In time to coincide with a gallery show in San Francisco, this is Dave Eggers' first collection of drawings. Most of these works are of unusual mammals, most often accompanied by slogans with
ancient, heroic, or just plain odd overtones. A combination of large-sized (11” x 17”) prints and an accompanying booklet, this package appeals to fans of Eggers’ prose, as well as
enthusiasts of the still-evolving genre of art that combines drawings and off-kilter text, as championed by Raymond Pettibon and Tucker Nichols. This book echoes questions posed by Eggers in
McSweeney's Issue 27: What is the line between a doodle, a cartoon, a gag, and a work of fine art? Does it seem, sometimes, that the artist is defacing his or her own work by adding
text? Is loose draftsmanship appealing, in that it’s intimate and disarming? Is absurdity more appealing when it comes across as humble?
