Rip Tales. Jay DeFeo’s Estocada and Other Pieces

by Jordan Stein

An examination of Jay DeFeo’s artistic practice interwoven with other Bay Area stories.

Genres: Art

150 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book alternates fascinating accounts and musings on Jay DeFeo with writings on and interviews with other Bay Area artists. The juxtaposition of the texts gives the reader space to draw their own conclusions about Defeo's work and her legacy. I thought a lot about artists making work in private (secret?), and art works that are always in flux and perhaps never truly finished. This book has a light touch, and it's also an incredibly personal account: the author writes about artists with whom he studied, worked, and became friends. The writing and details on Defeo are so good, so juicy, I did want more, but maybe (hopefully!) that's another book or project.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jay DeFeo, Ruth Asawa, Dewey Crumpler, Al Wong, Andrew Masullo, Lutz Bacher, Zarouhie Abdalian, Jack Whitten, Lyn Hejinian, Vincent Fecteau, Bruce Conner, Steven Fama, Mary Miller.

Not non sequiturs

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such good art writing. Unpretentious, concise, illuminating