2 comments about Manuel Neri: Artist Books / The Collaborative Process.

1. Manuel Neri: Artists' Books / The Collaborative Process is a display of artists' books by Manuel Neri in the Reva and David Logan Gallery of Illustrated Books of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. Sketchy illustrations, poetry, original sculptures and more are captured with color photography, revealing the intense and painstaking process of collaboration between author and artist. Three of the poetry books were written by Neri's primary model since 1972, Mary Julia Klimenko; other exhibitions include and introduction for a series of unique books that pair Neri's original drawings with poems by Pablo Neruda. A comprehensive essay by independent scholar and former editor-in-chief of "Artweek" Bruce Nixon rounds out this insightful look into the sublime intersection of verbal and visual imagery.



2. Six books with Neri artwork in the Reva and David Logan Gallery of Illustrated Books at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are covered in detail. The text of three of the books is poems by Mary Julia Klimenko. And three books of Neri's planned project of seven books with poems by Pablo Neruda are similarly presented. Each of the six books is shown page by page from title page and content to the colophon at the end. As an introduction, the six books are placed in the tradition beginning in the late 1900s of the "livres d'artists"; an "art form [which] has shown an unanticipated tenacity by remaining an unobtrusive but persistent genre ever since." In addition to Neri's art work in the books, sculptures and drawings of his relating to this are pictured, many of these in full-page color photos. Introductory essays by Bruce Nixon (editor-in-chief of Artweek) to the three Neri-Klimenko limited edition art books focus on the collaboration between writer and artist which is central to such projects; with more limited commentary as well on the roles of printer, calligrapher, and binder also part of a successful collaboration. The numerous clear color photographs capturing details of the visual elements are the next best thing to seeing the art books themselves. While Nixon's introductions and commentary delve into both aesthetic and technical matters involved in producing such distinctive books.

5 comments about Making Bits and Pieces Mosaics: Creative Projects for Home & Garden.

1. Really great book with lots of ideas of how to make mosaics out of found objects. I highly recommend it. Full of Fun!



2. Marlene, aside from being a good friend, a wonderful painter, and a beautiful woman, is an inspiration. Buy this book-- making things from broken china is calming, and fun.



3. I wish I hadn't spent the money on this book. While it does give you the basics of doing mosaics, there's maybe 6 pages of it. If you've ever done any tile work, then its useless. The rest of the book is centered on doing specific projects. Frankly, the example pieces in the book were downright ugly. Most of them looked like they were just a smashed plate re-assembled. There's really no color or design patterns. The rest had doll heads all over them, which I found pretty creepy. If you're a beginner, this might give you the basics but there should be better books out there. If you're looking for inspiration, there HAVE to be better books out there than this one.



4. This book has a lot of finished pieces that I found to be almost ugly. The techniques as instructed are not as in depth as I have seen in other books. I recommend you purchase to accompany another mosaic book, but I would not make it my primary instructional book.



5. I love the challenge of creative household projects and bounce back and forth between several different ones, but by far, mosaic tiling is my favorite! I used this book for the ideas & know how. It has great pictures and well thought ideas I had never thought of. I tiled my porch walk way with a wonderful mosaic tile design & I receive complement after complement (even from the mailman!). Everyone wants to know who did it!

5 comments about Making Mosaics: Designs, Techniques & Projects.

1. A winner in all ways. This book is for the people who have done the little crafty bits and have not lost interest in favor of a new hobby of the month. It is for those who love the texture and reflectivity of this artform's materials and want to find out more.
   
   The introduction and history section compares well to some of the better books. There is not that much but it is a respectable amount for a book that deals with technique and design.
   
   Every book also has a tools and materials section and this one provides sufficient information for you to proceed without worrying if you are using the right adhesives or the right backing for your work. There is not much that one needs to add. This knowledge will provide a good foundation to build on. Explanations are clear and items pictured clearly.
   
   The more common techniques are covered from beginning to end with, in one case, 17 small pointed images showing you exactly how. There is also a section on sculptural forms which shows you how to mosaic onto things that are not flat. Many other artists' work is also beautifuly presented in this book showing the different applications for the techniques that are covered in that section of the book. Very inspiring! It makes you want to get up and get going!
   
   And when you do get going, there are 12 projects complete with templates and very concise intructions. They are all unique and there is something for everyone.
   
   The contributing artists section would be more useful if there email addresses or web sites. The glossery also contains all of 7 items and the index is only 2 columns on a half a page. This could have been more complete.
   
   This is a very good book for instruction, inspiration and beautiful pictures. An artist of any level would be happy with this purchase. 10 out of 10.



2. I bought 5 mosaic books while learning the technique and this is my favorite. Of the books I have read, this has the most comprehensive guide to the actual process of making a mosaic. There is an extensive section of tools, as well as the best explanation of the direct and especially indirect method that I have seen. Pictures are plentiful too for every step and offer some fabulous examples of what is possible with the art.

   Very well done!




3. So far, every mosaic book I have collected has something to offer. This one has a few notable characteristics. The section on tools and equipment is more complete and detailed than other mosaic books I have seen. Beginning mosaic books usually suggest some kind of spatula, a tile nipper, and glass cutter. Quite a few other tools are suggested and described here, as well as what they are for. Although I feel daunted about buying and using so many different tools, it is helpful to know what I can look for if a particular project requires something different.

   The projects are fairly simple, but unique. For example, there is a lamp base covered with broken plates and cups, including the cup handles which protrude from the lamp! There is an irregular-shaped plaque, formed by pouring concrete into a polystyrene foam that you design, and then covered with an ancient Roman-simulated design. There is a mirror frame which is jig-sawed into an interesting shape, and this project alone is for me worth the price of the book.
   There are projects with very clear instructions for using both the direct and indirect method of applying tesserae.
   
   What I particularly like is that the instructions include how to finish the projects, such as how to put the back on the mirror, what hardware to use, and how to apply it. The other mosaic books I have seen so far only tell how to make the mosaic part, and leave the finishing steps up to you.

   Finally, there are many photos of incredible projects (such as an entire facade of a house) made by professional mosaicists, which the beginner would not attempt, but from which beginners and experienced alike can find inspiration.




4. This has been the single most inspiring book I've read on mosaic. The instructions are not only clear in their description, but there are photos in the different stages of progress for those of us who are "show me" people. The many photos throughout the book are fabulous and offer a wide variety of ideas and techniques for creating. There are helpful artist's tips included throughout the book too, as well as tools and materials listed for each project.



5. Has all the basics, plus more. Great photos.

2 comments about Red Wing Stoneware.

1. This book has excellent colored photos of various Red Wing stoneware. I found the book to be quite informative in regards to the history of Red Wing Stoneware, and the various companies that made such stoneware. I found the price ranges to be quite realistic. This book has everything from crocks, jugs, churns, water coolers, snuff jars, and many more. The glossary of terms was helpful too. As a beginner in Red Wing collections, I'm glad I got this book. This book does not have every Red Wing stoneware piece, but they do have many.



2. Have you ever wanted an easy to use, beautifully photgraphed, and consistantly benificial Red Wing Stoneware reference book? Well look no further. This guide book will help you in sorting out the numerous pieces of Red Wing Stoneware, their markings, and the most current prices.

   This very informative reference is a primer for the beginning collector and a great research tool for the more advanced collector.

3 comments about Basic Fishing Lure Carving.

1. This book is great for beginner carvers. Lots of instruction and lots of pictures



2. The book is actually very good because it explains step by step how to create a lure that seems to work pretty well.
   It does provide a lot of ideas on how to do things to simplify the lure making process, but in some cases, the ideas are more complicated on the book than other solutions I have seen in other places/books.
   I would definitively recommend it for people that are starting and that would like to understand the basics of luremaking. It also has Instructions for only one lure and plans for another (even when it has a couple other ideas in the photos in the back)



3. My husband loves to carve and this is the first book I've seen that addresses carving lures. His mother, years ago, actually made feathered fishing lures for a local business who sold their product far and wide - a very tedious task. Of course, with the advent of machinery to do such things the business, which was local to our area, is now long gone.

2 comments about The Green Man.

1. I recently saw green men, on a trip to England, and thought I would learn a little about them and possibly try my hand at chip carving. The Green Man, by Kathleen Basford, was consice, well written, gave history, and many picture plates of dated works. A treasure!



2. This books holds a reputation as one of the seminal publications in modern Green Man research, and rightly so. There is little copy in the book save a few pages in the beginning outlining the myth as understood at the time of publication, but where it speaks most loudly is in the photographs. Beautiful black and white pictures from all over Europe capture the broad variety of ways that the Green Man has been depicted through the centuries.
   
   Green Man fans must own this book!

No comments about The Limewood Sculptors of Renaissance Germany.

4 comments about Southwestern Indian Jewelry.

1. Dexter Cirillo's first book on Native American Indian Jewelry is a must for any collector. Includes many photographs of jewelry and artists, along with valuable information everyone can use to purchase beautiful Native jewelry.



2. I wanted this book for some time. I must say, I love it and don't know why I did not buy it sooner. An all time favorite of mine for sure.



3. Hi I bouhgt Southwestern Indian Jewelry and it arrived with no plastic wrap and the jacket was damaged. Please let me know how to go about exchanging it for another in perfect condition. I am a collector and condition is important. Thank You, Joe Garcia.



4. As a collector of Indian art, jewelery, pottery and rugs, I had the wonderful good fortune to know and consider the Hopi Master jeweler Charles Loloma my friend.

   Finding a book on American Indian jewelery was almost impossible to come by until this great book by Dexter came out in 1992. The artists, their work in magnificent color will move anyone to want to own some of this jewelry.

   From it's beginings late in the 19th century jewelery was the Indian method of carrying their wealth around in the form of necklaces, braclets etc, Indian jewery was mainly of two schools. Most prominent was the Navajo and the other Zuni.

   Then in the mid 1960's came a Hopi indian Charles Loloma. He was the Picasso that was going to revolutionize American Indian jewelery and he did. This book is a testament to Charlie's followers who now produce jewlery that is both modern and magnificant. Buy the book then go out to an Indian Art shop anywhere in CA, AZ, NM or even NJ and you will not be able to resist owning someting.

No comments about Nest: Dash Snow Dan Colen.

2 comments about Changing Dreams: A Generation of Oaxaca's Woodcarvers.

1. This is not simply a beautiful coffee table book, though it is that. Barbash and Ragan return to the site of their previous "Magic in the Trees," which was the definitive photojournalistic account of Oaxacan wood carvers and their oneiric, arresting creations. This sequel chronicles, in richly composed pictures and prose, the lives and work of the subjects of "Magic in the Trees" some 20 years later. The result is a handsome volume that succeeds on at least three levels: 1) as a portrait of a no longer pre-industrial society adjusting to the 21st century; 2) as a further chronicling of an important and probably dying art form; and 3) most mystically, as an account of the passage of time in individual lives, along the lines of the Apted 7-up series, in which we suddenly see the kindesseses and unkindnesses of passing years in side-by-side portraits and essays. An unusual and beautiful work.



2. It's not often that you pick up a book which changes your entire notions and preconceptions about a part of the world, you thought you knew, so close, yet so very far away. It also is rare for two artists (Barbash the narrator, and Ragan the art photographer) from one culture to become so aesthetically and spiritually attached to artists from a completely distant mileiu, the rural wood carver artists and their uniquely varried, extended families in Oaxaca Mexico. Yet, this book maintains that curiosity over close to two decades. Even ten years of which, in a rapidly changing community such as this, is in many ways a lifetime of change, struggle, dreams of the past and the hopes for the future.
   
   The story continues and widens and weaves, like the lives of the artists themselves. It describes their often unknowable treacherous travels to El Norte, primarily to support the future of the villages they are formed by. The story is of multiple generations of Oaxacan folk art families and, how their art, the land, the traditions, the pressures of survival and, the often unpredicted trajectory toward the futures of their children dominate their lives. The stories effect an entire poetic, family-centric, agrarian society in one of the poorest, yet colorful, regions of southern Mexico. One with little wealth, but great pride.
   
   This is the kind of book that makes you want to escape your predictable, comfortable, materialistic, ordinary urban life and take a journey to a place you haven't even imagined yet. Isn't that what life is all about? It made me discover another world so close, yet so psychologically distant. I highly recommed this book. I couldn't put it down. By the way, the black and white photographs are most sensitively created and beautifully printed and are full of unique stories all their own. Go for it. I'm glad I did.
   
   John Dean
   Atlanta Georgia