Arts and Culture

The unearthing of authentic celluloid acetate stencils, a project undertaken by Long Island tattoo shopowner and memorabilia collector Cliff White, continues. In this compilation, thousands more artifacts emerge from "deeper inside the trunk" and expose a sprawling collection from the late '50s and early '60s. These facsimiles, represented in their original color and tone, include timeless designs

Male tattoo models show off their dazzling body art and open up about their backgrounds, interests, and opinions in this impressive collection of studio, open-air, black and white, color, and art photography. Tattoo artists and shop owners, musicians, athletes, actors, and other models from around the world expose their sculpted physiques as well as their thoughts on their own ink, "the business"

Clear instructions and 148 photos welcome you to the subtle, fascinating world of Japanese calligraphy. Beginning with a summary of the art's history, this guide then helps you understand the two systems of script that Japanese uses together: kanji, the ideogram-like characters borrowed from the Chinese language; and kana, the purely phonetic characters. Next, you'll learn the correct way to use t

Clear instructions and 129 photos welcome you to the world of calligraphy. Starting with the pens, inks, and writing surfaces you'll need, the book explains the basics, from filling the pen to holding the nib at the right angle. Practice exercises help you understand upstrokes, downstrokes, the optical center, and more. Then comes a chronological introduction to 5 major styles of Western script, b

This book is a visual survey of posters printed by the United States, the Allies, and the Axis, and offers an overview of the various categories of propaganda posters created in support of the war effort: recruiting, conservation, careless talk/anti-espionage, bond/fundraising, morale, and more. With posters from all combatants, here is a look at propaganda used as a tool used by all parties in th

This book is the follow-up to the groundbreaking  Chocolate Cheesecake, and is a new collection of modern black pin-up photography. Modern black pin-ups are becoming more popular as more photographers and models seek to expand the genre of pin-up photography beyond its historical limitations. This second book showcases over a dozen of today's best pin-up photographers and their work with over fift

Originally knit as underwear, the sweater is a practical garment with homely beginnings and has evolved as a fashion statement. This book traces the sweater's 300-year history as an aesthetic and craft object, telling the story of its materials and construction, national traditions, fads and fashion, and accessories. Learn about the panoply of yarns, Nordic patterns, buttons, vintage collars, runw

The ever-popular blue jean originated in the Old Westfrontier of San Francisco in the late 1800s, and here is an extensive look at the entire era of Old West denim.Gathered from collectionsaround the world, it presents never-before-seen pictures of antique“miner’s denim” worn in the frontier communities of Nevada andCalifornia, including Levi denim that is over 120 years old. More than adozen othe

This concise book, with more than 300 photos of pleated, high-fashion creations and practical diagrams to follow, offers the basics needed to understand and use fabric pleating successfully. A foreword by Jack Sauma, founder of Mood Designer Fabrics, reminds us of how essential pleating is to the design world. Throughout, step-by-step explanations show you how, by understanding the types of pleats

Since 1993, Hollywood has been rendering popular video games on the silver screen, mainly to critical derision and box office failure. While a few have succeeded, many have been hailed as the "worst movie ever" and left gamers asking: how did that get made? Super Mario fans expecting plumbers jumping on Goombas got an inter-dimensional battle between humans and evolved dinosaurs. Players expecting

Welcome to the fantasy-made-flesh that is Jamie Mahon’s imagination. Weaving together sublime locations, superb photography, and striking models, this award-winning photographer has created true artwork of the alternative subculture. He and a clique of extraordinary creators have labored to produce images of beautiful women, expertly made up and professionally styled in fantastic surroundings. Whe

Formed in 1942, the 8th SS Cavalry Division “Florian Geyer” was one of the most controversial units in the Waffen-SS. Created with the intention of making it an elite unit within the Waffen-SS, it instead saw its main employment from the beginning of the war in Russia as a rear area security force against partisans. The SS cavalrymen carried out these duties with terrible effectiveness, demonstrat

This book is the complete history of the 6th SS Gebirgs (Mountain) Division “Nord” in WWII. Formed in 1941, “Nord” was employed along the Finnish–Lapland front against battle-tested Soviet forces from 1941–44. Following the signing of the armistice between Finland and the Soviet Union in the summer of 1944, the division was moved to the western front. "Nord" units took part in Operation "Nordwind,

Charles Band's Full Moon Entertainment was the most remarkable B-movie studio of the 1990s, responsible for a barrage of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror classics during the last true "golden age" of the home video era. From Puppetmaster to Trancers and beyond, Full Moon transformed the VHS experience for fans worldwide, bringing the inner workings of the movie-making process into the living room, and

In the triumvirate of dominant structural building materials—wood,metal, and masonry—each has its advantages, but none are as intertwinedwith the human spirit as wood. Thirty-five public buildings illustrate how heavy timber framing can address familiar programmatic issues such as structure, economics, aesthetics, and sustainability. Timber framing can also have a positive effect on human emotions

It isn’t every film that features man-eating zombie sushi. But for those searching for just that and more strange things in their viewing queue, this film guide is for you. Organized by genre, including comedy, horror, action, drama, fantasy, and sci-fi, this title offers 300 reviews of genre films from all over the world, 160+ photos, and exclusive interviews and quotes from the people behind som

One of the most infamous of all Waffen-SS formations, the 3rd SS-Panzer Division “Totenkopf” has always been identified as the very essence of the notorious “Black Order.” Associated with war crimes in official historiography, formed initially with personnel coming from guard units from concentration camps, the unit was nevertheless able to prove itself on the battlefield, distinguishing itself in

One of the most infamous of all Waffen-SS formations, the 3rd SS-Panzer-Division “Totenkopf” has always been identified as the very essence of the notorious “Black Order.” Associated with war crimes in official historiography, formed initially with personnel coming from guard units from concentration camps, the unit was nevertheless able to prove itself on the battlefield, distinguishing itself in

What elevates a house to best-of-class status? Find out in this insider's look at more than fifty award-winning homes designed by nearly three dozen A+ American architects. Regardless of their size or design style, the best new and remodeled homes share common traits. They deliver eminently livable space that can accommodate nearly any lifestyle event. They respect and relate to the natural enviro

Does street art exist in spotless Tokyo? Yes! But strict vandalism laws and conservative Japanese culture have suppressed the graffiti scene in Tokyo. This stunning survey by photographer and graffiti artist Lord K2 takes you into the Tokyo neighborhoods exhibiting a colorful array of urban art created on the fly and as low-key as possible. Here is a look at vibrant stickers, tags, highly elaborat