In early April, the Clark Library welcomed former head librarian Bruce Whiteman back for memorable afternoon in the drawing room. After the formal events finished, a gift was presented to the Clark in honor of Bruce.  It is the 5th publication of Shanty Bay Press and includes some dynamically beautiful illustrations by Walter Bachinski.

Circus: the Artist as Saltimbanque, is an ode to the relationship the literary and visual arts have to the world of the circus.  Of the book, Bachinski says in the preface, “I have assembled a variety of writings loosely based on the idea of the artist and the circus. I have created a cycle of pochoirs and linocuts inspired by the texts…I visualize this book as a presentation that is similar to an actual visit to a circus”  The texts include pieces by Guillaume Apollinaire, Mark Twain, Jules LaForgue, Charles Baudelaire, Henry Miller and more.

This gift was very generously presented to us by a few Southern California Antiquarian Booksellers, the staff of the Clark Library, and the Center for 17th & 18th Century Studies.  It is a marvelous addition to our collections.