BOOKS

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Curator Reviews

Wendi McLendon-Covey

There’s not really a road map for becoming an artist other than the following: get up off your ass every day and make an effort; don’t be afraid to try and fail, and don’t wait for permission to get started; if you don’t have money, get creative with materials that you find or make; believe without a doubt that you were meant for something more, and that no one else can say something the way you can. If you’re fascinated (like I am) by the New York artist scene in the 60s and 70s, and how the AIDS epidemic in the 80s swept through and took its toll, “Just Kids” will blow your mind.

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Marianne Faithfull

Simply brilliant. I am a friend of Patti’s, and a huge fan, and I loved it.

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Michael Stipe

Because I’m reading it as I write this, and it’s amazing.

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Wendi McLendon-Covey

There’s not really a road map for becoming an artist other than the following: get up off your ass every day and make an effort; don’t be afraid to try and fail, and don’t wait for permission to get started; if you don’t have money, get creative with materials that you find or make; believe without a doubt that you were meant for something more, and that no one else can say something the way you can. If you’re fascinated (like I am) by the New York artist scene in the 60s and 70s, and how the AIDS epidemic in the 80s swept through and took its toll, “Just Kids” will blow your mind.

View Wendi McLendon-Covey's Top 10 Favorite Books
Maria Cornejo

I love Patti Smith and the story of her beginnings in New York City with her then boyfriend, the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. It's a fascinating look at that period of time and at two very creative people who inspired a whole generation of artists. Smith continues to be so relevant, particularly given our political climate.

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James Whiteside

This lyrical tale of two friends in cultural heyday New York City elicits nostalgia for a time I didn't even experience firsthand. As an artist, this story speaks to me on many levels and inspires me to be honest, shameless, and creative.

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