The Artbook Shelf
MWBOOKREVW
Charles Bragg
Alan Bisbort
Pomegranate
Box 6099, Rohnert Park, CA 94927
0-7649-1028-0 $60.00
This new celebration of modern artist Bragg features his diverse paintings,
etchings and sculptures found in public and private collections around the
world. This packs in over a hundred color plates and an excellent biographical
and artistic overview of his works and techniques. Highly recommended to any
Bragg fan and many a newcomer.
Twin Palms Publishers
Box 10229, Santa Fe, NM 87504-1022
Mark Morrisroe (0-944092-62-4 $60.00) is a unique blend of biography and art
which captures Morrisroe's 'cut throat' attitude and rebellious expressions in
photos and paintings. The harsh side of his personality and his astute
observations of self and society are explored in a series of mostly wordless,
often startling pictures. William Eggleston 2 1/4 (70-5 $60.00) presents
full-page color photos of signs and contemporary urban images. His captures the
stark realities of life and modern society and presents a fine hosting of
modern photo forms.
Lema Publications/Seven Hills, Dist.
1531 Tremont St., Cincinnati, OH 45214
Two excellent Jose M. Parramon 'Practical Course in Watercolors' and
'Techniques & Exercises' guides for newcomers provide precise, step-by-step
instructions for those seeking to learn a new medium. Diverse Subjects Step By
Step (84-95323-08-7), Materials & Techniques (09-5) and Techniques & Color
(10-9) each provide excellent coverages ($16.95 Each) with full-color
illustrations in each and plenty of step-by-step exercises. His 'Techniques &
Exercises' series ($18.95 each) include Pastel Painting (96-2), Watercolor
Painting Flowers (97-0) and Mixed Media (95-4), providing an abundance of
examples and exercises to help newcomers learn professional-style techniques.
Both series are outstanding introductions, highly recommended.
St. Petersburg: Hidden Interiors
Katya Galitzine
Vendome Press
1370 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10019
0-86565-209-0 $50.00
This visual tour of St. Petersburg's fine attractions reveals interiors from
all periods of its history, from lesser-known sites such as the Russian
National Library to those which have received more attention. Photographer
Leonid Bogdanov has taken shots especially for this book: many are full-page
displays, and all provide special views of Russian interiors dating from all
periods of Russian history. This lavish title will delight both fans of Russian
history and students of interior design.
Pin-Up Poster Books
Max Allan Collins
Collectors Press, Inc.
PO Box 230986, Portland, OR 97281
1-888054-11-5 $17.95
In the heyday of the pin-up girl, Billy DeVorss offered gorgeous women rich in
color, glamour, fashion, and appeal. With a sincere appreciation of the female
form and the romantic, artful eye of a painter, DeVorss pin-ups boldly engage
the viewer with confidence, charm, and grace. These were sweethearts, not
hussies, icons of love, not lust. Pin-Up Poster Book: The Billy DeVorss
Collection is a timeless memorial of the golden age of pin-ups now available
for a modern generation to rediscover what their grandfathers knew -- the
inspiring allure of a pretty girl artfully presented.
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St. #210, NY, NY 10010
Steven Heller's Design Literacy Continued (1-58115-035-0, $19.95), an ongoing
survey of graphic design concepts, examines how graphic design works and
impacts the broader culture. Objects which serve as the focus on graphic design
concepts and changes are grouped into collective themes and rang from Zap
comics to art deco and typographic examples. An excellent text survey. Michael
Bierut, et.al. edit Looking Closer 3 (022-9, $18.95), which provides an
anthology of classic writings on graphic design. This is a 'must' for any who
would study the foundations of graphic design theory: it's the first to gather
early critical writings from the turn of the century to modern times, grouping
rare essays under one cover. Thomas McEvilley's Sculpture In The Age Of Doubt
(023-7, $24.95) examines 20th century sculpture with an eye to considering the
major issues surrounding modern styles and choices. This is the only modern
critical work to examine the evolution of Modern sculpture's styles from early
works to contemporary representations.
Yale University Press
Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520
Dorothy Kosinski's Artist And The Camera: Degas To Picasso (0-300-08168-5,
$45.00) explores the ways in which influential artists from the period put a
new medium to use in painting and sculpture. This accompanies a traveling
exhibition but stands alone as a solid survey of artistic explorations at the
end of the 29th and beginning of the 20th centuries. Julian Chapuis' superb
Tilman Riemenschneider (08162-6, $65.00) covers the master sculptor who worked
during the late Middle Ages, creating fine pieces. He was one of the first to
abandon polychromy: this documents about fifty of his works in an intriguing
new title.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting
literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from
authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on
thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion
groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give
the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.
The Midwest Book Review publishes two monthly book review magazines, "Internet
Bookwatch" and "Children's Bookwatch". Both are available for free on the
Midwest Book Review website at http://www.execpc.com/~mbr/bookwatch/
If you would like to submit a review for inclusion in our Midwest Book Review
publications, please send an email request to m...@execpc.com for our "Reviewer
Guidelines". We invite your comments, questions and suggestions.
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575