Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel
D.A.P, 2012
Hardcover, 264 pages, $70

The artistic collaboration between Larry Sultan (1946-2009), longtime member of CCA's Photography faculty, and Mike Mandel began in 1972. Over 30 years they created 20 photographic projects, including the landmark book Evidence; exhibitions; the film JPL; three public commissions; and 12 billboard series displayed throughout California and the continental U.S. They evolved a seemingly authorless style; most of their works adapted found imagery from archives or from popular media, neutralizing the intended commercial or documentary content by uncovering and emphasizing the inherent banality. This substantial overview surveys Sultan and Mandel's three-decade collaboration. Five critical essays provide valuable insights.