in my heart. It’s all why I was thrilled when Princeton University Press reached out to me again with a Keith Haring book.
“Keith Haring: 31 Subway Drawings” features a handful (31 to be exact) of examples of Haring’s prolific New York subway graffiti era. The contributions of several authors (Jeffrey Deitch, Henry Geldzahler, Carlo McCormick, and Larry Warsh), including a reprinting of “The Subway is Still My Favorite Place to Draw” by Keith Haring that originally appeared in “Art in Transit: Subway Drawings”, “31 Subway Drawings” re-examines this important era in Haring’s art and public art of the era in general.
Thanks to Larry Warsh’s efforts to collect Haring’s subway chalk drawings (an act he knew Haring wasn’t necessarily a fan of) and photographer Tseng Kwong Chi’s work photographing Haring and his subway art out in the wild, “31 Subway Drawings” does an excellent job showcasing the work.
Here you can see the fruits of Warsh’s and Chi’s labors.
“Keith Haring: 31 Subway Drawings” is sure to be treasured by fans of Haring and the subway graffiti movement of the 1980s. You can learn more here.
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It is here again. That magical time of the year where I pretend Oprah and I are somehow on the same level and rivals by doing my annual “Favorite Things” list. As always, my list is superior to hers in every way.
5. The Ancestral Power of Amulets, Talismans, and Mascots: Folk Magic in Witchcraft and Religion by Nigel Pennick
There was a lot of excitement leading up to the release of Deborah Blake’s latest book, “The Eclectic Witch’s Book of Shadows: Witchy Wisdom at Your Fingertips,” and it was well deserved. I do not know who pitched this book idea and its format, but a hearty round of applause to everyone involved.
The combination of Blake’s timeless wisdom, Mueller’s whimsical art, the sturdy hardcover format, and the owner’s personal reflections, gives “The Eclectic Witch’s Book of Shadows” the potential to become a cherished heirloom for magical families. In a marketplace flooded with books on the topic, Llewellyn put together the perfect team to create a standout.
If you know anything about me it’s that I am ALWAYS looking for an excuse to eat or drink. It is safe to say that Ulysses Press has caught on to that fact because they offered me the chance to review “Mixology and Murder: Cocktails Inspired by Infamous Serial Killers, Cold Cases, Cults and Other Disturbing True Crime Stories” by Kierra Sondereker.
Obviously, it wouldn’t be a review if I didn’t try out a recipe, so welcome to “Big Mother Ship Brew!” Sondereker writes, “A coffee-flavored cocktail for the serial killer whose last meal was a cup of coffee. Aileen Wuornos also had some interesting last words: ‘I’ll be back like Independence Day, with Jesus. June 6, like the movie. Big mother ship and all, I’ll be back, I’ll be back.” Why this one? Well, I found the idea of coffee and tequila interesting, and I already had everything I needed for the recipe.
Thorn Mooney gets it. “There was a time,” Mooney begins in her latest book “The Witch’s Path: Advancing Your Craft at Every Level”, “particularly toward the beginning of my practice of the Craft, when I would have planned an elaborate working to mark the occasion. The full moon is a great time to work magic, and I would have taken advantage of the opportunity. Maybe a spell for wealth or luck. Maybe I would have written a meditation and blended an appropriate incense to encourage visions. Maybe I would have cleansed and reconsecrated my altar and simply sat in silent prayer.”
“Living Magic: Contemporary Insights and Experiences from Practicing Magicians” by Frater U∴D∴ is a collection of essays about magic from the founding members of the Bonn Workshop for Experimental Magic in Germany. Although anticipating discussions about magic, I wasn’t prepared from the biographical angle of the book. You’ll find interviews and personal recollections. I didn’t mind because I’m nosey by nature and love to learn about the practitioners as much as the practice, but it is something to keep in mind.
As you may or not know, yesterday was the start of Banned Books Week! We always celebrate here at The Magical Buffet. The American Library Association, along with assorted schools, stores, authors, and more, come together for one week to bring attention to continued attempts to limit what people can read.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
De Oxóssi offers a history of Kimbanda that starts in the 17th century with the arrival of African slaves that were brought to Brazil up to modern times. Already having minimal knowledge of African magical practices and none of Brazil’s, Kimbanda was a fascinating first look at the spiritual and magical practices. Kimbanda encourages working with deities and embracing the dualistic nature of life. Light and dark, virtue and vice, male and female, etc. It is a rich tradition featuring seven realms with nine dominions, each with their own entities that reside within them and govern them. What I found of particular interest is that there is a branch of Kimbanda that is a synthesis of Western high magic and Luciferian traditions. This came about from the association of Goetian daemons with Kimbanda’s Eshus. It feels like a unique evolution.
For example, with what seems like zero fanfare, Kynes latest book “Tree Magic: Connecting with the Spirit & Wisdom of Trees” released. Do magical folks no longer care about trees? Seems unlikely. But if for some reason you’ve been lacking enthusiasm for trees, “Tree Magic” will fix that! The core, or perhaps roots is a better term, of the book come from Kyne’s 2006 book “Whispers from the Woods.” However, “Tree Magic” is thoroughly revised and greatly expanded with a focus on magical practices. Kynes profiles over 60 trees including scientific information, astrological correspondences, deities associated with certain trees, elemental correspondences, wildlife and magical creatures that favor each tree, powers and attributes of the tree, and even more! The extensive information provided allows you to use the tree as a focus of your magic, or as an enhancement to your already existent magical practices.