1 comments about Metallic Foil Origami Paper: 18 5-7/8" x 5-7/8" Sheets in 9 Colors (Origami).

1. Origami foil paper
   
   First of all, this is not a book, it's a collection of 18 sheets of foil backed with white paper, for use in folding origami models. The foil is reasonably good quality and does not crack when you make a sharp fold as some do. The range of colours is quite good though as always in a multi pack like this there are some you may not want to use. The sheets are cut very accurately and the papers work well for folding complex models as the foil is very thin.
   
   I regard the cost as being the one thing against this product, there is no need for all the extra packaging and the paper could easily have been sold in its cellophane wrapping only with just a tab at the top or a cardboard insert with the publisher information, and then it could have cost far less. However it's difficult to find good quality origami foil, this is similar in feel to Japan foil so seasoned folders will be pleased to have an easily available supply.

No comments about Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities, Alternate Edition (Book & CD-ROM).

3 comments about Exploring Art: A Global, Thematic Approach (with ArtExperience Online Printed Access Card).

1. it's brand new and i got it cheaper than in my school bookstore.
   It came fast too.



2. I had no problems when ordering from this vendor. The book description was accurate. I had no problems and received the book prior to the estimated arrival date.



3. If my sock drawer was organized like this book...there would never be a matching pair of socks. The old socks and the new socks would cling together in a wad of static electricity, making it painful to dare try and pull them apart and match them up in any other way. The book lacks fabric softener, and reading it is itchy torture.
   
   But seriously...this book tries to be "smart" by organizing the chapters into "subjects for art",and it doesn't work.
   It's stupid!

5 comments about Air Guitar.

1. For the most part, art critism is pretty dry, boring stuff. In Hickey's hands, it's much more lively. The writing is pretty crisp and engaging. Hickey uses all sorts of literary devices to get his points across- some with more success than others. Overall, it's the kind of book you enjoy to read. Rare in this genre.
   
   The basic "marketplace" angle he takes on the quality of art is pretty edgey. The art world is pretty dominated by those with intense socialist leanings, so his point of view is a nice contrast. He manages to inform us without being too snotty about it.



2. "Air Guitar" is Hickey's characterization of critical writing, it's direct relationship to its subject(s) being of approximately equal import as a person playing air guitar in his living room is to a rock concert. In the words of Vladimir Horowitz, the concert pianist, it is "the words without the music." That being said, it's damned interesting, all the same, especially when approached this way. Hickey's favorite technique is to take two seemingly disparate things and to discuss the way in which they inform each other, all the while examining the net effect on his life as your basic, educated, ambitious Joe trying to fill the "great gap of time" between birth and death with a mind boggling array of interesting experiences. In this way, they're more 'think pieces' than academic essays. I'll admit, there were moments when my brain hurt; but most of the time, I was enjoying his company and his facility for mental gymnastics -- and the obvious pleasure he took in it personally. I heard of this book on a radio interview (Fresh Air? Diane Rehm Show?) and bought it specifically so that I could have my own personal copy of "My Weimar" -- a spectacular, 'where am I in the grand sceme of things now' type touchstone. Reading the whole book as a part of a recent essay jag, I found it all equally challenging, equally enjoyable.



3. Ignore all of the negative press--decide for yourself and read the book (contrary to the opinions of some reviewers, this book is not hard to read). Yes, Dave frequently uses the word "quotidian" (Oh noooo!!!) and the cover may be too much if you have bad "good" taste. And at times, having to learn a new word is required (Is that a bad thing?). I think Hickey would say, that what all of the reviewers on this page are involved in, is exactly what he is arguing for--democratic discussion of the art that does or does not move you.



4. OK, granted, this is this first thing I've read by Dave Hickey, so I may not be giving his overall legacy a fair review. I know he's been around for awhile and has made numerous contributions to many top-notch magazines and journals. This book was recommended to me by a guy in a Williamsburg bookshop, and despite the pretentious accusation of 'genius' slapped on the front cover, I glanced through the book (spotting some obviously great writing) and bought it on the spot.
   I was really taken by his unabashed, intimate style for several chapters of the book, until he began his defenses of art dealing and art criticism and his pompous attacks on 'spectators' versus 'participants' (are critics participants?) in his version of the art world. Sorry Dave, this doesn't wash and you know it --- simply announcing that 'Art is not a commodity' simplifies a huge can of worms best dealt with by Debord or even Hakim Bey, not by an art dealer aspiring to belong to this community, rather than getting dirty in the spectating and profiteering himself. When I hit the end of a couple of these verbose defenses of his history of 'dirty occupations', I was left thinking, 'Is it that important you were an art dealer?', or 'Who really cares that you're an art critic?'.
   I simply want to be regaled with tales of Sigfried and Roy, or stomp in the boots of Hank Williams, or read Dave's ridiculous opinions on Chet Baker and, most importantly, laugh (or even smile out loud). This is where he is at his best, and consequently where the book shines. It is great writing, indeed, but too bad Dave feels it's necessary to namedrop and pontificate to purge himself from the sea of soulless art critics. Just do what you do best, and write!



5. I'm ready- couldn't wait. Finished a book by Leo Marks who was codemaker for SOE during wwii which was very interesting and surprisingly compelling- even when he described the basics of codes and betrayals. But it tired me out in alot of ways. So Hickey seemed a good way to go: clear and noncant according to reputation. Plus I read an interview Hickey gave to a colorado newspaper where he was spot on even if his stevedoreness was a little droll coming from a man obvious bored with small pieties. Started it last night and I'm already wavering. My initial enthusiasm is slightly dampened by his repeated use of the word "quotidian" and his p'haps too obvious placement of himself as heavy meta dude who hangs with grass in Mexico and in the next breath is able for instance claim that Norman Rockwell is, in fact, a great democratic artist with impressive technical skills. He claims too that every artist he knows admires Rockwell. I always thought it was schlock- I could be wrong- (I think Rockwell leads to Tarantino) but what worries me is that Hickey seems willing to take a perverse position for the pleasure of taking a perverse position. Well that's OK but he isn't Panofsky. He's acrobatic and synthetic- but afterwards like any dance by Arthur Murray you wonder what you have experienced and when.
   The book cover is terrible, almost the worst I have ever seen which again suggests a willful postmodern banality offered w/o irony which is the hippest position possible. Says Sean Puffy Combs, Puff Daddy, P Daddy, P Diddy: "its all good." He's a genius too.

5 comments about From Ordinary To Extraordinary: Art & Design Problem Solving.

1. As an art teacher I occasionally need a new idea to spice up my curriculum. I found this book to be a wonderful resource of innovative takes on traditional techniques.



2. This book was purchased as a gift. It is a nice alternative to
   what is available in this category.



3. The author has written some of the best art education books I've ever read- this will not disappoint.



4. This book is full of wonderful lesson plans as well as ideas to create compelling lessons yourself. My students have found much sucess with Ken Vieth's projects. His motivation is wonderful and really simplfies the process for delivering the lessons. He has a keen insight into the secondary student's mind and how to create an interest in extraordinary artwork.



5. My students find the projects inspirational. The projects can be adapted in many ways. Student's get excited seeing how other students their age solve design problems.

5 comments about The Best of Brochure Design 8 (Best of Brochure Design).

1. This book has great photography, layouts and ideas. It's cleary defined by brochure type with author comments that includes the best examples of great brochure design. I used this for ideas on a company newsletter. It's a great value for the money. I highly recommend this book.



2. This was a good buy; inspirational design--good resource for leading the brainstorming process. Recommended.



3. Great range of designs and pretty decent selections



4. The Best of Brochure Design 8 is a collection of creative and contemporary brochure designs from around the world.
   
   The book is divided by categories such as corporate, annual reports, products/services, arts and self-promotional. It offers a varied group of design ideas and examples along with the tools and softwares used for creating those examples.
   
   Graphic designers as well as novices in the field will get a jolt of creativity from the many designs in this book. In my opinion, it makes a great reference guide for anyone in the design field.



5. yes was quite disappointed in this book, did not live up to review in dynamic graphics magazine. has some good ideas but not always useful unless you have a large budget or a fantastic client who wants to go the extra mile!

5 comments about Theories and Documents of Contemporary Art: A Sourcebook of Artists' Writings (California Studies in the History of Art ; 35).

1. I had to buy this in college and it was torture for homework assignments. However, it is now enjoying a second life as the most useful text I have as an art teacher. (Aside from my art history books of course.)



2. briefly - this is a great basic anthology if you want artist manifestos and excerpts from period art critics. my only complaint about this anthology is that it really doesn't have many of the writings/interivews that are well known from sources like artforum (e.g. smithson's yucatan mirror article) or partisan review (rauschenberg interview). but one can't have all things in one place - that said this is a great place to start.



3. The critics always have alot to say about what the artists have created. Artists are not always as forthright. They can be indirect, weave tales or romance the past. But this book gives you a rare chance to hear it all first hand. The beauty of this book is you drop in with the artist of your choice.



4. For a compilation that pretends to deal with contemporary art, this volume is surprisingly outdated, tending to focus on issues in art practice that are at least a decade old. Additionally, it is surprisingly uninformed on a disturbing number of issues. A case in point, two writers, including the editor, mis-read and misunderstand McLuhan, and are even unable to get the basic idea that the medium is the MASSAGE, not the medium is the MESSAGE. If you want a book that informatively and insightfully deals with current issues in art, I suggest you look elsewhere.



5. I've purchased this book while beeing in New York in 2003, and my first impression was that I had aquired an excellent and almost encyclopedical resourse for research. However, when looking for references on familiar contemporary artists like Brazilian Lygia Clark (one of the most important and internationally renowed creators, having teached in Sorbonne, among other things) I've found her name misquoted as "Lydia Clark" while she's reffered as "Argentinian" in the index. The fact that I've found such a mistake concerning a familiar name raises doubts on the rigor of this interesting work.
   
   Sérgio Basbaum (teacher at Universidade Cátólica, São Paulo, Brazil)

3 comments about The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: A Facsimile in Full Color.

1. The transaction was great. Everything was as it was supposed to be.



2. One of Blake's fantastic works, with all of the artwork right there with it. This is the first copy of a William Blake book I ever owned and I still love it to death, as small as it is, and read it again and again.



3. It's great to read Blake is his own typeset. And the book is essential Blake.

5 comments about Perspective (Artist's Library series #13).

1. This book is a good for beginner artist and people who want to learn more about how to correctly draw perspective. For the price of the book you are getting a great deal of information about 2 point, 3 point perspective. I ordered this book for my college level class just to better understand perspective and it has taught me a lot that I have forgotten. I recommend this book to any artist who has had trouble with perspective and wants a inexpensive book to teach them that.



2. This was the first perspective book I went through where I actually "got" perspective. It clearly illustrates the principles in a concise and easy-to-read manner.



3. This book was ok if you have taken a perspective class then is really just a review and not really needed.



4. I had to use this book in one of my first drawing classes for college. The ease and depth which the topic of perspective is presented is easy enough to understand but, very useful for learning the proper art of perspective. I would recommend this book to anyone wishing to learn this fundamental principle that is perspective.



5. I really like this little book. I'm a nut about perspective, and this cheap little paperback clearly teaches you everything you need to know about perspective for most uses. It's definitely not very in-depth, but if you just want to quickly learn the basics, this is the book you want.

2 comments about Start Your Engines: Surface Vehicle Sketches & Renderings from the Drawthrough Collection (Air Vehicle Sketches).

1. A very good book! It must be different, because Scott Robertson, is a phenomenal artist!
   Very good same!



2. This second book from scott robertson is just as amazing as his "lift off" book. This book has real world examples of the creative process that it takes to create a vehicle from a simple idea to a final render. Tons of amazing sketches are inspirational and just candy for your eyes. I love this book and never get tired off looking at it. I recomend it to anyone in the design field who is looking for fresh ideas and work for inspiration