2 comments about The Art of Handbuilt Ceramics.

1. Loved this book. It has nice pictures and good information. I am glad I have it in my collection.



2. The book was geared toward those without much working knowledge of handbuilding. The photos were very nice, and included various different ways of approaching handbuilding, so could serve to inspire someone try new approaches.

5 comments about Gullah Images: The Art of Jonathan Green.

1. It is given to particular artists to do the impossible. Claude Monet paints light. Andrew Wyeth paints time passing. You can hear Jonathan Green's paintings. In "Bessie Mae", he paints not only the singer, the song itself springs from the canvas. "Silence With The Birds" transfixes the mind, making common imagery so new that you may as well have just been born. Green belongs with those rare artists whose work leaves you seeing and feeling the world in a new way. You can spend an hour with this book, go for a walk and see fresh grace in the movement of the human body, sense something new in your step. All that and more, you will find in this book. There is in every painting the identifiable signature and the present quest - something that goes to your belly, and makes you whole. This is world-class art, visionary, accomplished, redemptive. Green's work expresses the spirit of a people who endured hundreds of years of brutal oppression, created the greatest religious songs in the language and fought a revolution without guns. Here is love, made visible. As in Rilke's poem about Apollo: 'You must change your life."



2. Last month I went to Charleston, South Carolina for the first time and discovered the art of Jonathan Green at Gallery Chuma. If I could be a piece of art, I would be painted by him. The art is shown in chronological order and the evolution of style through his career is evidenced. There is one color plate per page so each piece is easily viewed. All are in color. The art section is prefaced by three lyrical, thought-provoking chapters about the artist, the relationship of Gullah heritage, African American aesthetic, and his art as an expression of the layers of experiences mixed cultures bring to humanity. One chapter mentioned the flowing movement in the artwork which is also what first piqued my interest. I just can't help but wish that all that is good in the world of Jonathan Green's art could be in everyone and make our world a better place.



3. a beautiful book of green's work
   if you are a fan of his artwork--this book is an excellent compilation in both presentation and accompanying text



4. of color and of life. His vivid paintings make you feel glad to be alive



5. Conroy has done a splendid job of putting together the works of Jonathan Green. Not only does the book show Green's unique style to best advantage, but includes great information about the Gullah people and the artist. A must have book for anyone interested in the Gullahs or Jonathan Green.

No comments about Classic Japanese Porcelain: Imari and Kakiemon.

1 comments about Thomas Demand.

1. This book is actually the catalog book for Thomas Demand's exhibtion at the "Foundation Cartier" in Paris in 2000-2001.
   All important early works to 2000 are presented. The texts are well presented describing Demand's ideas and thoughts. Since his works are photographs, the quality of the printing is important, and this book did a good job. It is printed on heavy white gloss paper and the color printing is very good. The negative of this book is the format. Many of the works are not printed on single page but takes two page, and often the spine/center detracts the image. There are some foldouts pictures to circumvent this problem but once again, it is folded, and you see the crease. Artbooks such as these should either be bigger or use the horizontal format so there will be no split images or creases.

3 comments about Illuminations.

1. "An illumination is a picture, design, or decoration drawn on a manuscript page" (Jonathan Hunt, from the "I" page in "Illuminations").

   Jonathan Hunt uses this ancient--colorful and exquisitely detailed--method to introduce readers to a glossary of terms and concepts from the Middle Ages. Arranged in alphabetical order, readers are often introduced to more than one concept per letter, for example on the page devoted to "Knight," terms like chivalrous men-at-arms, king, lord, lady, page, squire, fief and the Round Table are mentioned.

   As another reviewer suggests, this is not really an alphabet book for younger readers. Although "Illuminations" is done in picture book format--and the illustrations are a pleasure to browse--because of the way Hunt lovingly approaches his subject, it is an ideal introduction to Medieval times for upper elementary grade students, and perhaps all the way up through secondary. In reading it as a school librarian, I learned some things I didn't know before.

   In my review of Marguerite De Angeli's Newbery Awarding winning Medieval novel, "The Door in the Wall," I suggested that a book like "Illuminations" would be ideal for introducing middle-grade readers to the language and terminology of this fascinating period of history. This is a resource that teachers and students in our elementary school often turn to. Highly recommended.

   If you get this book, be sure to read "A Note From the Author;" About the Art;" "Suggested Reading;" and the Bibliography in the back.




2. The publisher states this is for all ages. My interest in this book was my fascination with ABC books as a method of teaching my children the alphabet and to read as well as a budding interest in medieval times.

   At least one of the pages is featured per letter; sometimes the illustration goes across two pages. The illustrations are beautiful and highly detailed. With each word there is a 3-4-sentence explanation of what the word is about. The author states he has gone to great lengths to make the illustrations historically accurate. The author quotes 15 references as the source of his information and he so loves all things medieval that he includes 5 recommended reading materials for readers who are interested in learning more. I love the purist stance the author takes and appreciate the recommended reading section. It is apparent that this is a labor of love for Mr. Hunt.

   As the homeschooling mother of young children I say: The featured letter is shown in capital form only and highly decorated which is not conducive to teaching young children the alphabet. The words are medieval in nature and therefore not in everyday language of young children. Examples are excalibur and oriflamme. The text is written in language that may be difficult for even young readers to understand, let alone preschool-aged children. Older children with an interest in medieval times will love this book.

   As an adult interested in medieval times, I found this a fun book with lovely illustrations. I enjoyed learning some basic information about some medieval terms.




3. I have taught at both the Middle and High School levels and found that Illuminations by Jonathan Hunt is a wonderful way to introduce the medieval period to young adults. This book is not just a childrens book. Illuminations introduces the students to important vocabulary words relating to the Middle Ages in a fun and visually stimulting manner. The author takes each letter of the alphabet and associates it with something medieval. The illustrations are breathtaking and compliment the students understanding of what illuminations were all about. I highly recommend this book to young and old alike.

5 comments about Exhibition Design.

1. As project manager I work with museum exhibitions more then 10 years. I found the book very good - text, photos, case selection. I would like to recomend this book for museum people, designers, project managers. let's make our museums interesting for visitors, this is real chelenge in pop culture time.



2. Modern exhibitions have to compete in a fast-changing leisure market and must make use of technology and techniques that in the past have been associated with film and retail worlds. It's all about the experience - and here to address these changing needs is EXHIBITION DESIGN, packed with examples of successful exhibitions from around the world from both trade fairs to fine-art holdings and smaller artist-designed displays. Both history and technique blend in a title which teaches by example and by conceptual review, making it a top pick for college-level art libraries serious about teaching the finer art of successful exhibition processes for artists or museum curators.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



3. There are few sources such as this one - EXHIBITION DESIGN - that share insider thoughts and plans and results of the process of presenting exhibitions in museums. As such it is a welcome addition to the art lover's library, something to ponder when trying to discover why some exhibitions (despite the subject of the curated objects) make and impact while others feel cold and distant to all but the addicted lover of that particular subject.
   
   Architect and exhibition designer David Dernie shares the mechanics and philosophies of current museums, pointing out the current concepts of 'immersion, interaction, and multisensory experiential approach' have moved from the purely entertainment field into the realm of the once rather sterile filed of exhibition design. His thoughts are amply illustrated by architectural renderings and photographs that, while informative, are not of the quality one would expect from a book on museum wisdom! But the elements of psychological significance on how to present art to the public eye to enhance the experience of viewing are sound ones, and in his words 'how objects are arranged will determine the nature of the message they communicate.' Grady Harp, January 07



4. This book gives detail into what exhibition design spaces need including lighting, color, graphics, and goes into different types of exhibition design including narrative, interactive, and simulation. Each design example also includes good information on what the artist's message was and how they achieved it through the design choices. Very good choice



5. I just received the book "Exhibition Design" today from Amazon.
   
   I was very excited to find the title because there are so few books on the
   subject of museum exhibition design.
   
   I was however very disappointed with the overall quality of the book. I have
   other W. W. Norton books ( Building the Empire State) and I own close to 300
   architecture and design books.
   
   I have never been so shocked at the poor quality of the photography in any
   of my books. Some of the photos in Exhibition Design book were not
   sharp....some where so dark you could not tell what was really going on in
   the exhibit...but most seem like they were photographed with a camera phone.
   
   I was even shocked at the poor picture resolution of the Ralph Applebaum
   exhibits (blurry non sharp pictures and poorly lit)... I have a couple of
   books that cover the same projects and the photos in those books are
   wonderful...I assumed that companies like Applebaum send out a specific
   press kit with professional photographs.
   
   I guess I have learned that I should always see a design book in person
   before buying it on line.

2 comments about High Sierra of California.

1. This book is stunning the woodblock prints are so beautiful they almost make you cry. We spend a lot of time in the sierras and this book shows the beauty of these mountains better than any photographs. Get the book
   look at the pictures then do your family a favor and go spend time in these incredible mountains.



2. hop up and down in your Teva sandals. Wade the great streams as they roar over round stones down from ancient peaks... dance the silver dance of the wild rainbow... but find a place in your ultralight backpack for this book. It deserves a place next to that bag of peanuts, your titanium cup; worth its weight in gold dust from the river, split pea soup from the pouch. Ancient shaman tales and woodcut journeys... yamabushi of the mind, and lots of white space for taking your own cryptic outerspace trailnotes...

3 comments about Painting and Decorating Clay Pots: 117 Step-by-Step Projects for Making People, Animals, and Fantasy Characters on Terra-Cotta Pots.

1. I bought this book because I had seen a few terra cotta designs on the web and wanted more to decorate my home and garden. I did not like this book. The pots are cheesy looking and there is no talent behind them. Some of the supplies needed are so hard to find. If you want to paint cute terra cotta pots use your own imagination and designs. Don't waste your time and money on this book.



2. This is a great book the details are great and it can help you use your imagnation with it as well it is well illustrated I use it offten.



3. I found out about this book when an online newsletter (Family Corner News) featured one of its projects. The project was decorating a flowerpot with seashells, filling it with sand and a fat candle. Really looked nice and just what I needed for my seaside themed bathroom.
   That made me look at the book. It's great to find ways to use all those terra cotta flower pots sitting around in the garage.

1 comments about Gustave Baumann's Southwest.

1. This is a fabulous book that contains woodcuts and gouache paintings not previously seen in other Baumann books. The colors seem accurate and it is nicely designed with great front and back covers. I only wish it would have been printed larger (most of the woodcuts are reproduced at 6.5 inches tall). Baumann's woodcuts are generally quite small and it would have been great to see them at their actual size. Also it would have been nice if the author included dimensions. Despite these flaws the book is a must have for all enthusiasts of Baumann and the art of the woodcut.

5 comments about Century Girl: 100 Years in the Life of Doris Eaton Travis, Last Living Star of the Ziegfeld Follies.

1. This book is so unique, I would recommend it for anyone who loves the history of the stage or just unique perspectives and biographies.
   Not only is the story engaging, but each page is tasty eye candy.
   You will not be disappointed with Century Girl!



2. Loved everything about this book: the subject, the era, the layout, the photographs, the ephemera. This was an enjoyable read and I've purchased copies to give as gifts to friends that I know have an interest in this time period. My only caution is that the text is "handwritten" and sprawls across the pages. I found it charming, but others may find it difficult to read. All in all, a delightful glimpse into a life led in the glory of days long gone.



3. You must buy this sweet book if you adore the Ziegfeld Folies, fashion illustration, collage, lush photos of flappers, and want to know more about the last of the living burlesque dancers Doris Eaton Travis. This wonderful book makes a fab gift for collectors of nostalgia and vintage frocks. Features pages and pages of handpainted/tinted photos and whimsical creative collage spreads of 1920's photos.



4. Wow, this book is fantastic! Lauren Redniss put a lot of highly detailed work into this charming publication about the last Ziegfeld girl alive. Doris Eaton is a spunky little lady who, at the age of 104 has graciously opened the pages of her life during the days she was a Ziegfeld girl. The book is beautifully illustrated and colorful with lots of photographs and clippings follwing Doris' career as well as her siblings. Ms. Redniss did a marvelous job. I can't rave about it enough.



5. Century Girl: 100 Years in the Life of Doris Eaton Travis, Last Living Star of the Ziegfeld Follies is a new order of biography. Lauren Redniss uses hand-written text as an artistic element to guide the eye through the evocative images she has created using photo-collage and line drawings. The result is a visually stunning tour of the extraordinary life of Doris Eaton Travis
   
   The book chronicles the life of Norman, Oklahoma, resident and University of Oklahoma graduate Doris Eaton Travis. The book follows Travis and her siblings, once known as the Eatons of Broadway, from their lives as child actors, to their success in theater and early films, and ultimately to their sad and often tragic fates.
   
   Travis alone was able to leave show business behind. She had the strength to adapt herself when circumstances demanded; from dancer, to entrepreneur, to book-keeper on a horse ranch, to college graduate at 88 years old. She returned to the Broadway stage at the age of 94 and recieved an honorary doctorate at 100. Her's is a story of reinvention and ultimately of success.
   
   Lauren Redniss teaches at the Parson's School in New York City. Her work is often seen on the Op-Ed page of the New York Times, which nominated her for the Pulitzer Prize. She is currently writing a biography of Marie Curie, due out in the fall.
   
   This book is a work of art from cover to cover. Redniss knows her subject well and the story is told largely in Travis' own words. It is the author's unique, artistic approach that brings this fascinating story to life so vibrantly and with such immediacey.
   
   In one section of the book, for example, Redniss discusses Travis' sister Mary Eaton's beauty, and the eagerness with which men gave her expensive gifts. The text takes the reader to photographs of Eaton in a seductive pose layered over images of Eaton's name in lights on the marquis of the New Amsterdam Theater. These images flow into a still photo from Eaton's starring role in Glorifying the American Girl. As we read of Eaton's beauty, we see coming off the page a Broadway star at the height of her fame and a woman who epitomizes beauty in the early twentieth century....and we understand why men were so easily parted from their money.
   
   The artistic elements flow together seamlessly and carry the reader through this lovingly crafted biography. Redniss' incredible images allow the reader to experience the lives of Travis and her family in ways that text alone simply doesn't allow.
   
   This book would appeal to anyone interested in dance or theater history. It has appeal to the general reader as well. Doris Eaton Travis is an extraordinary human being. Her ability to overcome tragedy, to reinvent herself, and to constantly strive to learn is an inspiration to all. Lauren Redniss' extaordinary book is the perfect vehicle to bring her inspiring story to life.