MBR: The Art Shelf
Midwest Book Review
Lissa Hunter
Abby Johnston
Upala Press
265 Stevens Avenue, Suite 1, Portland, MA 04103
1929565143 $55.00 www.upalapress.com
Beautifully illustrated throughout, Lissa Hunter: Histories Real And
Imagined by Abby Johnston focuses upon an impressive collection of
eclectic pieces created in a multitude of images by the unique artistry
of Lissa Hunter. Presenting 228 pages of full-color pictures and
creative graphic arts, Lissa Hunter: Histories Real And Imagined
details the amazing style and imagery of Hunter's most intriguing and
tangible works throughout the collective life of her career. A welcome
addition to any personal, academic, or community Art History
collections, Lissa Hunter: Histories Real And Imagined is very strongly
recommended for readers searching for documented compendium of images
and commentary for Lissa Hunter's unique and definitive artistic style.
Henri Matisse
Olivier Berggruen & Max Hollein
Prestel
575 Prospect St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
3791334735 $19.95 www.prestel.com
Compiled and co-edited by art historians Oliver Berggruen and Max
Hollein, Henri Matisse: Drawing With Scissors, Masterpieces From The
Late Years is a compilation of learned essays on the work of the great
artist after age-related illness, which confining him either to his bed
or a wheel chair, would no longer permit him to paint, so Mattise took
up cutting out colored paper patterns and having his assistants mount
them in special patterns under his guidance (often from his wheel
chair). The profusely illustrated essays include "Jazz: Rhythm and
Meaning (Margret Stuffmann); "Painting with Scissors: Jazz and Verve"
(Michael Anthonioz); "Drafts for Publications and Maquettes" (Ingrid
Pfeiffer); "Decoration beyond Decoration" (Remi Labrusse); "Resonance
and Depth in Matisse's Paper Cut-Outs" (Olivier Berggruen); "The
Windows in the Chapel of the Rosary in Vence" (Ingrid Pfeiffer);
"Philodenros" (Hannes Bohringer); and "Painting alone remains full of
adventure - Matisse's Cut-Outs as an Inspiration for Nicolas de Stael,
Ellsworth Kelly and Andy Warhol" (Gunda Luyken). A superb guide, Henri
Matisse is very strongly recommended addition to personal and academic
library Art History reference collections is enhanced with the
inclusion of an informative foreword by Max Hollein and Olivier
Berggruen, an extensive biography of Mattise, a list of illustrated
works, and a selected bibliography for further study.
Nine Lives
Karen Smith
Scalo/Prestel Publishing
900 Broadway, #603, NY, NY 10003
3039390368 $45.00 www.scalo.com
Nine Lives: The Birth Of Avant-Garde Art In New China by Karen Smith
(an acknowledged expert in avant-garde art and art history) is a
profusely illustrated, 453-page, in-depth mapping of the history of
modern or avant-garde art in China since around 1993 to the present.
Providing readers with a detailed and historically accurate depiction
of the progression of contemporary art and artistic cultural diversity
in mainland China, Nine Lives impressively compiles and references the
paintings, photography, visual and dimensional arts, all within the
framework of a clear and concise history of China's social and
political culture, ultimately resulting in an the unexpected transition
to contemporary art. A seminal work of impressive scholarship and a
core addition to academic library Art History reference collections,
Nine Lives is very recommended and rewarding reading, especially for
students of Chinese culture and modern societal landmarks as reflected
through Chinese art, politics, social activism, and modern artistic
symbolism.
Life Lessons
Sherry Chayat
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Ave, Syracuse, NY 13210
www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu
0815608179 $34.95 1-800-365-8929
Now in its second edition, Life Lessons: The Art Of Jerome Witkin
presents the insight of award-winning art critic and author Sherry
Chayat into the marvelous oil paintings of artist and fine arts
professor Jerome Witkin. Numerous illustrations of Witkin's oil
paintings, many of which are in full color, reveal his passion for
human figures in a variety of situations from mundane life to
fantastic, otherworldly dialogues. The extensive text scrutinizes the
history of individual artworks as well as common themes to Witkin's
creations, which balance upon the fine line between contemporary
realism and the nuances of artistic license. A highly recommended and
welcome contribution to artbook and art history shelves.
DAAB
Friesentr. 50, d-50670 Cologne
$18.95 Each www.daab-online.de www.amazon.com
Collectors of erotic art or college-level art libraries strong in
erotic art must have three powerful new collections by modern
photographers. Jochen Arndt's MASAKO (393771829X) features both black
and white and color photos of women both half-clothed and nude. The
interplay between whimsical, fun shots and serious artistic photos
makes for a diverse, eye-catching collection. Pierre Thomas Karkau's
COLOROTIC (3937718311) provides a colorful set of erotic shots with
more interplays between male and female subjects. While there are
mostly individual shots, some group photos add diversity and interest.
Christian Crisbasan's DIGITAL SESSIONS (3937718303) provides black and
white and yellow-tinted artistic shots of semi-dressed women and
individual models. Very different women in all three presentations;
very different approaches to capturing the female nude. Get all three
for the maximum effect contrasting artist approach to the nude subject.
Seeing Things
Jim Woodring
Fantagraphics
7563 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
1560976489 $22.95 www.fantagraphics.com
Jim Woodring's charcoal drawings are images that come from his interest
in hidden worlds and lucid art - and SEEING THINGS gathers some of
the most intriguing, arranging them in sections by topic: Visible
World, Lazy Robinson, Frogs and Color. 'Color' by far seems the most
exciting, dramatizing the drawings and providing eye-catching
involvement in the symbolism of the unseen - while the black and
white charcoal drawings might appeal most to artists who find color
distracting. With its blends of surrealism and irony, SEEING THINGS
invites viewers to observe in a different light.
Designing and Printing Textiles
June Fish
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
1861267762 $50.00 www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
>From ideas to finished, polished products, DESIGNING AND PRINT TEXTILES
is for any textile artist who would understand how to hone a range of
images and then translate them to textile form. Don't expect just a
progressive 'how to' here, though instructions are such when necessary:
also included as background history of surface-pattern design, analysis
of pattern structures, tips on using experimental methods of working
from paper onto fabric, and details on equipment and techniques for
different dying and printing processes. June Fish is the senior dye
tech at London's St. Martins College for Art and Design, so her
insights and resources come from a practicing professional.
Feng Shui: A Practical Guide For Architects & Designers
Vincent M. Smith & Barbara Lyons, AIA
Kaplan Publishing
30 S. Wacker Drive, #2500, Chicago, IL 60606
1419535706 $39.95 www.kaplanpublishing.com
Feng Shui expert Vincent M. Smith works with architect Barbara Lyons
Stewart to produce the first book written for design pros interested in
practical applications of Feng Shui. Here are basic principles tailored
not for the new age consumer but for the practicing architect who wants
to build them and hard-wire them into structures. From learning which
designs reduce stress and increase productivity to using feng shui
concepts for selecting initial building sites for homes or businesses,
FENG SHUI: A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS is not to be
missed.
Art by Committee
Charna Halpern
Meriwether Publishing
PO Box 7710, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-3557
1566081122 $22.95 www.meriwether.com
Author Charna Halpern's work with co-creator of long-form improvisation
with partner Del Close changed the nature of improvisational comedy, so
her ART BY COMMITTEE: A GUIDE TO ADVANCED IMPROVISATION comes from the
horse's mouth, with a tone of authority few others could equal. While
written with young adults in mind, ART BY COMMITTEE is featured here
for tips any aspiring actor would welcome; from staying in character
and understanding the visual nature of improv to moving from improv to
writing. Halpern's experiences with Del Close and other industry
visionaries lends to a blend of advice and insight accompanied by a DVD
of performances by improv groups and interviews with leading industry
artists.
The Paris Opera Ballet
Ivor Guest
Princeton Book Company
614 Route 130, Hightstown NJ 08520-0831
1852731095 $39.95 www.dancehorizons.com
The Paris Opera ballet is well known as the cradle of ballet, but few
may realize it began as a theatre art form in 1669. THE PARIS OPERA
BALLET traces three centuries of dance, presenting the author's some 60
years of research. Chapters could easily have been dry and imposing
with such a past to cover, but instead blend avid scholarship with a
light tone and numerous black and white photos and vintage drawings on
many pages. From its promotion strategies to decades of change, THE
PARIS OPERA BALLET details ballet's response as an art form to social
and political pressures and changes.
Journey With Art Afar
Master Au-Ho-Nien; Phylis Lan Lin, Editor
University of Indianapolis
1400 E. Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46227
0880938587 $35.00 www.uindy.edu/universitypress
The University of Indianapolis and its Asian Programs established the
Au Ho-Nien Museum in 2004, and JOURNEY WITH ART FROM AFAR represents
both a catalog of holdings and a highlight of the artwork of Master Au
Ho-Nien - indeed, it's the theme for the museum and its holdings. The
delicate, lovely Chinese paintings by Master Au reflects Chinese scenes
and traditions in a series of watercolors which are treated here with
full-page, gorgeous representation. Any fan of Chinese nature art must
have this catalog.
Mark Batty Publishers
6050 Boulevard East #2H, West New York, NJ 07093]
www.markbattypublisher.com
Where else can you find over 200 examples of Arabic typography than in
Mourad Boutros' ARABIC FOR DESIGNERS (0976224550, $24.95), an
illustrated primer for any designer who needs to know how to work with
the Arabic character set for graphic design results. 'Esoteric' you
might think? Not so: as the business world moves into a global
position, the Arab world so enters the spotlight, requiring a thorough
knowledge of Arabic sets and blends of Western and Arabic designs.
ARABIC FOR DESIGNERS will prove the working 'bible' for any involved in
business design. Reza Abedini and Hans Wolbers' NEW VISUAL CULTURE OF
MODERN IRAN (0977282724, $49.95) profiles some of the best works of
those living and working in today's Iran. We've all seen the TV images
of Iran - but do we really know its culture and art? Not until you
pick up NEW VISUAL CULTURE OF MODERN IRAN, which showcases the graphic
design, illustration and photo industry in a way CNN will never
present.
30 St. Mary Axe
Kenneth Powell
Merrell Publishers
49 West 24th Street, 8th Floor, New York NY 10010
1858943221 $59.95 www.merrellpublishers.com
Since its completion in 2004, 30 St. Mary Axe, known to Londoners as
'The Gherkin', has become a landmark, sporting a curved form in the
heart of London's financial center. But it's so much more: renowned
designers built it in just thirty-three months, and incorporated design
innovations still being remarked upon today. Author Kenneth Powell is a
leading architecture critic and well versed on 30 St. Mary Axe:
chapters cover nearly every stage in the design and building process.
While this book will most likely reach art school holdings and
collections strong in architectural analysis, it also will hold
interest for any collection strong on London history and culture.
Iban Art
Michael Heppell, et.al.
KIT Publishers
c/o Stylus
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
906832540X $70.00 www.stylus.com
To say that IBAN ART: SEXUAL SELECTION AND SEVERED HEADS is a specialty
item is putting it lightly: it's a 'must have' for any college-level
art or cultural collection - and just as likely not a first pick for
general interest public libraries. Michael Heppell spent two years in
Sarawak studying Iban dispute management between 1971 and 1973,
developing insights and a knowledge of Iban history and customs which
are essential for any who would understand regional Asian concerns.
IBAN ART provides fabulous photos of Iban textile designs, beadwork,
carving patterns and more. Iban tattooing is a focus on both human and
material forms and receives much inspection and close analysis. There
is so very little written on the region that IBAN ART is an outstanding
recommendation for any comprehensive Asian collection - and for any
art library seeking a wide representation of other cultures.
Art Czar
Alice Goldfarb Marquis
MFA Publications
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
0878467017 $35.00 www.mfa-publications.org
Clement Greenberg dominated the American art world with his criticism
years ago and is still considered one of the most influential American
art critics of modern times, establishing both artists and movements.
His biography uses unpublished and previously unavailable documents,
interviews, and more to trace his rhetoric, language, involvement in
art, and controversies. It's the surveys of his complex relationships
with friends, rivals and more which give the greatest insights into the
American art world from the 1940s to the 1980s.
Thames & Hudson
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
French photographer Amandine Guisez Gallienne's search for color led
him to the workshops and cities of the world, where he captured
colorful scenes in a series of hundreds of photos, here organized in
color-coded chapters. COLORFUL WORLD'S text (0500285861 $22.50)
explores color's symbolism around the world, drawing important
connections between color and emotional response. An inspirational,
lovely presentation results. Steven Heller and Mirko Ilie's
HANDWRITTEN: EXPRESSIVE LETTERING IN THE DIGITAL AGE (0500285950,
$34.95) is the first title to provide a comprehensive review of
handwritten typographics from around the world. Steven Heller is a
design historian who packs in color examples of handwritten lettering
in modern times: his discussions of what succeeds, what doesn't, and
why provide plenty of insights into options, pros and cons of
handwritten letters and lettering choices, and appropriate packaging
methods.
Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
1-800-451-1741 www.wgpub.com
The revised, expanded of Mark David Gottsegen's PAINTER'S HANDBOOK
(0823034968 $24.95) is a treat for any involved in the arts: it gathers
the latest information on hazardous materials, conservation, painting
techniques and new materials, packing in over a hundred illustrations
and substantially revising information in the original 1993 classic.
Since there's been a lot of changes in the art materials world since
1993, it's essential to have this revised version: chapters even
include the latest thinking about outmoded, possibly harmful supplies
and practices. Tom Bancroft's CREATING CHARACTERS WITH PERSONALITY
(0823023494, $19.95) is all about character design and illustration,
and comes from one who has made his living as a character designer, but
who's never seen a book on the topic. More than just a guide on how to
draw a comic character, Bancroft tackles the underlying question of
drawing to build an entire character personality, using creator
profiles and insights to demonstrate how sketches evolved into
characters with personality. Any comic artist must consider this
essential to creating a character that works.
Language of the Robe
Robert W. Kapoun & Charles J. Lohrmann
Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1423600169 $39.95 www.gibbs-smith.com
Over three hundred photos beautifully spice a history and survey of
pre-World War II Indian trade blankets, revealing not only examples
from the five major manufacturers, but some surprises confronting the
common myth of Native blanket-making. Collectors, textile artists and
Native American history enthusiasts alike receive a thorough survey of
these blankets, how they became a symbol of Native history, and how
they were traded and constructed. From machinery purchases and business
transactions within the manufacturing industry to how tribal customers
directed the Indian trade blanket designs and manufacturing process,
LANGUAGE OF THE ROBE is a fascinating, unusual history.
The Architecture of Warren & Wetmore
Peter Pennoyer & Anne Walker
W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
0393731626 $60.00 1-800-233-4830 www.wwnorton.com
Warren & Wetmore was one of the most successful, busy architectural
practices in the U.S. for the first thirty years of the 20th century,
producing over three hundred public projects from the Grand Central
Terminal to the Hotel Vanderbilt. The firm's blend of classical and
French styles into American practices comes alive in THE ARCHITECTURE
OF WARREN & WETMORE, the first study to examine the firm's creations as
a whole. New color photos blend with historic black and white shots,
drawings, and plans and are enhanced by a foreword by Robert A.M.
Stern. Commentary tells us the best designs produced by the firm were
private commissions, and chapters reveal these highlights. A 'must' for
any college-level architectural studies collection.
Art of the Boot
Tyler Beard
Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1423600266 $24.95 www.gibbs-smith.com
Cowboy boots aren't just your functional black or brown work boot; but
can be works of art in themselves: just take a look at Tyler Beard's
ART OF THE BOOT for evidence! In 1992 THE COWBOY BOOT BOOK was
published to celebrate this fact; since then the number of boot-makers
around the country has nearly doubled. ART OF THE BOOT combines Jim
Arndt's lovely color photos throughout with in-depth surveys of the
companies and bootmakers involved. Highly recommended for any with an
interest in cowboy culture or boots.
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