Set against the backdrop of Northwest life, this sequel follows Tom and Katie as they embark on thrilling salt-water adventures aboard their family's newly inherited 58-foot trawler. The story promises excitement and exploration as the siblings navigate the challenges and wonders of their maritime journey.
In this thrilling conclusion to the Stellar Woods trilogy, Tom and Katie Morrison embark on a perilous journey to uncover the mystery surrounding their mentor's disappearance. As they navigate treacherous landscapes and face formidable challenges, the siblings confront their fears and strengthen their bond. The story weaves together themes of loyalty, courage, and the quest for truth, culminating in a gripping finale that reveals the depths of their determination and the impact of their choices.
The story follows young teenagers Tom and Katie Morrison as they relocate to a new city, initially dreading the prospect of boredom and isolation. Instead, their experience takes a thrilling turn when they receive two peculiar going-away gifts and discover a mysterious forest, leading them on an extraordinary adventure filled with unexpected twists and wonders that challenge their understanding of reality.
Acquiring contemporary art is about passion and lust, but it is also about branding, about the back story that comes with the art, about the relationship of money and status, and, sometimes, about celebrity. The Supermodel and the Brillo Box follows Don Thompson's 2008 bestseller The $12 Million Stuffed Shark and offers a further journey of discovery into what the Crash of 2008 did to the art market and the changing methods that the major auction houses and dealerships have implemented since then. It describes what happened to that market after the economic implosion following the collapse of Lehman Brothers and offers insights and art-world tales from dealers, auction houses, and former executives of each, from New York and London to Abu Dhabi and Beijing. It begins with the story of a wax, trophy-style, nude upper-body sculpture of supermodel Stephanie Seymour by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, which sold for $2.4 million to New York über-collector and private dealer Jose Mugrabi, and recounts the story of a wooden Brillo box that sold for $722,500. The Supermodel and the Brillo Box looks at the increasing dominance of Christie's, Sotheby's, and a few über dealers; the hundreds of millions of new museums coming up in cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Beijing; the growing importance of the digital art world; and the shrinking role of the mainstream gallery.
Why would a smart New York investment banker pay twelve million dollars for the decaying, stuffed carcass of a shark? By what alchemy does Jackson Pollock's drip painting No. 5 1948 sell for $140 million? 'The $12 Million Dollar Stuffed Shark is the first book to look at the economics of the modern art world, and the marketing strategies that power the market to produce such astronomical prices. Don Thompson talks to auction houses, dealers, and collectors to find out the source of Charles Saatchi's Midas touch, and how far a gallery like White Cube has contributed to Damien Hirst becoming one of the highest-earning artists in the world.
A fascinating explanation, through the field of behavioural economics, for the phenomena that is behind the incredible value of contemporary art.
Don Thompson is a native of the southern San Joaquin Valley where he has lived most of his life, writing about its unique environment. In From Here On: Four Sunday Drives, he revives an old tradition, documenting road trips to nearby farmland, the foothills, and to the Sierras. Thompson reflects on the passing of time and the deterioration and abuse of the land. Even in the outlying areas reached only on back roads, there is evidence of vandalism and violence. And yet the landscape he loves somehow endures.
Don Thompson was born in Bakersfield, CA, in 1942, and has spent most of his life in Kern County. He has been publishing poetry since the early sixties, including over a dozen books and chapbooks. Back Roads won the 2008 Sunken Garden Prize. He was the subject of an LA Times profile, "Planted in the San Joaquin." More recently, A San Joaquin Almanac won the Eric Hoffer Award for chapbooks in 2021. He and his wife, Chris, live on her family's farm near Buttonwillow in a house that has been home to four generations. In 2016 he was selected as the first Poet Laureate of Kern County.
This classical and rare work has been preserved by Alpha Editions to ensure its significance endures for future generations. The book has been meticulously reformatted, retyped, and designed, providing a clear and readable text that is not a mere scan of the original. It serves as an essential resource throughout human history, reflecting its enduring importance.
The collection features a range of jokes that Don Thompson has cherished and shared over the years, inspired by his fond memories of visiting his uncle's barber shop. Following his uncle's passing, Thompson was prompted by his sister to share one of their beloved jokes during the funeral, highlighting the deep connection humor holds in their family. This book serves as a tribute to that bond, offering readers a delightful assortment of jokes that reflect Thompson's lifelong passion for humor.