Rich and Poor, 25 Years Later

In 2005, Paul Schiek stumbled into Jim Goldberg’s undergraduate class at California College of the Arts, knowing little about his professor’s vast oeuvre. Since that time, a lot has happened. The two have become dear friends, and recently — professional collaborators. Schiek’s Oakland-based independent book publishing company TBW Books has just published the first ever re-print of Goldberg’s landmark book Rich and Poor, twenty-five years after its original run. Made in 1985, the book is an equally poignant and devastating look into class extremism in San Francisco. Picturing subjects in their respective homes and having them hand-write personal statements underneath their black and white portraits, Goldberg’s project broke ground with what a photography book could look like and hope to accomplish. Rich and Poor is a powerful force, as meaningful now as it has ever been.

These photographs show Jim Goldberg and Paul Schiek in the process of readying the personalized editions. First, in Goldberg’s studio in San Francisco’s Mission district as he hand signs each colophon, followed by Schiek working in his TBW Books office in Oakland. These two men have a meaningful relationship, as specific to each other as it is to place; both remain deeply committed to the Bay Area arts community, to which this product is a profound testament.

The limited edition set of Rich and Poor has 300 copy run features 10 postcards, a poster, and a signed colophon. Additionally TBW Book’s 3rd annual quarterly subscription series, featuring the work of Mark Steinmetz, Elaine Stocki, Dru Donovan and Katy Grannan, will be released this week. For more information visit tbwbooks.com.