3 comments about Felix Gonzalez-Torres.

1. Felix Gonzales-Torres ( 1957-1996 ) was a many-sided artist.
   He uses photographs, A1 sheets of paper stacked one upon the other, light bulbs ( white not
   colored ) and even large amounts of candy wrappers with the same colour.
   
   He has everything of a minimal art performer and yet the materials he uses ( albeit not at the same time ) and the different ways of displaying his art ( walls of buildings, corridors, rooms and staircases ) are so complex that it would be laughable to call his work 'minimal art'.
   If it's necessary to give him a name I would call him an explorer. I believe it's the purpose of an artist to search what lies beyond the horizon.
   
   I believe also in the value of abstract art. It emphasizes the essence of what we see: colour, shape and the different relations between one and the other.
   
   Art with artificial light is the fascinating area between abstract painting and sculpture. Only a few artists so far, had the courage to walk that borderline and one of them was Gonzales-Torres.
   His 'light-art' is simple ( He uses for instance only burning white lamps ). For example a large corridor in a modern building has several garlands of light against one wall, or strings of white lights attached to the ceiling and pouring down like rain to the floor to form a pool of light.
   
   If you want to know all about Gonzales and his different forms of art, please read the fascinating
   book " Felix Gonzales-Torres " by Miwon Kwon.



2. A truly truly beautiful book on who I consider to be the most important, influential and sublimely talented artist since Warhol. Edited by Felix's close friend Julie Ault, this is a beautiful beautiful informative book - a must have.



3. Great in depth look at one of the most important artists of the past 30 years. Not just an overview of the work, analysis from Ault, Storr, and contributions from Marguerite Duras and Wallace Shawn. The latter are not just in there to be interesting, their interests and those of Gonzalez-Torres overlap in thought and practice. Also, there are many statements and interviews with Gonzalez-Torres about the work's formal structure as well as its content. Overall, a great analysis without sentimentality - rare when an artist dies at the height of her/his creative powers.

3 comments about The Teapot Book.

1. Having only just received the teapot book and scanning it I definitely like what I see. It looks to me like there is some very nicely laid out step by step explanations for making different forms and great tips on putting the infamous teapot together. Cheers, Cheryl



2. I have been doing ceramics for five years, and specialize in teapots. This book has helped me immensely, including design and techniques. I highly recommend it.



3. As a potter who make lots of teapots, I bought The Teapot Book and read it with great interest. The tips, illustrations and photos are a great help to me in improving the skills needed to make teapots. This book should be an inspiration to any potter aspiring to make excellent teapots. It will also be of interest to all potters and collectors as well. The book has diagrams, and beautiful full color photos of a teapot being assembled. There are contributions of glazes and tips by various European and American potters. The photo gallery of teapots and short anecdotes about the teapot and potter exhibits a cross sections of many styles of teapots from handmade to thrown. A very well written book.

1 comments about Fired Up with Raku: Over 300 Raku Recipes.

1. What needs improvement? The over 300 recipes do not have photos of test tiles associated with them. Artwork throughout the book in some places give the name of the glaze (ie: Copper Matt), however the name may not be explicit enough (ie: there are six copper matt recipes and many other copper matts not called "copper matt"). Some labels are incorrect (ie: "Vases" (Horsehair raku))--> these are actually two crackle vases and one horsehair raku vase. You could do without the personal statements of the invited artists. It is the wrong target audience for this type of book. It would be better to put additional techniques or photos of their work or them performing a technique that is visually aided.
   
   Now the good! Even though there are no test tile photos, the comments are helpful (ie: requires heavy reduction or thin or thick coats). There is a good range of raku colors represented within the recipes and crackles, matts and glosses. There are a good range of construction techniques shown among the selected artists (ie: slab, wheel-thrown, wheel-altered, carved, sculpted, etc.) showing how these methods are best enhanced by raku glazes. There are also many glazing techniques (naked raku, slip resist, paper clay, etc.) that are interesting.
   
   In all, the book is a good book and I would recommend it to others. I think a revision could make it an excellent book.

No comments about Peter Greenaway: The Children of Uranium.

1 comments about The Principles of Harmony and Contrast of Colors and Their Applications to the Arts.

1. I'm not sure about all editions of this book but the one that I own (paperback...) has NO color inside at all! Who ever heard of a book on the subject of color that didn't include any? What were they thinking? I'm sure it's a fascinating read but if someone is interested enough in color to read this hefty tome, you've got to think they might also enjoy looking at it too. This is an oversized thick book which is at least 95% text. There are very few black & white diagrams either.

3 comments about The Weekend Crafter: Mosaics: Inspirational Ideas and Practical Projects for the Weekend.

1. I got this book for my birthday nearly three years ago. I was so inspired I wanted to do everything in it. I love it. It is fabulous for the beginner with step by step instructions and great photos. And the best part is that it is so simple. Once you've tracked down the tiles, etc - hard to find in New Zealand, it took me two years. And you don't need all the fancy tools the book give handy hints to get around without them. The book features not only the authors work so it appeals to many tastes. This isn't just a great starter it's good even when you know what you're doing - you can refer back to it all the time or just look at if for insipration. Another book by Martin Cheek, MAKING MOSAICS - with a fish on the front is great too. It also has step by step details and more great photos of more great projects. Get them both it's worth it.



2. I have had this book for about 2 years now (from UK)& since my first attempts at mosaic, have found it invaluable. The author gives clear & full instructions from start to finish on all of the projects, which are well illustrated in phototgraphic sequences. Other mosaic books like this seem to be in the same format but lacking such clear instructions which a beginner would have no problems with. I would recommend it to total beginners & more experienced mosaicists alike, perhaps even to someone with an artistic mind who has never considered mosaic would be inspired by this book. Mosaic is becoming ever more popular & this book will allow anyone to create their own designs at home at a fraction of the cost of a professional (& much more satisfying !) I don't think you'll be disappointed............. Have fun !



3. Martin Cheek is the finest mosaicist on the planet, and his books are a testament to that. (Professional mosaicists will especially love this book because the materials lists are so daunting that beginners are likely to shy away from the craft!) Cheek's work is an inspiration for the already-are and elegant poetry for the wanna-be mosaicists.

No comments about Ceramic Painter's Pattern Book.

No comments about Mosaics Piece by Piece.

2 comments about The Art of Bill Viola.

1. At the first introduction of so-called 'art' in the form of videotapes played in museum and gallery installations caused a public response of skepticism: how can something so transient as filmed activity be called Art? The validity of video art is now accepted as one of the more creative venues of artistic expression and that is due to a very great degree to the pioneering efforts of Bill Viola, a uniquely gifted man who now is accepted internationally as one of the most important artists of our time.
   
   This brilliant book as created by Chris Townsend explores Bill Viola's works from the 1970s to 2004 with abundant photographs of 'stills' images from his videos that even in the frozen state of the book page are shatteringly poignant and beautiful. Perhaps for those uninformed about Viola's work this format will not impress, but the book may stimulate more people to seek out installations of his works as they appear in the varied arenas of art around the world. Townsend includes contributions by excellent writers such as Rhys Davies, Cynthia Freeland, Antonio Guesa, David Jasper, Jonathan Lahey-Dronsfield, David Morgan, Otto Neumaier, Elizabeth ten Grotenhiuis, Jean Wainwright - each of whom brings not only artistic verification but also personal response to Viola's many projects.
   
   Perhaps one of the most successful works Viola has produced has been THE TRISTAN PROJECT in which he worked in tandem with Director Peter Sellars, Conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Gehry's Disney Hall to re-think the Wagner masterpiece "Tristan und Isolde" in terms of the elements of water, fire, and the spiritual transformation of love - all by adding the element of projected gigantic screens of Viola's models in movement that created an opera production so profound that it is being staged throughout the world to both audience rapture and critical acclaim.
   
   Bill Viola is a living genius and this fine book helps to inform us why. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, November 05



2. Sixty illustrations, all but five in color, lend to Chris Townsend's compilation Art Of Bill Viola, the first extensive critical appraisal of the works of video and installation artist Vignola. From themes surrounding the relationship of Vignola's art to religions to essays which consider his international influences and reputation, The Art Of Bill Viola is a 'must' for any in-depth art collection strong in video and installation works and artists.

No comments about Decorative Tile Designs CD-ROM and Book (Full Colour Electronic Design).