Grand Canyon Inc. by Percival Everett, artwork Untitled (Original Cowboy) by Richard Prince
(Author) Percival Everett'Percival Everett’s Grand Canyon, Inc. relates the tragicomic tale of crack rifle shot Winchell Nathaniel “Rhino” Tanner; his sidekick Simpson Trane, aka BB (named for the BB pellet lodged inextricably in his skull); and their battle to “acquire” the Grand Canyon by constructing an amusement park on Plateau Point. Matched with an artwork by Richard Prince, the publication is part of Gagosian’s Picture Books, an imprint conceived by author Emma Cline and dedicated to publishing fiction by leading authors alongside contributions by celebrated contemporary artists. Prince’s photograph, Untitled (Original Cowboy), which depicts the sandstone buttes of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park on the Arizona-Utah border, sees the artist continue his long engagement with the iconography of the American West. For this series, instead of rephotographing and manipulating images clipped from magazine advertisements, as he has done before, Prince visited the area to seek out quintessential viewpoints established by preceding photographers. “Prince is so wily and wry, in ways that echo Everett,” says Emma Cline. “They are both tricksters who take a sideways look at the mythology of the West and reveal it anew.”'--Publisher description.
Percival Everett
Percival Everett is an American writer known for his diverse body of work that includes novels, poetry, and short stories. He is known for his experimental and genre-defying writing style that often challenges conventional narrative structures and explores themes of race, identity, and language.
Some of his most notable works include "Erasure," a satirical novel that critiques the publishing industry and explores issues of race and representation, and "I Am Not Sidney Poitier," a comedic novel that follows the misadventures of a young black man named Not Sidney Poitier.
Everett's contributions to literature include his exploration of complex and nuanced characters, his use of humor and satire to address serious social issues, and his willingness to push the boundaries of traditional storytelling.
His impact on the literary genre can be seen in his ability to blur the lines between genres, blend literary forms, and challenge readers' expectations. One of his most famous works, "Erasure," has been praised for its sharp social commentary and inventive narrative structure.
Overall, Percival Everett's work is characterized by its intelligence, wit, and willingness to confront difficult truths, making him a unique and influential voice in contemporary literature.
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