Library Launches Information Skills Resource for the GSA Community

InfosmART is the GSA Library’s online interactive course in information and research skills. If you have ever struggled with writing bibliographies, conducting literature reviews, finding information, or referencing sources, then InfosmART is for you!

• Learn how to select your sources and define your keywords.
• Learn how to search your sources quickly and effectively.
• Learn how to evaluate the information you find for currency, relevance, accuracy and methodology.
• Learn how to cite the information you find as references and bibliographies in your own work.

You can find InfosmART under Students Services or Staff Services on the VLE.
Link: http://vle.gsa.ac.uk

Visible Body

The Visible Body, presented by Argosy Publishing, features a complete, searchable, online and fully interactive 3D human anatomy model, and detailed models of all body systems. Detailed, anatomically accurate, three-dimensional models of more than 1,700 anatomical structures are available, including all major organs and body systems. The models were developed by experienced medical illustrators and experts in biomedical visualisation, and the content has been reviewed for accuracy by physicians and anatomists. It is free to use the system but registration is required. The Visible Body is aimed at students, instructors and health professionals, and a tutorial gives advice on using the system, but could potentially be used to support life drawing classes. The system permits searching and locating of anatomical structures by name, and zooming, rotating, hiding and other interactivity with representations of anatomical components.
via JISC RSC.
Link: http://www.visiblebody.com/start
Access: Free

Free Music Archive

The Free Music Archive provides high-quality, music in a wide range of genres at no cost, with all content offered under creative commons licenses. The New York State Music Fund provided initial finance for FMA which seeks to maintain a high-quality resource through the use of selected curators who approve or deny all submissions to the collection. Anyone can download music from the site for educational use in podcasts, videos, and other digital presentation formats. The music collections can be searched by genre or by curator.
via JISC RSC.
Link: http://freemusicarchive.org/
Access: Free

Radical Small-Press Writing

Eclipse is a “free online archive focusing on digital facsimiles of the most radical small-press writing from the last quarter century”. The extensive archive can be browsed by title or author, and items may be read online (as scanned images in TIF format) or downloaded in PDF format. Each item is usually accompanied by very short biographical and contextual details.
via UCL Library Services.
Link: http://english.utah.edu/eclipse/
Access: Free

British Film Institute on YouTube

The British Film Institute has over 200 films from its archives available on YouTube. Films can be browsed individually or by topics such as London on film, sport in Britain, and Britain in the 1920s.
via UCL Library Services.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/user/BFIfilms
Access: Free

Kiddie Records Weekly

Kiddie Records Weekly is devoted to the golden age of American children’s records, spanning the mid forties through the early fifties. Scanned covers are accompanied by the music and stories which can be streamed or downloaded.
via UCL Library Services.
Link: http://www.kiddierecords.com/
Access: Free

Carol Ann Duffy

In recognition of the recent appointment of Carol Ann Duffy as the first female, and Scottish, Poet Laureate, the Library has just purchased copies of her poetry volumes The World's Wife, Mean Time, and Rapture, as well as her volume of poetry for children The Hat. You can find Carol Ann Duffy's work in the Library's Fiction Collection.

Peter Docter MP4

Pete Docter, the director of the Disney/Pixar movie UP, is one of the top creative figures in contemporary animation. He directed Monsters, Inc. and was a writer for Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and Wall-E. Docter spoke at a Museum of the Moving Image event following a preview screening for the Museum's new family member group Red Carpet Kids. The discussion includes questions from some of the young children in the audience. The event took place just days after Docter returned from France, where UP became the first animated movie to open the Cannes Film Festival.
Link: http://www.movingimagesource.us/dialogues
Access: Free

Big Picture Magazine

The Big Picture is the new visually-focussed free film magazine from Intellect publishers that goes beyond the borders of the screen to reveal cinema's unique power to entertain, inspire and connect to each and every one of us. In this latest issue you will find special features about 'The Face on Screen' and 'Mobile Cinemas in Africa' among our regular sections such as 'On Location', which this issue focuses on Berlin and 'One Shot', which discusses Hitchcock's Psycho.
Link: http://thebigpicturemagazine.com/
Access: Free

Geffrye Museum Collections

The Geffrye Museum has just launched a new searchable online archive, providing access to an increasing number of paintings, furniture and furnishings, ceramics, glass, ephemera and decorative ornaments. Other online resources from the Geffrye include their e-learning facility, Walk Through a Victorian House, which has encouraged children to explore both the domestic life and layout of a Victorian home in London since launching last year.
Link: http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk/collections/search-the-collections/
Access: Free

Etsy Videos

Etsy, the online marketplace for all things hand-crafted, now features a series of videos of artists showing demonstrating the processes involved in making their work. The videos can be streamed online, subscribed to in iTunes, or downloaded for iPod in MP4 format.
Link: http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/tags/process-video/
Access: Free

Fantastical Headdresses

Fantastical headdresses taken from 'Ouvrage Rare et Nouveau Contenant Plusieurs Desseins de Marveilleuse Recreation sous Diverses Caprices et Gentilesses', sourced from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Via Bibliodyssey.
Link: http://tinyurl.com/pbxc44
Access: Free

Materials Science Journals Now Available

Students, staff and researchers at GSA now have access to a number of cutting-edge science and materials publications from the Institute of Physics. These publications, which include titles such as Nonlinearity, Physiological Measurement, and Nanotechnology present extremely high quality cutting edge research. All titles are indexed in the Library Catalogue with links provided.
Link: http://www.iop.org/EJ/
Access: Free on campus only

Children's Books in GSA Library 2

A lot of beautiful and innovative illustration is currently going on in the area of children's picture books, with a number of high profile publishers and galleries publishing artist and designer-led kids publications. Here's a few we've added to the GSA Library collections recently. You'll find them at 741.083

Akira in GSA Library

The complete 6 volumes of the iconic Akira is now available in GSA Library.
From master storyteller Katsuhiro Otomo, Akira was the epic work that introduced the West to the stylised and sweeping artform of manga. This post-apocalyptic saga, set in the remains of Neo-Tokyo, charts the coming of the creature known only as Akira, a power both feared and prized for its potential to shake the recovering world. Caught in a power play between factions of a brutal military organisation, Kaneda - young, restless, committed to defying authority - and Ryu, the leader of an underground movement, are pulled into an escalating nightmare, built around a group of psychically powered children.

Vintage Matchbox Covers

Flickr photostream of vintage matchbox covers.
Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maraid/sets/72157594234429063/
Access: Free

Old Photos of Japan

Old Photos of Japan shows photos of Japan between the 1860s and 1930s. In 1854, Japan opened its doors to the outside world for the first time in more than 200 years. It set in motion a truly astounding transformation. As fate would have it, photography had just been invented. As the old country vanished and a new one was born, daring photographers took photos. Discover what life was like with their rare and precious photographs of old Japan.
Link: http://oldphotosjapan.com/en/
Access: Free

Angus Fairhurst

As a special feature in issue 20 of their online magazine TateShots, Tate online has provided this video remembering the art and humour of the Young British Artist Angus Fairhurst who died in March 2008. Artists Gavin Turk and Mat Collishaw, as well as Tate Director Nicholas Serota, recall their memories of Fairhurst, an English artist, who worked in installation, photography and video, alongside images of his huge range of work on exhibition at the Arnolfini in Bristol. This video can be viewed online or downloaded as an MP4 on a range of media player software such as iTunes and QuickTime player. A transcript of the commentary is also available.
Link: http://www.tate.org.uk/tateshots/episode.jsp?item=18099
Access: Free

Mantatta by Charles Sheeler and Paul Strand

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (N.Y.) has provided this six-minute film `Manhatta' on their website. Made in 1920 by American artist Charles Sheeler and photographer Paul Strand, this film spans an imaginary day in the life of New York City, and has been described as the first avant-garde film made in America. A link is provided to the poem `Leaves of Grass' by Walt Whitman, on which the film was based. Sheeler exhibited `Manhatta' as both a projected film and as prints from the film strips. Three formats to watch this film are offered: Real Video; QuickTime for broadband and QuickTime for modem.
Link: http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/artists_view/manhatta_main.html
Access: Free

Sporting Sketches

The New York Public Library Digital Gallery website has provided this online copy of `Sporting sketches: consisting of subjects relating to sports...' a collection of 75 prints and drawings by the English painter and engraver Henry Thomas Alken that was originally issued in six parts dating from 1 February 1817 to 2 February 1818. Alken specialised in sporting subjects, working as an illustrator for sporting periodicals. Bibliographic information is provided by clicking on any of the 62 thumbnails of the hand-coloured lithographs, which make up this volume. This collection also includes a volume of 11 of Alken's original pencil and watercolour drawings of birds, horses, deer and other country scenes.
Link: http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/explore/dgexplore.cfm?topic=all&col_id=150
Access: Free

Spanish Civil War Posters

The Spanish Archives Portal (PARES) has made available digital images of more than 2,200 posters of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), physically kept at the Documentation Centre of Historical Memory. Posters were produced by all sides in the war, but due to the historical circumstances in which they were collected, there is a great number of posters confiscated by the military forces of Francisco Franco. These include images produced by: masonic groups; anarchists; socialists; and in general any dissident group which did not conform with the official ideology of Franco's dictatorship. The digital collection has been made available for free, and the user can browse all contents, or search by: author; title; editor; printing press; and date.
Link: http://pares.mcu.es/cartelesGC/
Access: Free

Claremont Fashion Plates

via Bibliodyssey.
Link: http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/05/claremont-fashion-plates.html
Access: Free

New Artangel Website

Link: http://www.artangel.org.uk/
Access: Free

Children's Books in GSA Library 1

A lot of beautiful and innovative illustration is currently going on in the area of children's picture books, with a number of high profile publishers and galleries publishing artist and designer-led kids publications. Here's a few we've added to the GSA Library collections recently. You'll find them at 741.083

German Illustration

The Illuopia blog showcases Patrick Wirbeleit’s collection of German illustration and design before 1980, with a focus on children’s book art.
Link: http://illuopa.blogspot.com/
Access: Free

Spike Jonze Blog

Spike Jonze is a very popular film director among GSA students at the moment. He has just set up a blog up called We Love You So, which documents the inspirations behind the film Where The Wild Things Are.
Link: http://weloveyouso.com/
Access: Free

New Graphic Novels in the Library

The Phantom Band

Many regular users of the Library will recognise our Library Assistant Rick Anthony. Rick's band The Phantom Band has just released their first single under Chemikal Underground, from their critically acclaimed first album. Congrats Rick!
Here's the video:

Chemikal Underground Records TV on MUZU.

Chemistry in Art

Chemistry in Art: A Virtual Art Exhibition is the website that accompanied a special Aesthetics and Visualization in Chemistry 2003 issue of HYLE: International Journal for the Philosophy of Chemistry. This curated website offers a collection of 10 short texts by artists and designers, each accompanied by details of a project, and a project picture gallery. There is also a long interview Between Chemistry and Art featuring curators Tami Spector and David Spalding in conversation.
Link: http://www.hyle.org/art/cia/
Access: Free

Fore-Edge Paintings

This website highlights a special collection of over 200 images of fore-edge paintings which are housed in the Rare Books Department of the Boston Public Library in Massachussetts. Fore-edge painting refers to the process of applying an image to the fanned page block of a book, and if the pages are gilded or marbled, the image disappears when the book is relaxed. There are several useful online videos which demonstrate the process. The items within the collection can be browsed by subject, book title or painting title or searched by general keyword. Each entry contains bibliographic details about the book in question, and an enlargable image of the fore-edge painting. Other features of the website include a selection of articles on the subject of fore-edge painting, written by leading experts in the field, which provide historical and curatorial insight into the subject.
Link: http://foreedge.bpl.org/
Access: Free

Non-Toxic Printmaking

Nontoxicprint.com describes itself as a "research resource and practical guide for printmakers, artists and educators". Created by Friedhard Kiekeben, the resource focuses on disseminating recent research into the alternatives to the toxic hazards of traditional printmaking. The website covers a wide range of printmaking techniques, including intaglio, lithography and screenprinting. Included in the resource are a range of practical instruction manuals, health and safety advice, details of printmaking-related events, book reviews, and selected full-text articles from relevant journals. There are also a number of links to printmaking resources, including printmaking studios and departments, and artists' websites.
Link: http://www.nontoxicprint.com/
Access: Free

Lafayette Photography

This website is entitled `Photographs from the Lafayette Studios' and has been created by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London. This website would be of interested to visual arts students interested in photography and to fashion history students. James Lafayette was a photographer in the late 19th and early 20th century. The database contains over 600 portraits produced by his studios and was developed over 10 years by Russell Harris. It wad donated to the V&A. Some of the people featured in this database include: society ladies, Indian maharajas, actresses and young men with their new cars. One can browse the database by category such as: royalty, military, court dress, religion, weddings, Devonshire House Ball, stage, Asians, Indians, Ethiopians and vehicles. Each image includes details on the sitter, date, photographer and props. The `background' section includes a biography on James Lafayette, an article by the Sunday Times detailing the provenance of the negative collection and the history of the Lafayette studio.
Link: http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1158_lafayette/
Access: Free

Corsets and Swimwear

This is the website of the Symington collection of corsetry, foundation and swimwear, hosted by Leicestershire County Council. W.H. Symington made corsets for fashionable Victorian ladies in the 1850s. One of its most famous products was the Liberty Bodice which was produced for almost seventy years. This website provides information on the collection which was presented to Leicestershire County Council's Museums Service in 1980. The collection contains pieces produced by the Symington company as well as competitor pieces ranging from corsets, bras, foundationwear and children's garments. The period covered is from the late 19th century through to the beginning of the 1990s. Clicking on an image will provide further details about the garment as well as close ups of fastenings, embroidery and even the maker's mark. The website also contains a glossary of terms.
Link: http://tinyurl.com/5fgeu
Access: Free

Dress Up

This is the website for `dress up' an interactive resource for fashion students. The website is part of the project `American Centuries' hosted by the Memorial Hall Museum. Dress up allows users to view clothing and fashions from 1700s till 1900s ranging from womenswear, and menswear to childrenswear. One can view models from different time periods who undress to show the proper clothing layers for that time period. Each stage of dress contains further details about the garment shown which can be read by rolling the cursor over each image.
Link: http://www.memorialhall.mass.edu/activities/dressup/index.html
Access: Free

New England Wallpaper

Explore examples of wallpaper in New England from the 1750s to the 1950s. "The online catalogue describes and illustrates individual samples of wallpaper, historic photographs of wallpaper in situ, and ephemera dealing with the wallpaper industry. There are currently over 4000 records in the database.
Link: http://www.historicnewengland.org/wallpaper/
Access: Free

Smarthistory

Smarthistory is described as an “online art history textbook” and is presented in the form of an interactive timeline. Intended as an alternative to the traditional static Western art history textbook, the aim of the website is to expand the understanding of works of art through recorded conversations, which can be located on the website in the form of podcasts, Flash-based videos, and images. The material is accessible by ‘time’, ’style’, ‘artist’ or ‘theme’.
Via UCL Library
Link: http://smarthistory.org/
Access: Free

Decorated Books

Fine decorated endpapers in two volumes of Edinburgh legal theses. From Edinburgh University Library.
Link: http://www.lib.ed.ac.uk/resources/collections/specdivision/ch200905.shtml
Access: Free

National Library of Scotland Digital Archive

The National Library of Scotland Digital Archive contains thousands of images of complete books, maps, manuscripts, photographs and drarwings. The collection currently includes official photographs from the First World War, the poems of Robert Burns and Soviet Posters 1919-1930. The archive is in the early stages of development and more images will be added over time.
Link: http://digital.nls.uk/
Access: Free

Tate Shots

Issue 21 of TateShots. "In this edition, Dr Who star Christopher Eccleston narrates a story inspired by Dominique Gonzales-Foerster’s recent Turbine Hall commission. We feature a comedy sketch about two avant-garde Constructivist shapes in need of urgent therapy, and we ask an expert forger for his views on the Glenn Brown show at Tate Liverpool. Meanwhile, we take a curator’s tour of Rodchenko & Popova at Tate Modern, meet artist/astronomer Katie Paterson, and talk to collector Anthony d’Offay about the weird and wonderful world of Andy Warhol."
Link: http://www.tate.org.uk/tateshots/issue18620/default.htm
Access: Free

Book Arts Newsletter

The Book Arts Newsletter for May 2009 has just been launched online, with lots of news, views and events in the artists' books world.
Link: http://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/banlists.htm
Access: Free

Tate Papers

The latest issue of Tate Papers has just been published.

Tate Papers publishes scholarly articles relating to Tate's collection and its programmes. Appearing twice a year, the journal aims to reflect new research into the many aspects of the museum’s activities and interests.
Link: http://www.tate.org.uk/research/tateresearch/tatepapers/09spring/
Access: Free

Edwin Morgan Archive

The Edwin Morgan Archive was opened in April at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh. It was collected over a period of thirty years by Hamish Whyte, Edwin Morgan's friend, publisher and biographer. The Archive represents the most significant and accessible collection of his work in print and other media, vividly illustrating the breadth and variety of his writing, his publishing career, and its context, decade by decade. Handwritten corrections and notes made by Morgan in the published texts, give an illuminating insight into the mind of the poet. For students of publishing and graphic design, the Edwin Morgan Archive also gives an insight into changing publishing trends in the UK, from hand-production in the 50s, to xeroxing in the 60s, to digitisation in the 80s, 90s and beyond.
Link: http://www.edwinmorgan.spl.org.uk/
Access: Free

Artist Book News

The April issue of Artist Book News is now available for anyone to view or download.
Link: http://www.artistbooknews.com/abnews.htm
Access: Free

Seb Lester

Series of fonts, types and animates by designer Seb Lester.
Link: http://www.seblester.co.uk/
Access: Free

E A Seguy

A collection of Art Nouveau designs by E A Seguy, courtesy of Bibliosyssey.
Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bibliodyssey/sets/72157617289206750/
Access: Free

Archive Adventures

The Whitechapel Art Gallery has just launched a new interactive exhibit Archive Adventures.
"Take an historical journey through East London with an interactive timeline and see how children from local schools have created their own archives, recording their adventures to the past, present and future."
Link: http://www.whitechapel.org/archiveadventures/
Access: Free