The art criticism of the painter David Humphrey merits an anthology. But neither Humphrey nor Periscope wanted to present his writing as archival documents from 1990 to 2008. We decided it would be more innovative to treat the texts as the starting point for a book that acknowledges and extends the connections between Humphrey's studio practice and his criticism. The outcome is Blind Handshake. It foregrounds the social life surrounding contemporary art-the practices and gestures, the dialogues and monologues that determine its place in the world. Organized thematically, the book considers Coupling Dramas, Unknowable Others, Collective Solitudes, Prosthetic Selves, and Good Liars. Artists drawn into the action include Richard Prince, Chris Ofili, Lucien Freud, Mamma Anderson, Tony Oursler, John Currin, Mary Heilmann, Catherine Murphy, and Amy Sillman. The book's designer Geoff Kaplan employed aspects of graphic novels, magazine layouts, and art monographs in translating the writing and illustrations into a mutant creature. Introductions by Chris Kraus and Alexi Worth provide contexts for understanding the book's presentation of the turbulent intersubjectivity that pervades contemporary art. AUTHOR: David Humphrey Has exhibited his art throughout the United States and curated several shows in New York City. He is a recipient of the Rome Prize and a Senior Critic at the Yale School of Art. His art criticism has appeared in Art in America, Art issues, among other publications. ILLUSTRATIONS 176 colour images *

When 10-year-old James Pittar started having trouble seeing at night he could never have predicted that within a decade, his vision would be all but gone. For a kid that dreamed of representing his country, it was a hard blow. And for most people, it would have spelled the end of that dream. But not for James. Just a few months shy of his thirtieth birthday, James did what no blind person has ever done before – he swam the English Channel. It signalled a shift in his mindset – from that point onwards, he would never think of himself as the underdog. He would learn that disability is only a barrier if you let it be. James is incredibly generous in sharing his experiences and emotions, and it’s hard not to be drawn in as he takes us on a personal journey through his childhood, the loss of vision in his teens, the decision not to let it define him, and his continual dedication to growth and self-improvement throughout his life. Blind Vision is a fascinating account of a unique and inspiring career in open-water swimming. But more than that, it is a story for anyone that’s ever been told they can’t. James Pittar is living proof that no matter what the odds, with dedication, passion, and the right people around you, you can.

Modern Western culture is saturated with images, imprinting visual standards of concepts such as beauty and femininity onto our collective consciousness. Blindness Through the Looking Glass examines how gender and femininity are performed and experienced in everyday life by women who do not rely on sight as their dominant mode of perception, identifying the multiple senses involved in the formation of gender identity within social interactions. Challenging visuality as the dominant mode to understand gender, social performance, and visual culture, the book offers an ethnographic investigation of blindness (and sight) as a human condition, putting both blindness and vision “on display” by discussing people’s auditory, tactile, and olfactory experiences as well as vision and sight, and by exploring ways that individuals perform blindness and “sightedness” in their everyday lives. Based on in-depth interviews with 40 blind women in Israel and anthropological fieldwork, the book investigates the social construction and daily experience of blindness in a range of domains. Uniquely, the book brings together blind symbolism with the everyday experiences of blind and sighted individuals, joining in mutual conversation the fields of disability studies, visual culture, anthropology of the senses, and gender studies.

Homicide detective Nan Vining finds her world rocked when a murder investigation becomes chillingly personal in this hard-edged thriller for fans of Patricia Cornwell, Tana French, and Lisa Gardner. In a breathtaking infinity pool on a sprawling Pasadena estate, the naked body of a beautiful young woman floats facedown in a drift of rose petals blowing on the breeze. Police sergeant Jim Kissick responds instantly, pulling the dead victim from the water. When his longtime girlfriend, Detective Nan Vining, arrives on-scene, she’s full of questions, and not just about the Jane Doe. Why did the homeowner text Jim instead of calling 911? Jim’s explanation—that he’s simply an old friend of Teddy and Rebecca Sexton’s—doesn’t sit well with Nan. A survivor of a bizarre murder attempt herself, Nan’s instincts for deception are acute. She senses that they’re all hiding something—including Jim, which plunges a wedge deep into their once steadfast relationship. Then a drought-ravaged lake in a bucolic Central California town reveals a grisly secret. Soon two local detectives arrive in Pasadena to interview Jim and his wealthy friends about a mysterious death from years back, and Nan realizes she has good reasons for her suspicions. Jim’s always been her rock, but suddenly he’s become a stranger. And once Nan identifies her Jane Doe, events careen out of control as darkness from the past threatens to consume the life that Nan has worked so hard to rebuild. Look for all of Dianne Emley’s riveting Nan Vining Mysteries: THE FIRST CUT | CUT TO THE QUICK | THE DEEPEST CUT | LOVE KILLS | KILLING SECRETS | LYING BLIND “The First Cut should immediately establish Dianne Emley in the front ranks of thriller writers.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Michael Connelly “Stunningly good! The First Cut hurtles the reader down a razor’s edge of suspense to the final, shattering end.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner “Emley masterfully twists, turns, and shocks.”—New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen, on Love Kills “Killing Secrets is diabolically good, a top-notch murder mystery. Nan Vining is a heroine you’ll love.”—New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan Praise for Lying Blind “Another first-rate police procedure that follows the investigations led by the strong, dedicated, and very sharp Detective Nan Vining.”—Kings River Life “Boasting a wonderful cast of characters and engaging dialogue, this book kept me enraptured from beginning to end.”—Dru’s Book Musings “[Dianne] Emley once again continues to deftly bring Vining to life in a way that rings true.”—Elizabeth A. White Book Reviews “Fans of plucky heroines will enjoy this.”—Littoral Librarian “Another phenomenal installment to this series! . . . There were many twists and surprises in this novel that kept me guessing right up until the shocking ending!”—Red Wine and Books

A young girl is missing, and her only hope is a blind woman who can see through her eyes... Eight-year-old Phaedra Burns has been kidnapped by a madman who believes her sacrifice will assuage his rage. Olivia Howe knows that rage; sixteen years ago, she escaped his clutches. The psychological trauma stole her sight but gave her something in return: a psychic connection to abducted children. Now, that connection is Phaedra’s only hope, if Olivia can face the terrors of her past — and an inescapable new nightmare. Phaedra’s kidnapping is the case that could push Detective Max Callahan over the edge. Especially when his key witness — or suspect — is a beautiful blind woman with a crazy claim. But her fragile beauty isn’t the only thing that draws him to her. And as their lives and passion twist together, a killer stalks their every move. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "The plotline of paranormal mystery, Now You See Me [Blindsight], is similar to many other thrillers of this ilk, but its sensitive characterizations and incisive descriptions separate it from the pack. ... Wainscott cleverly keeps the suspense rolling by introducing a handful of red herrings and penning a number of chilling close calls and near encounters. Though Wainscott hasn't yet reached the popularity of Kay Hooper or Lisa Jackson, this intoxicating thriller is on par with those authors' best works." – Publishers Weekly ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “TOP PICK! ... Wonderfully drawn suspense that is gritty, chilling and frighteningly eerie. Author Tina Wainscott has really found her niche!” - Romantic Times Bookclub Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Incredible! I could not put this book down. It caught me from page one and REFUSED to let me go until the very end. Author Tina Wainscott has the shining talent of being able to combine the genre of "thriller" with the genre of "romance" and somehow make it work! Once again, Tina Wainscott delivers a heart-stopping story that will make many readers stay awake reading long into the night! – Huntress Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The plot has more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and the suspense just keeps building. Readers will be on the edge of their seats for most of this white-knuckle thriller. With characters and a story you'll remember long after the last page is turned, NOW YOU SEE ME [Blindsight] is a strong contender for the best romantic suspense book of the year.” ~ Susan Lantz, newandusedbooks.com

Check over your shoulder before you peek inside the pages of Top Secret - you're about to learn the secrets of some of the sneakiest spies around! Follow the footsteps of famous spies through the ages to reveal their use of physical devices to cover their tracks and the inventive gadgets available at the time - including night vision goggles and bugging devices hidden in plants and cocktail olives - then see the best disguises and secret identities of crafty secret agents.