1 comments about Roman Signer (Contemporary Artists).

1. 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.

No comments about Papermaking and the Art of Watercolor in Eighteenth-Century Britain: Paul Sandby and the Whatman Paper Mill (Yale Center for British Art).

No comments about Ellsworth Kelly in San Francisco.

2 comments about Timeless Cities: An Architect's Reflections on Renaissance Italy (Icon Editions).

1. Mr. Mayernik transports the reader to the glorious past of Rome, Venice, Florence, Siena, and Pienza; a past in which city builders sought to make their cities into reflections of the perfect heavenly City of God; a past in which every stone, every building, every piazza was an episode of the larger urban narrative that played itself for its citizens as a great "theatre of the mind."

   Mr. Mayernik's writing allows us to view the urban mythologies of these places not as History, events frozen in by gone times and no longer capable of speaking to present generations, but as living lessons in city building; he invites his audience to learn the 'language' of these five cities so that we too can build memorable places.




2. Timeless Cities is indeed a wonderful journey, a voyage across time and ideas. The author tells a poetic, scholarly and delightful story of five Italian cities and how they became meaningful and memorable places, remaining so to this day.

   For those who have experienced the magical, transforming impact Rome, Florence, Venice, Siena and Pienza have on their visitors, David Mayernik unlocks the richly poetic ideas which are their very essence. An architect and traveler, his writing is filled with the passion of one who truly loves and understands the tradition of those great cities: the tradition of humanism.

   For all for whom life is, above all, a cherished series of discoveries and experiences, Mayernik extends a masterful invitation to explore those places which stir our souls and which demonstrate the highest fulfillment of our collective potential for cultural and artistic achievement. He then challenges us to again seek to create cities "through which dance the Muses", cities which are "built Ideas suffused with cultural Memory". Accept his gracious invitation. It is a journey you will treasure.

No comments about Art Works Perform (Art Works).

No comments about Draw to Write DoodleLoops (Doodleloops).

2 comments about Art for the People: The Rediscovery and Preservation of Progressive and WPA-Era Murals in the Chicago Public Schools, 1904-1943.

1. Book was basically in new condition and was received very soon after ordering. Book provided great info for my research.



2. This is a wonderful book, and the story behind it is even more wonderful. The period of time covered in this book were the glory days for the muralist movement. And huge numbers were painted in the Chicago Public Schools. Over the years, they were neglected; they were covered over; they decayed.
   
   In 1984, Flora Doody went to Lane Tech High School to start a Resource Program for students with disabilities. She saw and loved the murals there, but knew that, with all the other problems in the school, restoration was not a priority. Ten years later, however, she began the Mural Preservation Project at the school. She knew the director of the Chicago Conservation Center and they became involved.
   
   And then they decided to investigate early 20th century murals in other Chicago public schools. They found treasures.
   
   A fascinating book, you will learn the history of murals, American social history, and the story of some very dedicated preservationists and educators.

2 comments about H.C. Westermann.

1. This is a comprehensive look at the sculpture work of H. C. Westermann. Excellent paper stock, solid binding, and large, full-color illustrations throughout. This really is one of the best books production-wise and of course, the artwork is excellent. With this book it felt like the definitive story of H.C. Westermann has been told.
   
   Note of confusion: This entire book is duplicated in the "Catalogue Raisonne" book, but the other book also includes a section section containing many black and white images of his entire sculptural output. This is done mainly as a reference resource and not really intended for visual enjoyment (which is why the images are black and white and not color). I personally find black and white images of artwork not enjoyable to look at because much of the texture and nuances are missing so unless you are an H. C. Westermann scholar or collector, the Raisonne isn't necessary in my opinion.



2. This book is invaluable for Westermann fans. This is the first publication to come along that is comprehensive and includes little known works. There are only a few publications on this artist and they are nowhere near as complete as this one. The photos of the works are large, crisp, and show the details in the work. The history on the artist and his life is informative as well. I highly recommend this for those who know Westermanns work and for those unaquainted with it...this book will win you over.

3 comments about Plates and Dishes: The Food and Faces of the Roadside Diner.

1. Schacher's road trip is interesting. The photos show the food on one side and the server on the other. It's interesting to see some of the food (greasy and burned), and how it changes from region to region. A great concept.



2. The blue plate special, meatloaf, mashed spuds and more are all specialties of the house for most roadside diners, which are celebrated in Plates & Dishes: The Food And Faces Of The Roadside Diner. Artist/photographer/author Stephan Sacher toured the country in search of picturesque roadside diners and their fare: Plates And Dishes isn't a recipe collection, as one might expect, but a visual, artistic food celebration which juxtaposes photos diner dish specialties with their cooks on facing pages. A warm, inviting visual treat, sans recipes.



3. Diners, yet again have seduced another photographer, who wanted to capture an authentic slice of Americana. Stephen Schacher went the extra mile and only ate in them too while travelling to take his photos. This should have been a neat looking book, all the ingredients are there but it turns out to look extremely boring.
   
   Each left-hand page has a food photo and every right-hand page has a shot of the waitress who served Schacher. You can see what I mean by clicking on the images under the book cover at the top of this Amazon page. The images shown are in fact better looking than the ones in the book though, all the food images suffer from a yellow cast, frequently the plates break out of the image area (that would have easily been solved by running the photos of the page) various other elements of the meal, drinks or side orders are only vaguely included. For an alternative look at diner grub try 'Roadside Food' (ISBN 0941434680)
   
   The waitresses on each right-hand page are also slightly yellow looking but perhaps more serious is that the pages all look so similar. Far better I would have thought to vary the poses and show much more of each diner, they are after all bursting with visual excitement as Gerd Kittel found out in his Diners: People and Places. The only visual break in Schacher's book are the occasional graphic spreads that display a map and made-up receipts with details of the meals plus where and when they were eaten.
   
   'Plates+Dishes' is a great idea that just isn't cookin', unfortunately.
   
   Oh yes, Bonnie from Fenders Diner, Cornelia, Georgia can serve me a meal anytime, what a dish!
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

1 comments about The Art of Joan Brown (Ahmanson-Murphy Fine Arts Book).

1. Lots of people copy Joan Brown, maybe not intentionally, but it happens. Unfortunately she died in a freak accident installing one of her works of art so we don't get to see her next creative incarnation. Her life was exciting and interesting and she embodied what is a true artist. Driven and consumed with creative genius. Read this book, and see what it means (and takes!) to be an artist. Then try and see her works of art in person. I'm thinking the SF Museum of Modern Art SHOULD have her stuff as well as MOMA in NYC. Even if her works aren't there...someone she admired will be. A must read for every young artist.