This is a glimpse into my most favorite bookstore....Arcana Books. It is located on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California and it is incredible!!!! I remember a number of years ago seeing the Eva Hesse retrospective at the Tate Modern and having a "must have" moment and calling Arcana, from London, for the catalogue of the show.....it was in NYC by the time I got home, and I even stopped in Paris!!! I also must admit that the store is in my iphone and has been in all of it's predecessor's as well!!! I cannot imagine not being able to attach at a moment's notice! When I was living in Aspen, Arcana was on my speed dial....books were being delivered sometimes daily! Another fond memory was trying to make an impression on a "date" and having an obscure photography book delivered after I went back to New York... it was very impressive and I scored a few points, but no second date!!!!
Celebrating it's 25 birthday this year, Arcana, the world's premier visual bookstore, is owned by Lee Kaplan. It's the last of a dying bred, an independent bookstore! It celebrates the arts.....art, design, architecture, photography, fashion, music, and cinema. It's sort of a secret society where artists, art collectors, film folk, and fashionistas find rare, new, and out of print books resting side by side. In addition to the store, Arcana is in the process of listing it's inventory on line. But, there really is nothing like browsing this book mecca in person! I seem to get there at least three times during any one trip to Los Angeles! It is a MUST for collectors of every kind...books, art, photography...anything that says ART!!!!
"Arcana specializes in catalogue raisonnes, artists monographs, photography, modern art and most notably a locked-glass of hard-to-find collectables. The store is filled wall-to-wall, but is lovingly well-organized and attended by a friendly, knowledgeable staff." -Alex Worman , Artnet
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