LaPorte, Indiana by Jason Bitner

Catherine LaFrance chronicled the LaPorte, Indiana book-signing party at B&J's American Café week for the LaPorte Herald-Argus.  She reports:

The photos echo a time in LaPorte history that seems far away, but Bitner said the spirit of those photos still exists since so many people have remained in the area.

Bitner also spent time at LaPorte High School Friday morning to talk about the book and his career path.

“It was fun to talk to the high school. But I haven’t been awake at 9 a.m. in years,” he said with a laugh.

We'll have more on the book-signing party soon!

The April 19th edition of G2, The Guardian's daily supplement, ran an "In Pictures" feature on LaPorte, Indiana.   Jason Bitner talks about the town's energetic response to the book and summarizes the excitement by saying, "This kind of response speaks volumes about what kind of community LaPorte, Indiana, still is today." 

Thanks to our friends at The Guardian UK - we're glad the interest in LaPorte, Indiana is global!

   

Lindsay Robertson, who is guest-blogging over at Jane Magazine's blog, had some good words for Laporte, Indiana.  Here's a taste:

I got on the crowded train at rush hour and found a seat and started from the beginning. Within about a minute, I was frantically searching my bag for a tissue for the tears streaming down my face ... I don't want to over-describe it because I think each person will take something different away from this book, but it's an experience--looking at these people's faces you see the inherent dignity of every person who has ever lived or ever will live on earth. (How's that for some heavy praise?)

To read it in-full, check it out here at Jane Mag's Blog.

There were some reviews over the weekend from a couple of the biggest, baddest blogs in the blogosphere!  First, here is what David Pescovitz from BoingBoing had to say:

When I first found FOUND Magazine several years ago, I was absolutely delighted. Every issue is packed with bizarre found stuff like love letters, nasty notes left on cars, to-do lists, homework assignments, doodles, photos, etc. FOUND co-founder Jason Bitner recently found a find so amazing that he created a wonderful book about it. I can't recommend LaPorte, Indiana highly enough for fans of photography, ephemera, or curiosities. Looking at these anonymous people is deeply moving.

Check out Pescovitz's full BoingBoing review here.

Next we have Chantal Stone's thoughtful review from Blogcritics.  From her review:

Jason Bitner, of Found Magazine, makes a living collecting the things we leave behind, and compiling them for all to see. Lost love letters, a to-do list, a note from an angry neighbor have all found their way into Bitner's Found Magazine. This time, instead of gathering the snippets of memories and messages left behind, Bitner has compiled a wonderful collection of lives, a veritable diary of a small American town… More than a collection of old photographs, LaPorte, Indiana has given the world a glimpse into our own collective history. This is bigger than just LaPorte,. . . this is America, your family, your neighbors. This book evokes a feeling of nostalgia and holds a piece of all of us back in time, when our collective  consciousness told us all things were possible. Jason Bitner has given us the glorious gift of time standing still.

Get Chantal's full review here.

Book Release Party!

Friday April 21st
Book signing: noon - 2pm
Book release party: 5 - 9pm
B & J's American Cafe
607 Lincolnway in La Porte, Indiana

Come celebrate with Jason Bitner, John and Billie Pappas, Frank's granddaughter Jari, and dozens of LaPorteans who appear in the pages of the book. We're thrilled to bring a reunion to the diner, just downstairs  from the old MuralCraft studios.

Book Signing at Intuit

For those of you in and around the Chicagoland area, Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art hosts a book signing for Jason Bitner on April 27th at 6:00 pm.  Drop on by - we'd love to see you all!  Check out the event info here.

Bitner sat down with  Steve Edwards, host of the Eight Forty-Eight show on Chicago's WBEZ, to talk about LaPorte, Indiana.  Download an MP3 of the program, "Images of LaPorte," Indiana, here !

Pease Silhouettes from Herald-Argus!

An alert and helpful reader, Jan Regnier, sent us a copy of a Frank Pease ad from an old LaPorte Herald-Argus - two young high school seniors in silhouette!  We love seeing this kind of stuff; if you have something like this, please don't hesitate sending it in to us at info@laportebook.com.