Have you ever become familiar with a band or artist or writer and suddenly they’re everywhere? You wonder: Is this person or group ubiquitous because of their success or prolificacy or their connections within a certain industry? Or are they simply more on your radar? Quite often it’s a combination of both-their hard work and your heightened awareness.
Over the course of the past year, Nieves Books has captured my interest, but I’ve discovered that this independent publishing house doesn’t just seem like it’s everywhere-it really is. Although the tiny press is based in Zurich, Switzerland, Nieves zines and artist books can be found on shelves and tables all over the globe-at fairs and exhibitions, in bookstores and museums. Publisher and Editor in Chief Benjamin Sommerhalder could indeed be described as successful, prolific, and well-connected-just examine the Nieves backlist and incredible roster of artists, and that becomes clear. But while these things have helped put his DIY publishing endeavors on the map, it’s his creativity and craftsmanship that have kept them there.
Sommerhalder, who has a graphic design background, founded Nieves in 2001. He and friend Lex Trüb wanted to combine distribution of their magazines, Zoo and 100. Their focus quickly shifted from magazines to zines and then eventually to books. Today, Nieves is pretty much a one-man publishing operation, although Sommerhalder receives help from Marco Verladi, who handles press, and Norina Allemann, who takes care of distribution.
The fact that Nieves is run by such a small staff is all the more amazing when you consider the range and timeliness of the zines and books they publish. Often Nieves will release a publication concurrent with an artist’s exhibition or project debut, as was recently the case with a book of Rita Ackermann’s painting and collage called Under Pressure from 2006-2007, which corresponded with her work appearing in the Whitney Biennial (on display at New York’s Whitney Museum until June 1st, 2008). Another newly released book contains photographs and the original script from Mister Lonely, the first film in eight years from controversial writer/director/producer Harmony Korine, starring David Blaine, Samantha Morton, Diego Luna, and Werner Herzog. The film has been on the festival circuit since late 2007 and was released last month in the UK.
Occasionally, Nieves publications take an archival approach, as with Kim Gordon’s Chronicles, Volumes 1 and 2, which-via photographs, drawings, paintings, and collage-capture moments in her long (and still-productive) career as an artist and musician. Meanwhile, Ad Rock, a book by photographer Ari Marcopoulos, presents a black-and-white portrait of the multifaceted Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz at work, at home, and at play.
Fans of people like Korine and Gordon will enjoy exploring connections between the artists’ more widely known forms of expression (film/music, etc.) and these thoughtfully crafted print objects. But Nieves books don’t just expand upon, compile, or distill the work that artists have released elsewhere and in other forms; they also stand alone as artistic pieces. Take, for example, a book called Fireworks by Los Angeles-based artist Mike Mills: It’s 20 pages of beautiful color popping, pooling, and exploding over stark grey backgrounds. Then there’s Monster Dice, by another L.A. artist Geoff McFetridge, which isn’t a book at all, but a decorative cube made of European oak, laser etched with drawings of unthreatening-looking monsters. Together, the various sides of the cube tell a story conceived of by McFetridge and his four-year-old daughter. (And as further proof that this is a real piece of art, one of these limited edition monster die will set you back $25o. But not to worry-if that’s outside your budget, Nieves also sells a variety of the artist’s zines.)
When I asked Sommerhalder how he selects what artists to publish, he explained that the artists’ work has to touch his heart somehow, while at the same time fitting into the Nieves catalogue. Lucky for readers, art appreciators, and zine collectors, what happens to touch his heart is the art and aesthetic of some of today’s most groundbreaking talents: Chris Johanson, Jo Jackson, Daniel Johnston, Thurston Moore, and Wesley Willis (the legendary Chicago-based artist who passed away in 2003), to name a few. Forthcoming publications include a book by Swiss artist David Chieppo, additional work by Ari Marcopoulous, and more zines.
Nieves publications are available through the website or in U.S. stores like Golden Age in Chicago, Printed Matter in New York City, Ooga Booga in Los Angeles, and Domy in Houston. If you’ve never checked out the work of this enterprising independent publisher, then do yourself a favor and put some quality zines and books on your shelves and the excellent Nieves on your radar.
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