Books
A Look at the Country's Only Touring Black Rodeo
The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo has helped validate and redefine the largely untold story of Black cowboys and cowgirls in the American West.
chronicle books
Art
The Ceaseless Optimism of Woody Guthrie’s Activist Life
Somehow, the poisonous American anger that swirled around Guthrie never corrupted that innate creative optimism. Empathy was his reliable muse.
Books
Julia Morgan, California’s First Licensed Female Architect
A new biography looks at the largely forgotten architect who executed more than 700 building projects in California, including the Hearst Castle.
Books
25 Years of Pixar’s Vibrant, Emotional Color Palettes
Revised and expanded, The Art of Pixar gathers color scripts from the studio’s short and feature films, mapping out the emotional beats of each story in lush hues.
Books
30 Years of the Guerrilla Girls’ Art and Advocacy
As the old saying goes, “If you can’t beat ’em, put on a Halloween mask and publicly indict their terrible record of human rights infractions.”
Books
The Ingenuity and Flair of Chinatown Seniors
We started Chinatown Pretty out of admiration for this overlooked community, for both their fashion blog–worthy outfits and their active and independent lifestyles.
Art
At 96 Years Old, Richard Mayhew Is Still Painting Transportive “Mindscapes”
The American painter was a member of the legendary artist group Spiral and continues to make art every day in his studio in Santa Cruz.
Interview
Classic Paintings Provide the Perfect Backdrop for Feminist Memes About Mansplaining
A conversation with Nicole Tersigni, the comedy writer behind Men to Avoid in Art and Life, which compiles feminist memes that poke fun at the exhausting tradition of mansplaining.
Books
Mary Cassatt’s Independent, Feminist Spirit
“If the world is to be saved, it will be the women who save it,” said the American Impressionist, who led a headstrong life as a woman abroad.
Art
The Enduring Allure of Pencils
Sometimes affection sprouts up in unexpected forms. Sometimes a core of graphite mixed with clay and encased in a tube of wood can surprise you. It hooked me, anyway.
Books
Ruth Asawa’s Life and Legacy, in Both Art and Education
Marilyn Chase’s new biography sheds light on Asawa’s contributions to San Francisco’s public schools and its artistic community at large.
Books
Lorna Simpson’s Glowing Collages of Women and Heads of Hair
The artist's collages feature portraits of women cut from advertisements, their tresses painted and collaged into pools of color that spread onto the page like oil spills.