This pocket-sized book contains a collection of two dozen letters all commissioned from established artists to a fictitious "young artist," a recent art-school graduate who is struggling with the moral and practical implications of being an artist in New York. The "young artist" asked a selection of his heroes, "Is it possible to maintain one's integrity and freedom of thought and still participate in the art world?" Responding artists--including Gregory Amenoff, Jo Baer, John Baldessari, Jimmie Durham, Joan Jonas, Adrian Piper, William Pope Lawrence Weiner and Richard Tuttle--wrote back with advice. The essays demonstrate a level of reality about the world, work, and thinking of professional artists rarely offered to young people who are more likely to be drawn by the allure of art and the artistic life. A great read for anyone interested in pursuing art of any kind, literary or material, “The letters,” as one reader put it, “are inspiring for any creative person…” and the book “is very portable so its perfectly suited for opening when a moment of doubt creeps into the mind while in the studio.”
