Esther Pearl Watson’s Unlovable Exhibit & Book Debut

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery presents Esther Pearl Watson’s UNLOVABLE art exhibition and book launch on Saturday, February 7.

UNLOVABLE

With Valentine’s sentiments in mind, Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery in Seattle is pleased to present UNLOVABLE, an exhibition of original art and book launch celebration by Esther Pearl Watson on Saturday, February 7 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.  Watson’s visual interpretations of the diary entries of teenager Tammy Pierce will resonate with everyone once afflicted by the eccentricities of adolescent isolation, unrequited love, and other torments of teen angst. The revealing narrative of the protagonist is perfectly suited to the artist’s endearing and empathetic renderings.

{product_snapshot:id=1546,true,false,true,left}Los Angeles-based artist Esther Pearl Watson has exhibited work in prestigious galleries throughout the U. S. and Canada. Her recent paintings are currently featured in a solo exhibition, “Visions of the Future,” at Billy Shire Fine Arts in Los Angeles. She is author of The Adventures of Jules and Gertie (Harcourt Children’s Books, 1999) and The Pain Tree and Other Teenage Angst-Ridden Poetry (Houghton Mifflin, 2000). Watson is co-author of What'Cha Mean, What’s a Zine? (Houghton Mifflin, 2006) with her artist husband Mark Todd. Her latest book, UNLOVABLE, published by Seattle-based Fantagraphics Books, is loosely based on a teenager’s diary from 1985 found in a gas-station bathroom, detailing the sometimes ordinary, sometimes humiliating, often poignant and frequently hilarious exploits of underdog Tammy Pierce. Laurie Henzel, creative director at Bust magazine, which serialized portions of the book, observes, “No matter how cool or smart you may be as a grown up, I think there is a little Tammy in all of us.”

Esther Pearl Watson’s first exhibition in Seattle will include original drawings related to the book, which will debut at the event on February 7. The artist will be present to sign copies of the book. Musical entertainment will be provided by Rusty Willoughby, performing a solo serenade arranged for the occasion. Willoughby, currently fronting Llama and a former member of seminal Seattle bands Pure Joy and Flop, has countless recordings on Sub Pop, Frontier, Sony Music and other labels.

Please join us on Saturday, February 7 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM to welcome this remarkable artist to Seattle. The exhibition remains on view through March 4, 2009. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S. Vale Street (at the corner of Airport Way S.) in Seattle’s Georgetown arts community. Phone 206.658.0110. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM.

A selection of imagery in a variety of formats is available for publication. For additional information contact Eric Reynolds at Fantagraphics.

Listing Information

Esther Pearl Watson
UNLOVABLE
Art Exhibition and Book Signing
Saturday, February 7, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Serenade by Rusty Willoughby
Exhibition continues through March 4, 2009

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery
1201 S. Vale Street (at Airport Way S.)
Seattle, WA 206.658.0110
Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM
www.fantagraphics.com/bookstore

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