I've updated the BOOKS & PRINT page to include the following: Ballyhoo! Posters as Portraiture.
Wendy Wick Reaves' book features Amsel's portrait of Bette Midler prominently on the cover, and is an interesting look at the Smithsonian's extensive collection, crossed with a narrative of the poster as an art form. While the Midler portrait is the only one of Amsel's works to be featured, it's certainly worthy of mention to Amsel fans.
Reaves does make an unforgivable mistake, however, in listing the legendary APOCALYPSE NOW poster as the work of an "unidentified artist" -- when Bob Peak's very signature is clearly visible on the poster itself!
(It reminds me of the time Maya Foo, a researcher at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, rather stupidly referred to THE STING as a sequel to BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID in her recorded lecture; one would think that Smithsonian academics would do a little more research into their subjects...but I guess we're all only human.)
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute, 2008. Softcover, 160 pages, approx. 6.5 x 9". Color and B&W images.
