MBR: The Art Shelf
Midwest Book Review
James R. Dabbert, et al.
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
0252073789 $29.95 www.press.uillinois.edu 1-800-545-4703
The Indian Dunes Revealed: The Art Of Frank V. Dudley is written and
edited by James R. Dabbert (Senior Lecturer in English, Illinois
Institute of Technology, Chicago) with the assistance of J. Ronald
Engle (Professor of Social Ethics, Meadville Theological School of
Lombard College), Joan Gibb Engel (an activist and writer on Dunes
ecology), i9ndependent art historian Wendy Grennhouse , and William H.
Gerdts (Professor Emeritus of Art History at the Graduate School of the
City University of New York). Frank V. Dudley (1868-1957) was a native
of Wisconsin who studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and eventually
established a long exhibition record while dedicated more than forty
years of his professional life as a landscape painter to the promotion
and preservation of the Indiana Dunes - a unique geographical region
enjoying state and federal protection while providing ecologists with a
unique and truly 'living laboratory' for their studies. "The Indiana
Dunes" is a team project that superbly showcases Dudley's life and work
including 150 color reproductions of his paintings and another 70
black-and-white images. Because of the continual conflict between
development and preservation over the decades, some of Dudley's
paintings are the only record we have left of lost dunescapes. Also
available in a hardcover edition (0252031393, $60.00), "The Indiana
Dunes Revealed" is a splendid addition to academic library American Art
History collections, and particularly recommended for supplemental
reading lists in the areas of environmental studies and American
Midwestern history.
Roman Singer
Gerhard Mack, Paula van den Bosch, Jeremy Millar
Phaidon Press
180 Varick Street, 14th floor, New York, NY 10014
0714844454, $39.95, www.phaidon.com
The collaborative work of architecture critic Gerhard Mack, Paula van
den Bosch (Curator of Contemporary Art at Bonnefantunmuseum,
Maastrict), and the artist, critic and curator Jeremy Millar, "Roman
Singer" offers the reader an extended monograph covering the life and
work of the Swiss artist and sculptor Roman Signer who is bet known for
creating events in ;which simple materials such as rockets, balloons,
and rushing water react with natural forces to create surprising
lyrical and artistic results. The informed and informative text
featuring an interview by Paula van den Bosch with Roman Signer,
Gerhard Mack's discussion of the recurrent motifs and major themes in
Signer's works, and a 1984 interview revealing Signer's attitude
towards the danger inherit in his approach to (and involvement with)
some of his projects is superbly enhanced with ninety color and 40 b/w
illustrations. "Roman Singer" offers insightful reading into the man
and his work, making it a welcome and important addition to personal,
professional, and academic library collections of Art History,
Contemporary Art & Artists, and Art Criticism.
Godard: Don't Drink & Draw
Enfantino Publishing
c/o Publisher Design Group, Inc.
PO Box 27, Roseville, Ca 95678
1929170227, PB, $34.95; 1929170238, HC, $79.95;
www.lpublisherdeisgn.com
Michael Godard is a contemporary American artist who arose from a
troubled childhood to be enjoy celebrity, patronage and friendship with
fans and collectors that include Chris Angel, Gloria Estafan, Cristina
Applegate, Ozzy Osbourne, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jay Leno, Vince Neil,
and so many others. "Godard: Don't Drink & Draw" is a biographical
showcase of more than 250 original paintings and drawings, as well as
numerous special projects for celebrities and rock stars. Now fans can
learn how Godard was able to achieve 'rock-star-of-the-art-world'
status while dealing with censorship, rejection, insult and poverty.
"Godard: Don't Drink & Draw" is a 'must' for all Godard fans, as well
as a welcome and highly recommended addition to academic and community
library American Art History reference collections and supplemental
reading lists.
Toppers and Flappers: The Art of Russell Patterson
Shane Glines and Alex Chun, editors
Fantagraphics Books
7563 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
156097737X $19.95 www.fantagraphics.com
Toppers and Flappers: The Art of Russell Patterson is a snazzy
coffee-table artbook featuring the 1920's and 30's magazine cartoons of
Russell Patterson. Most illustrations are in black-and-white; some are
color reproduction of magazine covers; nearly all feature the stylish
"flapper" women of the era engaged in a wide variety of poses and
activities, from reading tabloids on a bus to engaging in archery for
the sake of showing off medieval costumes. The text introduces the
reader to the mood of the era and Patterson's life and career, but most
of Toppers and Flappers is dedicated to the vivacious, cutting,
sometimes slightly lewd, and always eye-catching images themselves.
Highly recommended for period piece artbook collections.
Great Women Of The Bible In Art And Literature
Dorothee Soelle & Joe H. Kirchberger
Fortress Press
c/o Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
0800635574, $29.00, www.fortresspress.com
Benefitting from the professional art direction of Anne-Marie Schniper
and an informative Foreword by herbert Haag, "Great Women Of The Bible
In Art And Literature" by Dorothee Soelle (Professor of Theology, Union
Theological Seminary, New York City) and historian Joe H. Kirchberger,
offers and showcases biographical synopsis of the stories of the eleven
women named in the bible, and one referred to only as the 'Woman with
the Ointment', as represented in literature and art over the centuries.
The women include Eve and Lilith (Adam's first wife referred to in
Judaic commentaries on the Torah), Sara and Hagar, Tamar, Ruth the
Moabit, Abigail, Judith, Esther, Mary and Martha, and Mary of Magdala.
Enhanced with a bibliography, and a listing of literary sources, "Great
Women Of The Bible In Art And Literature" offers an informed and
informative text based upon biblical and non-biblical sources, along
with superb paintings and visual images - perhaps the most unusual of
which is a depiction of Lilith taken from a Persian amulet. A simply
beautiful book from beginning to end, "Great Women Of The Bible In Art
And Literature" is especially recommended for personal, church,
seminary, and academic library collections - and would make an
especially appropriate selection as a community library "Memorial Fund"
acquisition.
Basquiat
Marc Mayer, Editor
Merrell
49 W. 24th St., 8th Flr, New York NY 10010
1848943612 $29.95 www.merrellpublishers.com
Jean-Michel Basquiat was born in 1960 in New York and never reached age
30, but his short and controversial career created a distinct and
influential style in modern art and here is celebrated in BASQUIAT, a
full-color display of his graffiti-inspired street art. From religious
symbolism to inner city influences, BASQUIAT gathers and examines all
the works of his eight-year career under one cover in a retrospective
important for any modern art library collection.
After Lewis & Clark
Gary Allen Hood
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
0806199598 $24.95 www.oupress.com
AFTER LEWIS & CLARK: THE FORCES OF CHANGE, 1806-1871 may look like
another history coverage, but it's much more: it features over sixty
drawings, paintings and prints from the Gilcrease Museum in Oklahoma,
and the works of artists who accompanied the explorers to capture
history in the making. Early landscapes, pivotal moments, and the works
of notable American artists are presented in full color to display
forts, Native Americans, and countryside alike.
The Best American Comics
Harvey Pekar, Guest Ed
Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
0618718745 $22.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
While The Best American Comics represents the newest addition to a
best-selling 'best' series, it's a fine pick for any interested in all
kinds of comics, whether they be newspaper, magazine, or pamphlets, and
stands well alone for all kinds of readers. Harvey Pekar, guest editor,
has written graphic novels and created an Oscar-nominated film, while
the series editor Anne Elizabeth Moore has numerous editing awards to
her name. Black and white and color comics alike are profiled from all
kinds of artistic sources.
Tiffany By Design
Nina Gray
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
0764324845 $19.95 www.schifferbooks.com
Eight color photos do more than display Tiffany lamps, as other titles
do: they have been polled from thousands of lamps with hundreds of
designs to show the differences in shade patterns and complexity. A
lovely display of colors and patterns is accompanied by clear
description and artistic and collector value insights. "Tiffany By
Design" is an outstanding reference and a welcome addition to personal,
professional, academic, and community library Antiques & Collectibles
reference collections.
Pen & Ink With Watercolor
George Olson
North Light Books/F&W Publications
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1581807546 $19.99 www.fwpubs.com
Learn how to draw using a crow quill pen and India ink, and through the
instruction of an artist who shows not just pen and ink techniques, but
how to enhance these with watercolor. Most books on the topic provide
an overview of a daunting array of artists' tools; but this uses a
minimum of specialized equipment and offers up an easy program for
getting started in inking and watercolor. Exercises teach the basics
and provide twelve step-by-step illustrated demonstrations covering
landscapes, interiors, nature and architecture alike.
The Best of Draw! V. 2
Bret Blevins, et.al.
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
1893905586 $17.95 www.twomorrows.com
If you missed the sold-out issues to DRAW! Numbers 3 and 4, now's your
chance to scoop up the highlights in the collection of lessons in The
Best of Draw! V. 2. It provides tutorials and interviews with some of
the top names in graphic art, covering everything from penciling and
inking techniques to composing action figures and coloring. Black and
white and color examples throughout enhance and reinforce the lessons.
Selling Art 101
Robert Regis Dvorak
ArtNetwork
Box 1360, Nevada City, CA 95959
0940899868 $22.95 www.artmarketing.com
SELLING ART 101: THE ART OF CREATIVE SELLING deserves ongoing
recommendation as one of the few art marketing titles to cover all the
details needed to sell art. What differentiates this from other 'how to
sell titles'? Chapters cover studio selling, topics specific to
appealing to art buyers, taking notes during conversations discussing
needs, and more, offering sidebars of first-person insights to
supplement art-specific selling ideas.
Celebrating Freedom: The Art of Willie Birch
David S. Reubin & Leslie King-Hammond
Hudson Hills Press
Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254-9911
1555952658 $50.00 www.hudsonhills.com
Willie Birch has captured the New Orleans atmosphere through his art
since 1997, documenting the Afro-American culture with large drawings
that capture people, culture, dress codes and everyday habits. This
monograph features his works in full color, offering a full page for
each picture and adding commentary as well as an interview with the
artist. The works are from 1968-2004 and accompany a traveling
exhibition - but since the show probably won't reach many, this
catalog offers up the next best thing: a rich compendium of images
representative of Birch's style.
Soviet Textiles: Designing The Modern Utopia
Pamela Jill Kachurin
MFA Publications
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-5597
0878467033 $24.95 www.mfa.org
Between 1927 and 1933 a rare experiment in textile making took place in
the Soviet Union, with political changes encouraging a group of
designers to create thematic textile designs which mass-produced
symbols of modernity for the average person -- symbols intended to
encourage the ideal soviet citizen idea. While the experiment failed,
the artistic results of the idea linger in bold and different designs
now chronicled in SOVIET TEXTILES. Color photos of textiles accompany
social, political and artistic history.
Media Facades
Ag4 Mediatecture Company
DAAB
7 E. 14 St. Suite 17-Z, New York, NY 10003
3937718974 $29.95 www.daab-online.com
How can media façade concepts translate to LEDs and be useful for
business art purposes? MEDIA FACADES delves into the topic, providing
both a technical and social survey of media facades and backing the
printed word with a cd of pictures and movies of media facades. From
interactive and reactive programming choices to examples of
architectural strengths, this bilingual (no English) survey provides an
excellent introduction for college-level students.
Drawing & Painting Fantasy Landscapes & Cityscapes
Rob Alexander
Barron's
250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764132601 $21.99 www.barronseduc.com
Fantasy enthusiasts and artists who would create their own cities and
worlds will learn much from Rob Alexander, a working illustrator who
has moved between games and collectible card game markets to magazine
art. He's known for his fantasy and science fiction works as well as
for landscapes and fine art, and Drawing & Painting Fantasy Landscapes
& Cityscapes combines all his talents, packing in color examples
throughout to help with fine drawings of fine art works. An outstanding
'how to' guide any aspiring fantasy artist can learn from.
Green Design
Buzz Poole, Editor
Mark Batty, Publisher
202 W. 40th, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10018-1504
0976224585 $34.95 www.markbattypublisher.com
Recycled art and green games, toys, fabrics, energy and more are
revealed in a range of images and ideas gracing GREEN DESIGN, a survey
which crosses categories and could be recommended not just for those
involved in the arts, but for consumers and energy-conscious homeowners
as well. Here are designs which promote and teach sustainability in all
areas: designs which candidly assess common problems of 'green' design
and in many cases offer solutions. Color photos of products accompany
explanations of what makes them 'greener' than their competitors.
Alaska Native Art
Susan W. Fair
University of Alaska Press
Box 856240, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6240
1889963798 $65.00 www.uaf.edu
ALASKA NATIVE ART: TRADITION, INNOVATION, CONTINUITY examines and
presents the best of Native Alaska artists of modern times, covering
beadwork and jewelry, basketry, and skin sewing examples from a range
of Alaskan Native cultures and traditions. Color photos of both artists
and works accompany rich discussions that survey not just techniques
but cultural history and artist perspective, making ALASKA NATIVE ART
one of the best on its topic.
Art Nouveau Ironwork
Federico Santi & John Gacher
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310-9717
0764324365 $49.95 www.schifferbooks.com
ART NOUVEAU IRONWORK OF AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY uses some five hundred
color photos to capture the rich examples of Art Nouveau ironwork to be
found in an array of business and residential districts throughout
Budapest and Vienna. These display balconies, lanterns, gates, doorways
and more, providing not only artistic color shots but explaining the
details, decorations, and embellishments of the ironwork objects. An
excellent history and an outstanding survey of ironwork art covers a
region given little attention elsewhere.
My Love Affair With Modern Art
Katharine Kuh
Avis Berman, Editor
Arcade Publishing
141 Fifth Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010
1559707690 $27.50 www.arcadepub.com
In the 1930s interest in modern art was low - but Katharine Kuh
opened a gallery in Chicago anyway, exhibiting many then-obscure
artists form Paul Klee to Ansel Adams and Marc Chagall. Her passion for
modern art fostered their careers and led to a world-wide
revitalization of interest, documented here in a blend of modern art
history and autobiography. Her friend Avis Berman, a art historian,
edited her writings for this book after Kuh's death: it provides a
moving memoir of a life in the art world at a time when her artists'
visionary works weren't widely recognized.
The Painted Desert
Scott Thybony
University of Arizona Press
355 S. Euclid Avenue #103, Tucson, AZ 85719
0816524807 $14.95 www.uapress.arizona.edu
Arizona's Painted Desert area is not only overlooked by most tourists
because of its inhospitable terrain and difficulty of access, but has
received relatively little mention - so any who would understand the
region must have THE PAINTED DESERT: LAND OF WIND AND STONE in their
collection. Black and white photos of the landscape by David Edwards
accompany a first-person survey of the author and photographer's
encounters in the area.
Indian Painting
Joan Cummins
MFA Publications
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
0878467041 $50.00 www.mfapublications.org
Over a hundred examples of Indian painting history and styles, in full
color, grace the pages of INDIAN PAINTING FROM CAVE TEMPLES TO THE
COLONIAL PERIOD, a far-reaching survey of illustrations selected for
their ability to reach the non-artist, non-Indian-specialist viewer. A
history of Indian painting styles and trends covers scriptures,
music-inspired images, and historical renditions while full-page color
selections liberally dose almost every page. Over a hundred works from
the MFA's holdings make for an exceptional presentation.
Explorations Along an Imaginary Coastline
Martha Casanave
Hudson Hills Press
Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254-9911
155595278X www.hudsonhills.com
Martha Casanave had always been an indoor photographer before this
book, living on the central California coast among landscape
photographer friends and colleagues. She shot indoor portraits of
friends and people - until six years ago she was invited to take her
camera to the ocean, beginning a long-term love affair with the
coastline, here reflected in a series of black and white photos. The
full-page black and white studies capture artistic elements of the
coastline and are a pick for any college-level art collection strong in
landscape works.
Prestel
900 Broadway #603, New York, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
Ruth Hanisch's ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS! ARCHITECTURE AND FASHION
(3791335219) draws designers and architects under one cover to survey
their influences on retail merchandising. Fashion stores are the focus
here, with pages of interior color photos accompanied by essays delving
into the new functions - and new display requirements - of modern
buildings, which often houses fashion showroom, haute couture salon,
and design studios alike. Fashion manufacturing can be dirty and need
special surroundings, too: fashion's varying and changing needs are the
focus. Oliver Herwig and Florian Helzherr's DREAM WORLDS: ARCHITECTURE
AND ENVIRONMENT (3791332201) offers up the concept of architecture as
entertainment within itself, surveying a history of such architectural
entertainments from ancient Rome to future visions. From
entertainment-housing structures and malls to entire entertainment
cities such as Las Vegas, chapters cover resorts, theme parks,
amusement centers and more.
The Domestic Architecture of Benjamin Henry Latrobe
Michael W. Fazio & Patrick A. Snadon
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801881048 $75.00 www.press.jhu.edu
College-level architectural collections serious about their in-depth
coverage will want to look at the weighty The Domestic Architecture of
Benjamin Henry Latrobe. It catalogs all of Latrobe's domestic
commissions from interiors to exteriors, and even includes analysis of
his training and career in both England and Europe, his design
principles, and his methods. Analytical essays accompany sketches and
vintage black and white photos, surveying changes in his thinking and
approach, considering his contemporaries and influences, and examining
the preservation of his structures. A comprehensive 'must' for any
serious college-level architectural history holding.
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Midwest Book Review
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