CORY REYNOLDS | DATE 9/25/2019

A life dedicated to the material and legacy of the artists he championed in 'Steven Leiber: Catalogs'

Featured image, of Raymond Pettibon flyers produced as dealer catalog 45 (of 52), August 2006, by legendary San Francisco art dealer, collector and gallerist Steven Leiber, is reproduced from from Steven Leiber: Catalogs, launching tonight at Printed Matter. (Panel features Ann Butler, David Platzker and David Leiber with moderation by David Senior; exhibition opens October 10, 2019.) Housed in a kraft envelope, this catalog-cum-edition features 18 inkjet-printed cards and one stick of bubble gum enclosed in a wrapper. Edition of 120. In the amazing book just out from Inventory Press & Rite Editions, Leiber's brother, David, explains in his essay, "In his mid-thirties, my brother Steven Leiber began the production and mailing of The Catalogs, three on average per year, resulting in about fifty publications total. Technically speaking, these publications were sales catalogs; however they became collectibles if you were in the position to comprehend what you were holding in your hands: an artwork playing with the boundaries of art and commerce, the authentic and inauthentic. Steve referred to these objects simply as catalogs… His life was dedicated to the material and legacy of the artists he championed, and his tireless research and knowledge is manifest in every single catalog, which were flawless. He had absolutely no tolerance for inaccurate information, not even a typo. He did not make mistakes. Being able to work in a clear-headed manner, efficiently and flawlessly, required a daily ritualistic, albeit modest, routine: getting up early to communicate with Europe, a brisk, long walk in the fresh air, an espresso at Peet’s, a punctual and quick lunch in the neighborhood, more short phone calls, a walk to the post office, a home cooked dinner with an excellent glass of wine, and early to bed. My brother was endowed with unusual clarity and focus. He thought things through, and his catalogs became the perfect vehicle to synthesize his knowledge and passion into a creative expression." To understand the full scope of the experimentation and support of radical artists making radical work, you'll have to read the book. It's not something you can just condense. Too authentic, too cool. Who is doing this today?