Galleries Books

Ethiopia has one of the most unique and fascinating cultural histories in the world. Due to the isolation stemming from its high mountains and plateaus as well as by the advancing Moslem armies from 500 to 1500 AD, Ethiopia might be termed the Tibet of Africa. However in this case it is Christianity rather than Buddhism which became the binding force of its people. As a result, its art has a pronounced individuality in treating Christian themes and icons. But they possess an unworldly and overwhelming impact in their beauty and artistic integrity. The many color photos show the church painting, bronzework and book illustrations from 1200 to 1800 so the reader gets a vivid conception of the progression of style across the centuries. An essential book!

Berth Lindfors has done an impressive job, cover to cover. There is a sucker born every minute, and unfortunately a great number of individuals are unwillingly caught up in the trade that allows showpeople to sell their tickets. This book shows how a variety of human "specimens" have been treated like animals to sell world's fairs, circuses, etc.

The authors fall short of mentioning that animals have been treated like animals too -- for example, the Bronx Zoo's exhibition of a San tribesmember in a cage with an orang-utan was demeaning for both the former and the latter. But the book shows us in a striking way the problematic nature of the human obsession with cages and the spectacle.

Excellent study of the dynamic of racism, sexism, imperialist greed, and the roots of prejudice.

Bettelheim has put together a gallery of art works by 25 noted younger, contemporary, Cuban artists. The closing section is on Belkis Ayon, who died in 1999. A representative work of each of the artists faces a one-page essay on him or her. Many of the pictured works are from the past year or two. The oldest are from the 1970s. It's an eye-opening catalog displaying the liveliness and imagination in Cuban art works on paper over the past 30 years. One sees that Cuban art has not been retarded by U. S. efforts to ostracize Cuban under the Castro regime; and that as far as its art goes, Cuba reflects the latest in modern and contemporary art with respect to content and style, and in some cases political and social perspective. The Afrocuban works on paper contain all of the irony, postmodern collage, and abstract and biological forms of art of any country, while at the same time reflect earthy African roots and the social tensions and artifices of Cuba. A professor of art history at San Francisco State U., Bettelheim area of concentration is the African Diaspora.

This is a beautifully designed book of photographs that reflect the many different ways people have expressed their sorrow of the 9/11 tragedy and their pride as Americans. The photographs are presented in pairs and carefully sequenced. Dr. Lyons provides no captions or comments on the photographs. They speak for themselves if we take time to listen.

The images are of a very high quality and well chosen. I bought the book from e-bay and paid much less. Although I enjoy the book I don't think it's worth the Amazon price

I love to look at pictures, but can't bear to read. This book is fantastic for a novice like me. It seems to have a wonderful representation of diverse artists in this movement. I cannot comment on the quality of the reproductions, but they look great to me. I have spent many a night studying the plates, seeking inspiration, and have found this to be an excellent reference guide and source of hope.

This was a great book with absolutly gorgeous pictures. I love Victorian paintings and the symbolism that they put in the paintings during that time period.I now collect anything I can find about that painting period. I definatly would reccommend this to anyone who loves this time period in art.

The book could never match the exhibit "in the flesh," but the exhibit was truly astounding. I saw it in Washington a good twenty years ago. 'Twas nothing other than room after room after room of gold, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, diamonds, gold, and emeralds. One could scarcely believe that such wealth existed. Believe me, Suleyman didn't use a pencil unless it was thoroughly encrusted with emeralds and diamonds. Gawk and stare and be jealous. Be jealous! The man probably had precious stones in his bodily wastes . . .

Its nearly impossible to understand how a human being can paint like this, to blur the lines between photography and painting, and create not only realism but a haunting and soulful portrayal of this man's world. Alan Magee keeps a visual journal of the things that turn him on it seems, things of natural beauty that exemplify the Japanese principle of Wabi Sabi, impermanence, evolving decay, life in transition.
I am an artist as well and find this work, and the book itself, to be glowing with its own internal life force.
Robert Lee Morris

Very thorough, accessible study of a marvelous painter.