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Wunderground: Providence, 1995 To The Present (Catalogue)
posted November 1, 2006
 



Creators: Various Artists and Editors, With Helene Silverman and Dan Nadel On Design For PictureBox, Inc.
Publishing Information: Rhode Island School Of Design Museum Of Art/Gingko Press, Oversized Softcover, 128 pages, $24.95, October 2006
Ordering Numbers: 1584232625 (ISBN)

As one might expect the catalogue for the two-pronged Wunderground: Providence show currently knocking them out at the Rhode Island School of Design's museum evokes many of the charming aspects of that art scene. It comes wrapped in a poster. It contains several documentary-style photos of people in costumes and wrestlers and rubble. It has testimony written by a number of young writers and people that were there. And perhaps most pleasingly, it has a number of pages folded in that had to be opened within other pages, an exploration like the group workspaces of Providence once offered visitors and fellow travelers.

As for the work itself, I think the book falls just short of the definitive, in-depth statement the museum show might be, but it's a proud sampler of different approaches to art through its attention to one aspect: the rock poster. I agree with one of the writers -- it's hard to find them in this maze-like volume once you pass them by! -- who said that a revealing way to look at the posters on display here and on the musuem walls is each one as a night out, with all the expectations and drama and energy brought to young people finding for themselves a good time, and, I think a way to define themselves. Looking at the art work without checking the author immediately, Mat Brinkman once again proves himself the belle of the ball, with a variety of techniques on display almost all of which are intriguingly executed. Leif Goldberg also acquits himself nicely, and just about everyone has a moment or two.

So: Fort Thunder completists, art directors, art makers, this is a good book for you, well worth the discounted cost you're likely to find on-line. It might not be as good as going to the show itself, but not everyone can, and this you can carry around with you, pore over and explore.