Some People Can't Surf: The Graphic Design of Art Chantry

by Julie Lasky, Art Chantry (Illustrator), Jamie Sheehan (Illustrator)

Art Chantry's contrarian ways have placed him in the pantheon of great modern designers. Some People Can't The Graphic Design of Art Chantry is the first survey of this visual iconoclast, who also designed the book and packed it with hundreds of his vibrant images. Gritty, funny, and refreshingly low-tech, his award-winning work has promoted countless bands, social causes, and non-profits. Tracing Chantry's career from his covers and layouts for the seminal music magazine The Rocket, to album covers for such cult bands as Mudhoney, the Reverend Horton Heat, and the Fastbacks, Some People Can't Surf is a comprehensive look at his creative evolution. Complete with commentary on the unusual origins and unorthodox processes behind his work, as well as providing context for his oft-copied look, Some People Can't Surf is a much-anticipated exploration of this idiosyncratic design master.

Genres: Art, Art Design, Design

144 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

About the author

Julie Lasky is the editor-in-chief of I.D. Magazine. Previously, she was editor-in-chief at Interiors and the managing editor at Print. Julie has authored a monograph on the Seattle poster artist Art Chantry, titled Some People Can't Surf: The Graphic Design of Art Chantry (Chronicle Books, 2001). She is one of ten contributing curators in &Fork: 100 Designers, 10 Curators, 10 Good Designs (Phaidon Press, 2007) and has contributed essays to Households by Mark Robbins (Monacelli Press, 2006) and Dish: International Design for the Home, Julie Muller Stahl, ed. (Princeton Architectural Press, 2004), among others. As a design journalist Julie has also contributed to numerous publications including The New York Times, Metropolis, Architecture, Dwell, Surface, Graphis, Grid, Print and Eye. Julie has been a guest instructor at the MA program in History of Decorative Arts & Design, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum/Parsons The New School for Design and a guest critic at Ecole Cantonale d'Art de Lausanne (ECAL), Switzerland. She has also taught on SVA's MFA Design program. Julie was a juror for the Winterhouse Awards for Design Writing & Criticism in 2006 and since 2005 has served as a juror for the National Magazine Awards. She was the recipient of a National Arts Journalism Fellowship from Columbia University and was also a National Arts Journalism Fellow at the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University.

Reviews

[Christin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the greatest books one could find regarding Art Chantry, 90s graphic design, especially in context of the 1990s Pacific Northwest Scene. With insights on the social and political climate of the scene and design choices. The content is incredible and informative truly.
Features all of Chantry's work, different mediums and commentary. Beautiful.

[Gage · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you really want to know about Art Chantry, this book tells you about him. Interesting guy, some cool work. That is all.

[Marla Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for anybody who works in advertising or graphic design, or is in the music industry. The brilliance of Art Chantry is mind-blowing. I will never give this book away, I will cherish it forever.

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this book off of a Syracuse University student who was having a yard sale prior to moving back home for the summer. It's very interesting with a lot of great artwork.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots and lots of Mr Chantry's work. If you like that you will love this. If not, don't buy it: there is nothing else to see.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daniel Clowes: http://danielclowes.com/