Good Books: Hannah Stephenson on Artists

Hannah Stephenson is a poet, editor, and instructor living in Columbus, Ohio (where she also runs Paging Columbus, a monthly literary event). Her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Huffington Post, Hobart, Poetry Daily, and The Nervous Breakdown; her poetry collection, In the Kettle, the Shriek was published by Gold Wake Press. Visit Hannah at The Storialist (www.thestorialist.com), where each day she posts a poem inspired by a work of visual art.

Hannah Stephenson recommends books on, about, and by artists:

A Field Guide to Getting Lost
by Rebecca Solnit

One of my all-time favorite books (first recommended to me by an artist, of course!). Gorgeous, gorgeous essays on loss, losing, and lost-ness manifesting itself in art.

 

What It Is
by Lynda Barry

Creative and cartoonist guru Lynda Barry looks at how we tell stories, draw, and create images. So playful and poignant.

 

Building Stories
by Chris Ware

Fourteen separate graphic novels (all within a different shape/visual style — a Golden Book, a newspaper) in a box. The stories center around characters living in an apartment building. Though they are linked, you can read them in any order. Brilliant and so delightful.