5 comments about Holy Cards.

1. The book is beautiful, and the holy cards reproduced from the collection of Father Eugene Carrella are exquisite. What I expected is a book about the art of holy cards; this book is not that. It is hagiography illustrated with lovely holy cards.
   The research is not extensive, and the bibliography, especially the websites listed, seems dishonest. (None of the three websites has anything to do with holy cards.)
   
   A book about the history of the art and calligraphy of holy cards and Catholic devotional materials has yet to be written. If you love holy cards, you will love the beauty - not the scholarship - of this book.



2. This book was given to me as a gift and I have thoroughly enjoyed the beauty on each and every page. I especially love the introduction where we are reminded that saints..."had bad marriages, debts, wayward children..." because we are then encouraged to continue our journey with a renewed sense of hope and joy. I also enjoyed reading about saints that I had not previously known, like S. Walburga. The book is very special to me. Cheryl Dickow, author, "Reclaiming Your Christian Self in a Secular World: A Woman's Worth."



3. This book is a compendium of wonderful images of Our Lord, the Virgin Mary, saints, and angels, which will assuredly tug at the hearstrings (and memories!) of many a former Catholic schoolchild. I've collected holy cards most of my life and was thrilled to see such "rarities" as St. Liberata, St. Elias the Prophet, St. Walburga, and St. Aemydius. I did have to wonder about some of the content...why the explanation of a book held by some of the saints was said to have represeneted "mysterious knowledge" or "secret wisdom" seemed a tad too New Age-y to me. St. Anne is shown holding the SCRIPTURES in depictions of herself with her daughter, the Virgin Mary, ideally pointing to the quote "...and a blossom shall spring from the root of Jesse",
   from the prophet Isaiah, indicating the origin of Christ from Mary's (and St. Anne's) human lineage. I was also surprised to see the holy card which the authors claim shows St. James the Greater. It's actually St. Wenceslaus of Bohemia defeating the Turks, not the apostle of Jesus.
   
   What few flaws I found do nothing to deter from the overall beauty of the book...holy cards from Germany, France, Italy, and other countries depict martyrs, apostles, religious, missionaries, and mystics. I was secretly pleased whenever I saw the copy of a holy card I actually have in my possession! While some non-Catholics may find the book of interest, I would heartily recommend anyone who can recall Sister solemnly bestowing a St. Joseph on the winner of the class spelling bee or Father visiting at the holidays and distributing Nativities to pick up this volume and stroll down parochial memory lane.



4. In my personal library, I have many volumes dedicated to the lives of the Saints. Now that I have acquired Holy Cards, it holds a special place in my library, but can be found more frequently displayed in my living room. The book is a beautiful collection of 110 cards from the exquisite collection of Father Eugene Carrella, one of the foremost collectors of this art form.
   
   The book is divided thematically into groupings of cards, each of which contain a brief biography of the saint pictured. One might be tempted to purchase this book for the joy of looking at the artwork, but the insights presented on the lives of these holy men and women are not to be overlooked.
   
   I highly recommend this book either as a gift or as a treasured addition to your own library.



5. I am not a religious person, but when I saw the book Holy Cards on display at a local book store, I was drawn to it by its beautiful artwork, its colors, and the expressions on the faces of these saints. This is a fascinating depiction of human possibilites, with a wonderful cast of characters.

   The book is divided into sections with heading such as martyrs, Hermits, Prophets and Angels, and Visionaries and Mystics. Each saint's story is told, triumphs and frailties and all, making them seem very real even to a nonbeliever. Saint Sebastian and many of the more well-known saints are here, but you'll also learn about Saint Emyidius, patron of earthquakes, Saint Paul the Hermit, patron of clothing industry workers, and Saint Rita of Cascia, saint of impossible causes.

   I found this book fascinating and would recommend it to anyone, religious or not, who loves good art and wants to delve into the world of the human spirit.

3 comments about To Crown the Year: Decorating the Church through the Seasons.

1. As the new Environment and Art person at my parish, I am delighted to have bought this book for myself. It's an easy read, very clear, some excellent ideas and a few that won't fly at my church, but that's okay. Some things I will definitely incorporate even thought "it hasn't been done before". This is a thankless job and I'm glad to have some help with it. Of all the books I bought about church environment, this is far and away my favorite. I refer to it constantly. Worth every penny. Thank you, Mr. Mazar.



2. This book was ok. If I had seen it before I purchased it, I probably wouldn't have bought it. It does give a good overview of how to decorate a church for all seasons, but I think for an established church with established ways, it won't help. However, it would give one fresh ideas.



3. It gave me lots of wonderful ideals to use in my decorations. I liked the history and background it gave and the different meaning behind past trends. It was very helpful and I know I will use it as a reference guide for years to come

2 comments about Music Through the Eyes of Faith.

1. A thorough philosophy of the art of music from a Christian perspective.



2. This book is an exciting and prophetic look at the music of the Church. Whether or not you are directly affiliated with a church music program, you need to read this book!! Harold Best masterfully deals with topics relevant to the Contemporary Church around the world from a biblical, historical, and academic position.

   This book is not to equate music with worship, for this is a big mistake that the author intentionally avoids. However, in order to move forward in our thinking and theology of formal community worship, we need to remove music from the discussion and examine it thoroughly on its own. It is at this point that we can begin to see how our worship fits together. Best's book masterfully does this on many levels.

2 comments about Art and Soul: Signposts for Christians in the Arts.

1. This is a very informative interesting book. Easy to read, hard to put down. A great overview of past and present Art, how Art has shaped and been shaped, down through history and its relevance to us as Artists today. Thoroughly recommend.



2. In ART AND SOUL, Hilary Brand and Adrienne Chaplin explore the full spectrum of issues and concerns that face a Christian who is interested in working within any of the creative arts. They address questions ranging from postmodern assumptions about art through the very practical issue of who might (or should) support the artist in his/her work. This book seeks to explain why and how the arts impact the audience, and even if a reader may disagree with some of the authors' conclusions, the very fact that they have attempted to find purpose and meaning in the arts
   distinguishes this book from the multitude of contemporary aesthetic theories which tend to emphasize the utter subjectivity and "meaninglessness" of works of art. To support their discussion, Brand and Chaplin provide abundant examples of artistic works, including references to literature, music, and (especially) the visual arts. While some of these examples derive from the long history of the Christian church's interaction with the arts, most are current, involving the work of living artists in the news (such as the recent "Sensation" exhibit that created turmoil in Brooklyn)--and some whose work has undeservingly remained unknown. In addition, the authors cite numerous artists' views on the arts, as well as contemporary theorists such as Nicholas Wolterstorff and Calvin Seerveld. ART AND SOUL is by far the most comprehensive and most knowledgable study of the issues faced by Christians entering the arts. It is also quite accessible, with clearly defined terminology so that even a
   nonartist could follow the discussion without hesitation. Furthermore, because Brand and Chaplin have so thoroughly addressed the issues facing today's artists, this book would be a useful study for anyone seeking a better understanding of these questions. I enthusiastically recommend ART AND SOUL for anyone who seeks a greater understanding of the contemporary arts, the issues facing the arts, and the ways in which Christians can integrate the arts within their life (as well as integrating
   their life & faith into their art).

5 comments about Quick & Easy Banner Designs.

1. The ideas here are simple, yet very appropriate for all seasons of the church year. We found this to be most helpful in preparing new banners for our space!



2. I've used this book for numerous banners. The designs are wonderful...very easy to duplicate and look beautiful. So many books only have one or two ideas that really get my attention. This one is loaded with not only great designs, but beautiful wording. It's a real favorite of mine.



3. Our team used several of the ideas in this book and they went together like clockwork. A really great book.



4. I had wanted to start a banner ministry for years. After our pastor mentioned it to me, I decided it was time to jump in and do it. I purchased this book and another by the same author. I received the books on Monday and had a banner ready by Sunday. The timesaving and money saving tips are wonderful. If I were to have tried making one on my own without this book, I would have never gotten finished. The directions are clear and easy to follow. If you have been thinking of starting a banner ministry for your church, this is the book to start with.



5. The only color in this book is the cover of the book. I would like to see the banners in color. The ideas are great but...

5 comments about Noah's Ark.

1. Poortvliet provides an unexpected delight in his telling of the Noah's Ark story through the prism of his youth and memories. The drawings are remarkable in their humanity. He has created a book that is a must have for adults, particularly animal lovers, and children to share.



2. One of the most beautifully illustrated books ever. The artwork is superb and the narrative sublime by someone who appreciates the design in nature. I cant imagine anyone not really treasuring this book, for young and old alike.



3. 
   I have had the larger, original version of this book for thirty years or so, and I wanted to get it for my grandson's fifth birthday. Unfortunately, the larger version was no longer available, but this one filled the bill nicely. It is a perfect size, and it has perfect content for bedtime stories. Plus, none of the excellent pages was left out. Rien Poortvliet is a magnificent artist, and a thoughtful one, at that.



4. The illustrations in this volume are amazing. I love the format. It's much like a personal journal with sketches to enhance the artist's viewpoint. I will definately consider purchasing everything that is available by this author after seeing this beloved work of art.



5. AWESTRUCK is the only word to describe my reaction to this magnificently beautiful book! It is a huge collection of Poortvliet's master quality artwork in a stunning coffee table book. The thoughtfully executed art gives evidence of the artist's heart toward the subject matter. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

2 comments about The Meaning of Icons.

1. About icons and their meaning I already had (and read) a lot in the Russian language, but until now I didn't have content and illustrations in one hand. That's for me the meaning of the Meaning. It is short, gives the theological and canonical information about the role of the icon in Eastern Orthodoxy from inside, the themes are worked out and clearly arranged, the illustrations are big and beautyful. So, I am very glad that I sought for it and bought it.



2. Among the many books on icons, this is one of the oldest still in print. Why has it become a classic? Because it was written by one of the greatest twentieth century theologians, Vladimir Lossky, and by one of the greatest 20th century iconographers,Leonide Ouspensky who spent the whole of his artistic life in France painting icons and frescoes. Their approach is unique not only because of their deep experience of the Orthodox faith, but also because of the way they decided to describe the colour prints reproduced in this volume. What we have here is a superb commentary in the form of selection of poetry from the feasts during which these icons are placed in the middle of the church. Much of this Byzantine hymnography has no parallel in the West. It is what is heard in the eastern Christian church throughout the liturgical year which this volume beautifully illustrates both in word and image. The authors' feeling for the uplifting prayer of which icons play such a vital part is genuine and rarely found in any other book about the iconographic tradition. All Christians and many non-Christians will appreciate their respectful presentation of the revelation of God to man as it is presented in this book.

No comments about Hebrew Illuminations 2009 - A 16-Month Wall Calendar.

2 comments about The Art and Architecture of Islam, 1250-1800 (The Yale University Press Pelican Histor).

1. Simply a spectacular book. The text is fascinating and the images are first rate. The art and architecture of Islam is elegant and beautiful, obviously when you think of Islamic Architecuture of this period you think of the Taj Mahal, which of course, is one of the most spectacular buildings in the world, but there are so many others. This book will make you really appreciate the Architectuere and Art of this wonderful religion. Highly recommended.



2. Testo fondamentale nello studio dell'arte islamica e in grado di mostrare anche ai meno esperti i tesori di un mondo troppo a lungo sconosciuto in occidente.

3 comments about Thriving as an Artist in the Church: Hope and Help for You and Your Ministry Team (Willow Creek Resources).

1. Book was is good condition and came promptly.



2. If you do, than this book is for your team or your life.
   
   This book is GREAT for group study or just for personal reading for personal growth. The chapters included: how to keep your passion alive; five relational skills every artist needs; coping with rejection and failure; working through relational conflict; how to develop a genuine "can-do" attitude; cultivating confidence; dealing with your "stuff"; how to survive as a leader in the church; rising above our artistic differences; how to fall in love with your church...and stay there.
   
   Each chapter starts out with a scenario of a real life situation and then uses that example throughout the chapter to help illustrate - very effective and engaging. The scenarios alone have provided hours of disucssion amoung our team members, in an out of class.
   
   Do you ever find yourself in a confrontational situation and don't know what to say? Do you ever find yourself the victim of harsh criticsm; hurt and fuming about it for months or years? Do you ever just wish you could quit and go somewhere else where there aren't so many "issues?" Are you tired of listening to someone's constant negative and critical attitude? Are you struggling with feeling like you can never be good enough? Are you deeply hurt because you were turned down, yet again, for the part that you really wanted? This book will identify with you, lift you up and help you develop a plan and strategy on what to say and how to act, and most importantly, guide you to scriptures that will keep you going.
   
   Even though this book can be well understood in its own standing, the predecessor of this book, "The Heart of the Artist" might be the best place to start. Generally, it defines and teaches on many of the foundational issues relating to character development that cause a lot of the problems described in this book.
   
   If you purchase this book, actually read it :) and apply the scriptures it will lead you to, you will NO DOUBT experience greater success and peace in your ministry and in your life in general.



3. My artistic team is going through this book right now. It has practical insights, discussion questions and personal action steps. The book has helped my team become more of a team while enriching their Christian journey. We also went through Heart of the Artist by the same author. It is equally good.
   There is not much out there for Christian Artists that is practical. Thanks Mr Noland.