Artists Books

Smith's style is so detailed and colorful it is almost hypnotic. The rich blacks set the stage for everything that follows. There is an honesty in these paintings that brings the women to life, it feels as though you know them just by looking at their portrait...amazing work.

Zak Smith is a brilliant alchemist. For my taste he is one of the first bona fide twenty-first century artists. I collect artbooks, and art when I can scrape the coin together. If I had the money today I would buy an original work by Zak Smith, (that is if there were any available for sale), but in lieu of an original work I bought his book. The full color pages of his art capture some of the excitement I feel whenever I look at his work. His use of color is outrageous especially when combined with the black and white tones of the ink drawing. The book Zak Smith pictures of girls shows off his mad skills, and I only wish it were a bigger book. BUY THIS BOOK!

Victoria Gladstone

I first saw work by Zak Smith when in New York for the Whitney Biennial in 2004. His illustrations for Gravity's Rainbow were included in the show, and I was stunned not only by the scope of the project but also by the remarkable amount of attention and care that he clearly poured into those pictures.

Having recently purchased the book Pictures of Girls, I must say that I'm as blown away by the work collected in this volume as I was by what I saw at the Whitney. Smith is obviously enamored of his subjects - there's no other way someone could capture so precisely the mood, the sense of place, the idiosyncratic beauty that the artist manages to convey. Stark lines and bright colors provide an arresting framework for the overwhelming degree of intricacy with which Smith infuses his paintings of the "girls." Gorgeous.

I also enjoyed the interview with Smith by curator Shamim Momin included at the beginning of the book - it's a great glimpse into the working methods of such a talented artist, and it will certainly inspire the next generation of artists to pursue their vision with the same unapologetic abandon.

As an avid collector of art books, trust me when I say that if you care even the tiniest bit about the state of contemporary art, Pictures of Girls is a necessary addition to your library. Every time I look through it, I notice something new to like about Smith's work. It's fresh, vivid, infinitely absorbing, and just plain beautiful. Whether you're an occasional museum-goer or a fanatical connoisseur, I honestly believe you will adore this book.

The first thing that I notice about this artwork is its stunning complexity - papers and animals and characters repeating in almost fractal-like patterns. This may sound odd since they are all 'Pictures of Girls" - and the girls are also gorgeous, with bedroom eyes and clothing of varying scantiness. Nevertheless, it's the colors and lines and shading that capture my imagination. Sometimes I am shocked to find that I am staring at pictures of girls in compromising positions with octopuses - so beautiful but yet somehow underscored by a tingle of creepiness. That ambivalent excitement is the mark of true art, in my opinion. This is a great book.

A fantastic group of pictures by an artist that deserves a much bigger audience.
They're all paintings and drawings--this business about a "photochemical process" is clearly a mistake.

this book is defintely eye candy and inspiration but not a how to book. i would have loved to have a book that shows how some of these pages were done step by step but this book is still wonderful. it has given me many ideas already.

This is the greatest book. The entire book is photos of art journalists pages with corresponding numbers that lead to a Artist in the back of the book with thier emails or websites. The Forward ask the question Why Journal? and gives many different answerrs and views which I found interesting. There are also 2 pages of journal prompts for you to get started in Art Journaling, this was helpful to me since I'm a beginner. If that weren't enough, there are 2 pages of Resources in the back that list places to buy supplies, different magazines and artzines, books and online inspiration.

This is not a book you will buy and look at just once if you are an art journaler. I've looked through this book many different times. So many of the pages just "speak" to me in so many different ways. You won't be sorry you purchased this book. It is unique and unlike any other book I've purchased so far and I have quite a few now.

I think Dawn did a fabulous job with it and all the artist's who contributed their pages do wonderful work. I hope she publishes another book in the future. I'm a fan.

What a beautiful book. I am so honored to have had my pages accepted and included. The pages were clear and wonderfully reproduced. It's an honor to have my art along side such amazing artists. The other journal pages are indeed inspiring and great eye candy. I like the simplicity of the book.

Ronni Hall
[...]

This is a truly gorgeous and inspirational book featuring the work of well-known art journalists, as well as worthy newcomers and unknowns. I was pleased to discover several fresh faces; so often in recent art journaling books it's been the same six or seven people featured. The artists' work is presented without editorial comment. The layout is not too crowded, and the color reproduction appears to be good. Lots and lots of inspiration here for art journalists who want new ideas and a fresh perspective. The variety of the work is phenomenal and international, in several different languages, and from every corner of the globe. I had to earmark many pages for closer study in my studio. A great reference volume, especially for teachers of art journaling.

I just got my book today and was going to email Dawn personally to tell her how great it turned out, but then decided I should share it here with other potential readers too.

When I heard about the book, I was afraid that the pages inside were going to be tiny thumbnails, or a lot of stuff from a few people like many books on the market. Neither of these problems are true... the pages are big enough that I could read the journal text from just about every page. That's another part of my praise... most of the pages include real journaling, not just collage in a book labeled as "art journaling" as I have seen before, which is less my preference.

The neat thing about being able to read the words on pages was to be connected with so many people that have so many of the same anxieties about being enough and doing enough... artists connected on so many planes in so many ways. I also really liked that, because of the many pages in the book, I began to recognize what types of pages caught my attention. I realized that I want to be able to work in the brighter colors that I was drawn to in the book.

There was also really great contrast in pages that were simple to complex, and I realized I really liked a lot of the very sparse stenciled pages. And pages were submitted from international audiences too, not just people from the US. There are also several submissions from men. I was happy that the collection of pages reached different demographics, and I saw many new names alongside those artists I've long admired.

I was reading one page in the book and saw references to local places (Saint Cupcake and Lincoln School) and realized it must be another Portlander. This made me wish that the names alongside the pages included city and state of the artists, as it gave me added energy to know about the local creative forces at play.

I have several pages in the book, and my books were handled kindly and photographed well. My name was spelled right. All that was cool. Dawn also accepted a submission of one of my mother's art journal pages. My mother died last August and would have adored this book. It is really an honor to have her page next to mine, and I look forward to sharing the book with my family.

I don't know Dawn and have only had contact with her in relationship to submitting my pages. But I am honestly impressed by how well done this book is, even outside my limited contribution. It is image heavy, and the pages are rich, honest,deep, serious and fun. There is much range in the styles, but the selection of contributed pages is quite excellent. I think this book will provide inspiration to a wide range of art journalers, and is not a repeat of any past books on the subject. It's a keeper.

These are some of the most thought-provoking, intelligent, and frighteining pieces of art I have ever viewed. Winston is a genius, with his art and the opinion pieces throughout the book. I found this book through Dead Kennedys and Jello Biafra album covers and I'm glad I did. The book is amazing. I think my favorite is the all-time classic 'Idol,' or as most know as the cover to the DKs 'In God We Trust Inc.' The intricate little drawings on the dollar bills, and the UPC above jesus really do pack a hell of a punch. I also love 'Turkeys' "Mowing Down the People' 'Force Fed War' and the Alternative Tentacles logo, of course. ALl of them rock, and some can get you thinking for hours. Winston Smith is a remarkable artist, and I think I'm gonna got out and buy his other books!

Turning the pages of this book I can't help but create my own ideas on how this government of ours really works. Winston hits on so many issues prevalent in today's society, with work he has been doing for years. I am so glad I picked up this book after reading his name in the credit part of all my Dead Kennedys albums. Winston's book is absolutely brilliant. And the new one will be well appreciated.

"Montage art is like instant surrealism. If Dr. Frankenstein had worked with paper instead of body parts, he'd have been a collage artist. I use a scalpel, but instead of stitches I use glue." ---Winston Smith, page 22 in "Act Like Nothing's Wrong."

Odds are you have seen Winston Smith's collage art. If you never perused the insane Winston Smith creations on Dead Kennedys' album covers (not to mention the infamous Dead Kennedys' DK logo), you have probably ran across his sweetly twisted magazine art collages somewhere in the media. Chances are you may have seen an image like "Force Fed War" (Mom nursing baby with a fighter aircraft instead of a bottle) or the various Reagan-Ridiculing collages. And there's a good chance you associate these collages with Jello Biafra and The Dead Kennedys, but have never actually heard the name of the creator, Winston Smith.

My case exactly. The Dead Kennedys collage art that stayed cemented in my mind was "The Money Tree" (page 26 in this collection), a collage of exuberant aging suburbanites, dressed in their weekend leisure slacks, harvesting dollar bills from a tree in their backyard. I always found that image simultaneously drop-dead funny and creepy, like a weird scene from a nightmare you had as a child. Eager to find that image again, I did the various web searches to find out what inspired mind came up with these freaky slices of life, and came across these books by Winston Smith.

I expected this book to be a funny collection of pop-art. This book goes way beyond my expectations. Not only are there scores of hysterical collages lambasting the seedy nature behind the nuclear family's jubilant appearance, but you have written commentary by Smith, who delivers a keen and serious attack on modern American society. The combination of his visual wit and his heartfelt criticism of the government (he focuses on our government, but does not let other monolithic empires like China and the former USSR off the hook) drive this work home. This makes for an unlikely but effective mix of wit and condemnation.

It's really strange. I usually can't stand the artistic coffee-house malcontents who drone on and on about the tragedies of consumerism, sell-outs, and suburbia. I find the majority of those I have met to be self-serving critics who will cry over societal ironies, but only to come off as cool and bohemian.

Winston Smith is one major exception to the rule. As I read his commentaries, he probably would take me to task for writing off the angry neo-artists. He would probably also take me to task for being shallow enough to enjoy the fruits of popular TV & media. So.... what is it I find different about Mr. Smith? As I read his quotes, I envision a guy who can find gloom and pathos in modern America, and then tell its story by cutting & pasting magazine illustrations with childlike enthusiasm. Maybe I'm misreading Winston Smith, but I see this energetic workhorse who sees the empire crumbling into oblivion and instead of sobbing over it, he's going to play his fiddle louder, harder, and with sheer reckless abandon.

I love this book. And so should you! Give it a shot.

Winston has captured the corruption of every-day life in collage art. He has a genius mind that takes what we try and say and puts it in the bluntest image.

Smith, named after the fictional character from Orwell's 1984, has produced collage and montage artwork for the past 20 years, utilizing stolen and "borrowed" photographs from innumerable sources. He has produced much of his art using an exacto knife and a color photocopier alone. His work is definitely not for the faint of heart, though I would recommend to anyone flipping through here

If you are looking for a book that does it all, this is it. Each page is a wonderfully modern treatment of the wildlife and artistic essence of unspoiled Africa. Beautiful collections of drawings, and sketches using photographs of field notes really sets off the wonderful format of the book. The artwork is breathtaking and the paintings will make your heart stir with the desire to be in Africa yourself. This is the next best thing.

Africa: An Artist's Journal comes from Kim Donaldson, a renowned wildlife artist who grew up in Zimbabwe on a ranch. His lifelong passion for capturing wildlife in art lends to a journal that covers the wildlife, culture, and history of Africa as a whole. A highly recommended pick for any interested in wildlife art.

This book is for anyone who loves Africa, wildlife and or artwork. It has pages and excerpts from his field sketchbooks, drawings, sketches and paintings. The artwork is exquisite. What makes it a must have is that you also get a well written brief history/description of the countries, the national parks, animals and people residing in each region interposed with Kim Donalson's personal experiences. It makes you feel like you have been there.

For anyone who has been on safari or only dreamed of going, for animal lovers everywhere, and for those who love Africa or want to know more about the continent, this is an extraordinary guide. What I loved was the quality of the art (virtually photographic), but with a translucence and depth that photographs cannot match coupled with the insiders commentary that is incredibly humble, given the authors obvious knowledge of the subject. One of the finest African wildlife books ever and a definitive addition to my collection. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

The Strand Book Stall at Bangalore was having its yearly sale in DEC.2003. I was out there browsing when I ran into this gorgeous elephant on the cover of this book. I get this feeling about books and knew I had to buy this one - it reminded me of the book by Ernest Thompson Seton that I read way back in 1986. It set me back by INR 1,615, but what the heck; the "Lions of the Serengeti" on pp. 12-13 itself recovered the cost of the "investment"!

The more I go through this book, the more I am amazed. Somehow, Kim Donaldson has come out with a masterpiece on Nature in Africa in all its glory and has been able to capture the many animals and their many moods in their natural habitat in a style that makes you feel that you have "walked the walk and experienced the silence" of Africa. Here's Kim's idea of a painting: "The way I decide the worth of a painting of Africa is by the feeling it evokes - whether it makes me homesick."

There are real gems right through the book. Tucked away at the top of the painting titled Grevy's zebra on pp. 154-155 is this African song of praise to the zebra:
~~~~~
You, who are night & day in one body
You, who are dark & light in one form
You, who are good & evil in one shape
Animal of two colors, animal of perfect harmony.
~~~~~

I browse this book at the junction points of a day: dawn and dusk. It reminds me of Sri Ramakrishna's observation that Nature is a majestic expression of divinity. It also reminded me of a particular verse in the Bhagavad Gita. So I hunted for the same in the copy of the Bhagavad Gita that I have, which is a translation by Barbara Stoler Miller (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553213652/104-8977925-4483157).

After some searching, I found the verse:
~~~~~
Deluded men despise me
in the human form I have assumed,
ignorant of my higher existence
as the great lord of creatures.
~~~~~

Imagine my shock when I noticed that the number of the verse was 9.11 (Chapter 9, Verse 11)!

This book really brought the plight of disability home. Whether depressed or physically challenged, we can do many things to help ourselves. Chenoa really learned to play her cards and with the help of her friends, she took the adventure of a life time. I really enjoyed the book and think that it is worth a read for everyone. With her friends by her side, she really came through with power! Loved it. Thanks for the adventure and the thouthfulness Mary-Elizabeth!

I couldn't get enough of this book. Chenoa really came through her adventure, realizing what it was to overcome her problems and to live life to it's fullest. Am I Dead Yet was entertaining and thought provoking. It is a very powerful and entertaining book. You can laugh and cry on the same page. Chenoa, the champion, learns to play the whole hand instead of giving up on life. Whatever your situation in life, you realize that it really isn't so bad. If Chenoa could make it through, then so can the rest of us! Wonderful story!

This is a novel about a young artist who struggels to overcome advertisy. The book will grab your attention in every chapter. I look forward to reading it again. it was a great story. There is a message of hope for those going through struggels. It was very well written. I can hardly wait for her next novel!

This book will lose you in a matter of moments, into the whimsical adventures of Chenoa and her many friends. There are many moments, where I found myself laughing out loud, and crying, as though these situations were happening to you. Mary-Elizabeth has done a wonderful job of making you feel as though you were right there with Chenoa, instead of looking in from the ourside. I highly recommend this story if you love adventure, or have any type of debilitating disease, as the book is so inspiring and real to us all.

The main character in this book is one of the most inspiring, strong female protagonists I've ever read about. Everything she goes through, she becomes a better person from it. She's flawed, and very human.

It brought tears to my eyes, and sometimes made me laugh. All in all, a beautiful story that people will remember for a long time.

This is one of the best Ansel Adams books out there published by Bulfinch. It uses heavy paper stock and the print quality is excellent. To appreciate its quality, you have to view it under a brighter light setting, preferrably next to a window. You'll notice all the details in the shadow area and appreciate the overall print contrast.

In terms of subject area, the book covers many National Parks, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Joshua Tree, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon, Glacier... Unfortunately, it does not have all the famous Yosemite prints, but it does have many other gems that's not over exposed to the public.

Some people may complain about the price, buy I think its worth every dime. Buy one and enjoy it.

This book is flawed by the images selected to be in it. The other main weakness is that the book is clearly overpriced.

The good news, however, is that the image sizes are large enough to capture the power and majesty of Adams' work. The reproduction quality is superb, as well!

The essay by William Turnage is an excellent discussion of the roles of Thoreau, Muir, and Adams in creating the awareness that has helped us to save and cherish some of what remains of our American wilderness. The artist-turned-conservation leader, Adams' role, is a particularly important function in our society. The artist helps us to experience what we have never seen while the conservation leader takes actions that galvanize the emotions that are evoked by nature and the artist into helpful improvements. When the artist and conservation leader are the same person, there is a combined power and continuity of vision that is irresistible. Thank goodness!

Adams is someone we should all admire for another reason. His nature photography and conservation efforts were hobbies, labors of love. Photography of nature is a field that offered meaningful remuneration only in recent years.

His day job was doing commercial photography. He took pictures of dead people in the Los Angeles morgue as well as of open pit copper mines in Utah.

What we admire about him was what he did on weekends, before and after work, and on vacations. Because he wanted the most remarkable images, this often meant hiking before dawn in difficult winter conditions to remote peaks to get just the right perspective.

Andrea Stillman did a good job of selecting Adams' quotes for her opening remarks. "Photography is a way of telling what you feel about what you see." " . . . [T]he turning out to the light the inner folds of the awareness of the spirit . . ." is what his work is about.

Throughout the book, you will find other quotes about Adams' reflections on the wilderness. They are well selected and add much to your consideration of what his images mean.

Here are some of my favorite photographs as reproduced in this book:

Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park, Texas, 1947

Monument Valley, Arizona, 1942

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, 1942

Sand Dunes, Sunrise, Death Valley, 1948

Sand Dune, White Sands National Monument, 1942

The White Stump, Sierra Nevada City, 1936

Terraya Creek, Dogwood Rain, Yosemite, 1948

Clearing Winter Storm, Yosemite, 1944

Half Dome, Winter, from Glacier Point, Yosemite, 1940

Leaves, Mills College, Oakland, California, 1931

Maroon Bells, Near Aspen, Colorado, 1951

Old Faithful (4), Yellowstone, 1942

Mount McKinley and . . . Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska, 1947

After you have finished being refreshed and rejuvenated by these inspiring images, I suggest that you contemplate what the wilderness meant to your grandparents and parents, what it meant to you as a child, what it means to you now, and what it means to your children. If you are like me, you will see that wilderness is rapidly receding as a concept as well as a reality. What are we losing? How can we reverse that loss?

Understand all of Nature's message for us by living in harmony with her!

I have received this book as a birthday present from my wife. There is nothing much to critique, its really really good! Nevertheless, here it goes......

Ansel Adams shot with large format and never intended to print them small. Some of the photographs of this book could have been printed at a larger size. I have seen same photographs printed at much larger sizes in other books, for example in Ansel Adams Guides I & II.
Overall the sizes of the prints are adequate or just adequate.

For whom this book is intended?
My personal opinion is that it is primarily intended for the serious (nature) photographer and then for the nature lover.

What has it got for the Photographer?
A gallery of Master's work, in very high print quality with the entire tonal range beautifully depicted, it's simply like owning a gallery by Ansel Adams.

If a beginner or an intermediate photographer has come to the stage of learning his/her craft by looking at, and then carefully analysing, how a champion of the craft has controlled - framing, by carefully placing the subject in the view finder and then by cropping - tonality, by placing the particular areas in the `zones' he wanted - print quality, with his precise technique; this is the book for you - its a master class in photography.
For those who do not have such interests - It is still a visual treat.

My only other criticism is that there should have been some technical details about the photographs, at least one or two lines; Nevertheless, it gets my five stars!

The photographic images of Ansel Adams are among the most significant pieces of artwork which have been created within the 20th century. His techniques have revolutionized the world of the black and white photographer, and his images are the rule by which all others are measured. His art has spoken to the soul of millions, and you should not be left out! This book contains some of the most beautiful images of nature ever made, and is a bargain at twice the price! Review by Edward Lynn, student of commercial photography, The Art Institute of Seattle

... because you can put four legs on it and use it for a coffee table. If you're going to have a single Ansel Adams book, this is the one. His images just don't work in any smaller format.

A EASY READ .ONE COUPLES ACCOUNTS OF MIRACLES AND ANGELIC EXPERIENCES IN THIER VENTURA CA STORE...IF YOU EVER GET THE CHANCE TO MEET THIS AMAZING COUPLE YOU WILL BE A BELIVER TOO.
THIS BOOK HAS CHANGED MY LIFE. THANKS KEITH....

If you Like angel stories and Andy Lakey You will love this boo

This is the best book I have read on spirituality and the human soul. It is written so that even a sceptic will find reason to believe in God and His Angels. The author takes you on a spiritual journey that shows that although people have free will when something is God's will there is nothing anyone can do to stop it. I found the book moving and very inspiring, It is not just another cute book of angel stories. It is template that gives its readers hope and a plan for living a fuller, happier life.

This was the first book of Keith's that I'd read, and I was totally engrossed with the stories. The allegories convey ideas on many levels, and it's a book that allows readers to walk away with different levels of insight, depending on the individual reader's personal knowledge. What you gain from reading this book is proportionate to what you bring to the table. I see myself rereading this book ten years from now and, hopefully, understanding it on a higher level. Anyway, this is a must read.

I am a student at UNLV our local University in Las Vegas, NV and in a "paranormal" class with Dr. Raymond Moody who wrote LIFE AFTER LIFE and as a part of the classwork he brought Andy Lakey and Keith and Francesca Richardson of the THINGS FROM HEAVEN BOOK STORE in Ventura, CA where they sell Andy Lakey paintings and jewelry. After hearing these TRUE STORIES of so-called Miracles that have occurred in this Store as a result of Andy's paintings I immediately bought this book as I am a TRUE BELIEVER IN ANGELS myself. I whole heartedly recommend this book to everyone. A MUST READ as it teaches and inspires and gives testimonials from people who have actually been HEALED from going into this Angel Store and being around these paintings. These stories will give people more FAITH IN A HIGHER POWER (not religious necessarily) to assist them in opening their own HEARTS to "so-called miracles" and accepting this can happen to them (regardless of the appearance) and to their loved ones too. A TRULY INSPIRATIONAL BOOK FOR EVERYONE TO READ.

Greeneberg and Jordan are well-known for their lively biographies of artists. Prince of Pop is no exception. The cover prints of Warhol in full wig mania are sitmulating and invite the reader in. It is highly accessible and easy to read but not dumbed down. Their presentation takes the reader through a well-researched, chronological examination of his life in a balanced and honest way. There is much explanation of his inspiration and actual work process to interest the young artist. For non-artists there is a useful glossary of people and terms in the back. The authors also do a good job of explaining his personal dilemma between choosing a lucrative commercial art career and becoming a "great" artist. One of the best moments in the book shows how an art consultant gave him the Campbell soup can idea. Further insight into his unusual philosophies of art and life is revealed through the many quotes by Warhol, his critics, family and friends heading each chapter. Although geared for teens, the book does not avoid discussion of his decadent, wild social life nor his homosexuality. This is handled in a sensitive, but matter-of-fact way. It's just included as part of the wider context of his work in art, films and celebrity manufacturing. A really hip, fun biography!

While Andy Warhol: Prince Of Pop was co-authored by Jan Greeneberg and Sandra Jordan with teens in mind, it will also hold a dual interest for adult readers seeking a particularly lively, well detailed introduction to the life and works of ground breaking and innovative American artist Andy Warhol. There are selections of representative art but the strength of Andy Warhol: Prince Of Pop lies in its survey of his controversies, his New York hipster lifestyle, his influences, and his trend-setting achievements. Highly recommended reading, Andy Warhol: Prince Of Pop is so much more accessible than similar treatises which assume prior familiarity with Warhol's art.

An exceptionally well-organized biography. At 138 pages, generally not that detailed but overall thorough in what it does present. I learned more about Andy's youth here than I had elsewhere. Having taken a long time to appreciate how much my parents did for me, I was pleased to see just how much Andrey and Julia (and his brothers) sacrificed for Andy.

If Andy was famous for being non-judgmental at the Factory, perhaps we can see the seeds of that in how accepting Andrej, Julia and his brothers were of unusual Andy. The distance from the seemingly ordinary Andrej and Julia to their extraordinary son seemed not that great.

Although the Velvet Underground merited a few pages, I was disappointed that Lou Reed seemed to only be covered by one sentence. But that's a small nit compared to how well Andy is presented. For the most part Andy's inner world is not revealed, but it seems no one has done that (not even Andy). As much as is written about Andy, a fascinating mystery remains and it is a big mystery. Perhaps I haven't learned from Andy how to accept surfaces. What I appreciate about this biography is that it blocks out his life so well.

The selection of his art in the middle of this book seems a good one. As an introduction to his art and to his life, this book seems a winner. The book closes with a good summary of important dates about Andy from 1926 to 2003, a list of selected films, a list of his books (which shoudln't be underestimated, for example "Popism" and "The Philosophy of Andy Warhol"), a glossary, notes, and an index. A lot of care has gone into constructing this biography.

After reading this biography, a good next step would be "365 Takes" from the Andy Warhol Museum. Warhol was an exceptional genius, which people are still coming to realize. We're fortunate in getting to know him better to have high quality help like this book.

It's not every day that one reads a biography so insightful and compelling that one wants to go learn more about the subject. I first encountered ANDY WARHOL: PRINCE OF POP as an excerpt in RUSH HOUR: Volume Two - Bad Boys. The excerpt, covering the central controversial period of Warhol's celebrity in the 1960s, excited me so much that I knew I had to read more.

The rest of the biography does not disappoint. Organized in a linear narrative, the book covers Warhol's life, from his early childhood as the sickly child of Eastern European immigrants to his death at the age of 58 of complications after routine surgery. It organizes each period into thematic chapters filled with interesting anecdotes, pithy Warhol aphorisms, and memories from people who were there at the time.

Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan's extensive knowledge of the subject and in-depth research into Warhol's life make this book a treasure. It includes a timeline, a glossary of unfamiliar art terms, an extensive bibliography of sources, and is heavily illustrated with some of Warhol's most famous works. While intended as a biography for young adults, this book makes Warhol's life, work, and the art of his age accessible in a way that will appeal to readers of all ages.

One of the strongest aspects of the book is the authors' understanding and clear explanations of many of the art movements of the twentieth century. Also invaluable is the authors' illumination of the many processes Warhol used to produce his art, including painting, silk-screening, and experimental film.

It is difficult for biographers to avoid the trap of finding greatness in the origins of their subjects. This book contains many stories about the Warhol being drawn to art at an early age. However, the authors' careful plotting of the transformation of a shy and painfully awkward boy into the international celebrity also suggests that one of Andy's greatest creations was his own image as an artist.

ANDY WARHOL: PRINCE OF POP does not shy away from the racy subject matter of Warhol's experimental films or the raucous entourage he incorporated into his work in the 1960s. It also deals extensively, though not explicitly, with Warhol's homosexuality.

The work of Andy Warhol is so influential that even readers who do not know anything about him will probably recognize his famous paintings of Campbell soup cans, or his celebrity portraits silk-screened onto brightly colored backgrounds. Greenberg and Jordan's book is engaging and thought-provoking. It will undoubtedly set the standard for young adult biographies for years to come.

--- Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood

" 'We weren't just at the art exhibit. We were the exhibit.' "

On Saturday night, October 20, 1973, during my first semester at UConn, I accompanied some of my new friends to an on-campus screening of Andy Warhol's Trash. It is an evening that I will never forget, although its significance has only partially to do with Warhol's raunchy "artistic" film, whose cast was immortalized in Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side."

" 'Scripts bore me. It's much more exciting not to know what's going to happen.' "

On our way to the theater, my friends detoured by way of a subterranean eatery on the south end of campus. Back then, the establishment was still adorned in original '50s dark leatherette, accompanied by chrome, pennants, mirrors, and a soda fountain. Parking me in a corner while they ordered themselves some slices, I zoned in on the radio as the music was interrupted by a news bulletin: President Nixon had just forced Attorney General Richardson and Assistant Attorney General Ruckelshaus to resign after their refusals to fire Watergate Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox. Solicitor General Bork then proceeded to do the deed for Tricky Dick, and I proceeded to experience a surreal evening of having my eyes aimed at a screenful of junkies, prostitutes, and transvestites, while my mind kept repeating hysterically, "No! He can't do that! No! He can't do that!"

(Robert Bork later got his second fifteen minutes of fame, as a failed Reagan Supreme Court nominee, and continues to get an additional five or ten seconds each time I explain to middle school classes the origin of Rodman Philbrick's phraseology, "That really borks me off," when we read them THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE.)

But I seriously digress.

" 'Now and then people would accuse me of being evil--of letting people destroy themselves while I watched, just so I could film or tape record them,' Andy said. 'But I learned when I was little that whenever I got aggressive and tried to tell someone what to do, nothing happened. I just couldn't carry it off.' "

In the long run it can be argued that Andy Warhol and his complex life became much larger than his art. But the rise of Andy Warhol was the result of a simple and logical progression.

An artistic son of eastern European immigrants grows up to become a successful commercial artist.

"Pittsburgh was far from New York, but the lessons Andy had learned in his hometown--work hard and work fast--were already serving him well."

A commercial artist is someone who is creating interesting and appealing images of products for sale. And the slight, pale, hardworking subject of this book was an absolute master at it. So when a new art movement coincidentally appeared--Pop Art--that involved the incorporation of everyday objects and newspaper images in paintings, who would have been a more likely person to rise and become the prince of that movement than this true master of commercial art?

And who better to tell the fascinating life story of such a controversial artist and cryptic individual than that dynamic duo of artist biographers, Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan?

"For months Andy had been working hard, trying to find a subject to paint that was both fresh and visually stimulating."

The authors do a terrific job of conveying the tension that filled Warhol's determined quest to evolve from successful commercial artist to successful artist. Without that pivotal transition, of course, we wouldn't be talking about Andy Warhol forty-something years later.

"Eventually he painted a six-foot-tall Coke bottle--the curvy shape reproduced straightforwardly, larger than life, with the seriousness of high art. It was a breakthrough for him. Did he intend the Coke bottle as a still life or a satire on the female figure in painting? Certainly Andy never stopped to interpret his artwork; he was just trying to reinvent himself as a serious artist."

But, what's the story of his choosing the Campell's soup can? How did that happen?

"During this period, Andy fell into a depression. His mother constantly nagged him to send more money home to his brothers and their growing families in Pittsburgh. He felt torn between the financial security of commercial art and his ambition to be a great artist. He lay in bed, suffering from panic attacks. Afraid his heart would stop beating if he fell asleep, he would stay up all night talking on the phone to friends. It was on the telephone that he was most verbal, loving to hear gossip about celebrities and stories of his friends' love lives. Andy begged anybody and everybody for ideas. His friends grew used to hearing him moan. 'What should I paint?' They made plenty of suggestions, but nothing seemed right to him.
"Then one night at a party, he asked his usual question, only to receive an unusual response. Muriel Latow, an art consultant, said, 'I can give you an idea, but it's gonna cost you fifty dollars.' Latow had such a bright, sassy point of view that Andy believed she might well come up with a startling suggestion. He pulled out his checkbook.
" 'What do you like most in the world?' she asked him. 'You like money, you should paint that. And you should paint something that everybody sees everyday...like cans of soup.'
"Andy wrote her a check on the spot."

And the rest, as they say, is history.

" 'Publicity is like eating peanuts, once you start you can't stop.' "

Guiding us through his studio, the galleries, parties, film sets, and multimedia presentations; from his near-assassination to the back room of Max's Kansas City, the authors provide an eye-opening look at the art scene and The Scene that Warhol created and nurtured. Years after his death, Andy Warhol's historic images of American icons continue to play a role in our pop culture. ANDY WARHOL: PRINCE OF POP is an engrossing portrait of the man, his art, and the publicity machine he set in motion.

This book is amazing! Basically, it's a compilation of interviews of the most important female performing artists from the past couple of decades. Fascinating, stereotype-destroying, and informative.

This book should be required reading in any discipline. A wonderful introduction to an array of artists who challenge the conventions of society, because they believe that iniquity does not equal freedom.

The interviews are very excellent and thorough and you really get to know more about these women more from it. I felt invisible threads weaving in and out of the book and inside and outside of me, forming some unexplainable connection to these women. My sculpture teacher Jeniifer Pastor made some comment on how women performance artists have such good photogenic bodies and sort of questioned the their feminist nude poses in the pictures (such as Caroles Schneemann's photo "Body Collage, 1968" on page 72 of the book), and I passively-aggressively thought inside ...I agree with you, they are beautiful! They are in charge of the messages from their bodies in their space..they are not passive to the male gaze... I admire these women for all they have done for women artists..This book is good because afterwards I explored these artists further through their individual works whether it is music or a book or a video. My performance art class barely covered these artists so I decided to learn more about them on my own and these interviews helped out alot.

This book presents many unique ideas on being a woman. Juno interviews a variety of artists on life, sexuality, sensuality... femininity and masculinity. From the cultural critiques of bell hooks to Annie Sprinkle's smiling cervix, new brilliance and hope is imparted. If you are looking for inspiration and wisdom from activists by trade, rather than some ivory tower dworkinite, look no further.

I have been looking at this book again and again ever since finding it 3 years ago, each time gaining inspiration to be who I am with no appology. It and the women interviewed in it have inspired me greatly to push my own boundaries and explore society's taboos in a conscious way. I especially love the cover--an illustration of Medusa with pieces of culture's constructions in her snaky hair. Lots of photographs, which is a big plus!

I first became aware of Ellen Meloy in a excerpt from this book in a recent Patagonia catalog. That seems to have been a appropriate venue as I have since discovered she is as sensible and durable and dependable as a pair of Talus pants and presents herself with the best of Patagonia's whimsical flair.

Her writing is Edward Abbey without the macho polemic, Annie Dillard before she lost her way in the incomprehensible, Terry Tempest Williams with a playful and self-deprecating sense of humor and without the Salt Lake City-Cosmo angst. (If you spent a week in the desert backcountry with TTW, I think you would begin to wonder how she stayed so CLEAN. Ellen Meloy IS the desert!) Anyway, sprinkle in a little Loren Eisely (literally in this case) and I think you have it.

So this probably sounds like a "women's book", and in many ways it is. But know this guys, this lady had three brothers, rows I would guess at least Class IV, and has roofed her own home. Any guy who has done at least two of those things and has done them with grace and dignity and good humor is welcome to take a bye. (But probably won't.)

But here's how to tell if you would want to read this book. Open the back cover. Look at the photograph on the dust cover flap. If this is a face you would drive by at high speed with the air-conditioner roaring and the punk rock blaring, drive on. If, on the other hand, it is the face you sense in the willow shade of a deep redrock river canyon...

I have been a fan of Ellen Meloy's writing since her exquisite book about the southwest's Green River. Now, with "The Anthropology of Turquoise," she shows her full colors: skilled writing (there are passages of pure poetry), a firm grasp of natural history and the talent to make seemingly dense scientific subjects of interest to the reader. "A Field Guide to Brazen Harlotry," a chapter about plant sex and unrequited love, for example, reveals the alluring bloom of desert wildflowers. She spends her midlife crisis with a herd of rare bighorn sheep and most of her life outdoors, traveling landscapes of terrific beauty and lively absurdities. Most of all, she has a riotous sense of humor. A lot of so-called "nature writing" ends up preachy or polemical or stuck in New Age fluff. But Meloy is smart. Her descriptive images stay with me. Her wit is joyful, playful and an engaging way to reach profound ideas. What a great book.

What an incredibly talented writer! In a book such as this, which requires lavish descriptions, it would be so easy to succumb to cliche. Yet the author presents what she sees in new, fresh, exciting ways. Interesting anecdotes create layers to the information being presented. This book is to be read cover to cover, and re-read again and again. I found my copy at the library but this is a book to be owned and enjoyed throughout time, so I plan to purchase a copy for myself, and a few more as gifts!

While reading this book, I was amazed and exiliharated with the descriptions of the desert country and the Caribbean (what a juxtiposition) and their charms. Turquoise and other colors in nature are lovingly examined in endless forms and their response in humans is probbed. Meloy is a gutsy, warm, funny, slightly crazy and exceedingly gifted author. When she talks about her encounters with nature, the descriptions are sensual and palpable. I was wishing I could be as courageous; taking solitary rafting trips on the San Juan River and camping out wherever she found herself; a modern day wanderer, a female John Muir. The book is a uniquely personal account of a beautiful relationship with nature, that inspires and challenges. The deep richness of relationships, both human and environmental, are within our grasp and Meloy beautifully shows you her way.

There are three reasons to possess this book. The first reason: You want to read an author whose prose verges on poetry... "On the Colorado Plateau... nights come less as a smooth pause than as a steep, enduring purity of eye-blind dark. (In the day) The mesa's colors in their flanks - terra cotta, blood-red salmon, vermilion - bear the temperament of iron."

Second: Color for you, as for flowers, are a part of your being. You draw colors into your life as an elixir to defeat life's monotony. Ellen Meloy is a master wordsmith. She, more than most, knows that colors "challenge language to encompass them", yet, unabashedly, she tracks down the colors of nature, feels them, tastes them, holds them in her mind and then vividly gives them life. No color is sacrosanct to her. Yes, orange, red, blue, green will all find an expression, but Meloy seeks, not the plebeian, but the unusual, unique, even ruthless colors: burnt sienna, magenta, burgundy red, Prussian blue and of course turquoise, "the stone of the desert," "the color of yearning,". For Meloy; "Colors bear the metaphors of entire cultures. They convey every sensation from lust to distress. Flowers use colors ruthlessly for sex. Moths steal them from their surroundings and disappear. A cactus spines glows red-gold in the angle of sun, like an electrocuted aura." Life is good.

Finally, you will find in Ellen Meloy a forthright lover of nature. She is a south westerner, lover of the desert and outdoors woman who sees in desert life the paradoxes of being. She calls for attention as she expresses the damage to the earth that we are so thoughtlessly committing. She points out how we, Homo sapiens, are the first species to witness and will our own extinction. Her social - naturalist commentary is balanced with humor and memoirs; her narrative is both captivating and informative. She is at her best when she sticks to the southwest, but the chapters that chronicle her forays to the Bahamas and the Yucatan are nonetheless engaging. This is a well-crafted work that is filled with captivating metaphors, naturalism, travelogue, memoirs and humor. If you seek award winning writing, are captivated by colors and find sustenance in the natural world this is a highly recommended read. 4.5 stars