Remember how good colouring-in books were? And there was usually two types of kids, those who meticulously filled between the lines with a rainbow of colours, and those who just scribbled all over the page.

Either way you drew/draw, VA Editions has just published SHORT, a limited edition colouring book for little and big kids alike. The publication features contributions from an amazing line up of established local and international artists, including Stefan Marx, Genevieve Gauckler, Misha Hollenbach, Mike Giant, Josh Petherick, Dylan Martorell and Will Sweeney.

With only 1000 copies worldwide and distribution backing from Japanese high-end fashion and design retailer BEAMS, it’d be a smart move to come to the launch at Utopian Slumps this Sunday (27.04) from 3pm and get a copy of this black and white gem before they disappear.

Crayons not included.

In celebration of sex, personality and homosexuality, BUTT magazine has released a book that features some of the best BUTT interviews from the past 5 years. Printed on their trademark faded pink A5 magazine stock, the BUTT book has some of the most entertaining interviews with people from film, music, photography and fashion such as LUTZ, Wolfgang Tillmans, Gus Van Sant, Viktor & Rolf, Bruce LaBruce, John Waters and many more. Very kindly, BUTT have supplied us with a list of their 5 most highly regarded magazines.

Andy Warhol’s Interview Magazine

(see also Interview Archive 1994-2007)

I-D Magazine

Index Magazine

The New Yorker

Straight To Hell

Dog Day Morning // Max (Interview)

Admittedly, we have been otherwise occupied of late and things have been more than a bit slow on the posting front. For that we apologise but to compensate we have a special typed interview with Max Nazzari who – at only 16 weeks old – takes his writing very seriously indeed. Out here for the upcoming Melbourne Writer’s Festival before heading back to Paris this is what he had to say:

“hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhm, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnmmm
mmmmmmmmmmmm.”

Eulogy for Marissa Cooper // Nathan Nedorostek

Never being able to commit to set television times does occasionally result in missing out on o events in pop culture. Yet, having recently watched close to three seasons of the OC on DVD, the significance of Marissa Cooper’s death is beginning to take hold, as it clearly must have for Nathan Nedorostek, the creator of the 54 page artist book ‘Eulogy for Marissa Cooper’. Described as an unconventional exploration of the grieving process, a story is told through photographs of downtown celebrities channeling the grief and emotion of a heartbroken TV viewer. Pass the tissues… actually, make it the gun. That way I can at least get the damn theme song out of my head.

Help McSweeney’s // Now Would Be A Good Time

Through The Believer, Wholphin, and their eponymous releases, independent publishers McSweeney’s are a source of infinite inspiration. So, if you’re reading this, don’t just pat your pockets and shrug or say you’re in a “rush” like we did to the charity representative on the street this morning. Due to the bankruptcy of their distributor McSweeney’s are in a spot of financial trouble. About $130,000 worth of trouble and to raise funds they are selling everything they’ve got like original artwork from Chris Ware and David Byrne and Wholphin DVDs doodled on by Spike Jonze (pictured). Everything you need to know is here. Give to get back.