Benjamin Rinehart ~ New York

My Own Way
By Benjamin Rinehart
2004. Edition of 15.

4.25 x 4.25" digital prints in square flexagon with envelope.

Benjamin Rinehart: "Many of these artist books have been completed in the past eight years. My primary focus has been to speak about my dating experiences in a rural and large urban environment. I used family and past lovers as a catalyst for the images reflecting my role in and outside of the gay community."

In this work by Rinehart, we see images of a boy with his first dress and a child desperate for privacy to those of a man accepting himself.
$30

Sissy
By Benjamin Rinehart
2004. Edition of 15.

6.25 x 4.5" with 22 pages. Digital book with flat-back cover.

"'sissy', was a child that grew up in the midwest who strove for
acceptance from everyone at the expense of personal happiness. with adulthood came understanding. this book is a response to the struggles of embracing differences and transforming insecurity into strength. children are often not given choices in how they pursue sex and sexual orientation. sissy deserved options." [From the preface, punctuation as it appears in the
text.]

This digital book with flat-back cover juxtaposes water color images of Rinehart's niece and nude males. Single words – "companion," "needy," "frustrated," "weakling," "ignored," etc. – bind the images together forming a new narrative, questioning the idea of "sissy." The title comes from a nickname Rinehart and his niece shared while growing up, a nickname that has also served as a derogatory term for gay men.
$250

Fairy-Mones
By Benjamin Rinehart
2002. Edition of 40

4 x 8" copier book. Cover in black & white with interior copies on pink pages. Stapled binding. Signed by Rinehart.

A representation of an average week as a single homosexual man. With disclaimer from artist "Keep in mind that this is a typical week. it does not take into account lunar cycles, planetary anomalies or spacial distortions. Plan your week accordingly."

Each day is represented by a single scene that includes a ghost image of the previous day and minimal text: Rinehart with earphones "SUN 15:45 / tune out * content"; Rinehart starting out a window "MON 19:15 / anticipation voyeur"; Rinehart preparing to mouth a phallic looking nipple "TUE 11:23 / self love * edgy".
$15

Ticket Licket
By Benjamin Rinehart
2001. Edition of 60.

5.5 x 10”. Comprised of six reductive woodcut images. Encased in a printed bound portfolio.

The original idea came from raffle tickets, where the purchaser would "keep the stub" to see what they had won. The main focus of the portfolio is about dating in a large urban environment versus a rural upbringing. Rinehart used family and past lovers as a catalyst for the images. The numbers were derived from telephone numbers previously occupied by him.

Benjamin Rinehart: "Each print is two-sided or two-faced, consistent with the bitter yet interesting relationships I have encountered in various parts of the country."
$550.