Book Description

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the national republic of Cuba. To usher in the centenary, Steven Heller and Vicki Gold Levi have collected hundreds of vintage graphics of Cuba from the 1920s to the 1969 revolution. Cuba Style recalls the days of glory when the island was a veritable resort colony for Americans and Europeans who came in search of Latino music and dancing, gambling, tropical romance, and the best beaches in the Americas.

To advertise these attractions, Cubano graphistos combined elements of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Bauhaus modernism, and Vegas-style kitsch in a distinctly Cuban sensibility. Cuba Style, the first book of its kind, reproduces a treasure trove of graphics from popular magazines, packaging, posters, and indigenous products such as liquor and cigars. It is a visual history of Cuba in its golden age as well as a wellspring of capitalist extravagance, seen here through the rare graphics of its extraordinary and now lost popular culture. ... Read more

Book Description

From Emmy Award-winning-producer Paul Dini and acclaimed designer Chip Kidd comes Batman Animated, the behind-the-scenes story of the hit show that revolutionized television animation and brought a stunning new look to the legendary Caped Crusader. Since its premiere in September 1992, Batman: The Animated Series has been acclaimed by enthusiastic viewers and longtime fans of the Batman character as the defining image of the Dark Knight onscreen.

Now readers are offered an inside look into the creation of the series. Granted unprecedented access to the archives of the Warner Bros. Animation Studio, Chip Kidd has combined breathtaking photographs by Award-winning photographer Geoff Spear and fashioned an imaginative layout of never-before-published preproduction and finished artwork that echoes the boldness of producer-designer Bruce Timm's powerful TV show.

Paul Dini's text offers entertaining and informative commentary on the series history, development, and continuing production. It includes glimpses into the making of the Batman animated features Mask of the Phantasm and SubZero, and a sneak peek into the future projects.

Featuring a detailed episode guide, comments from the series creators and voice actors, and an introduction by Bruce Timm, Batman Animated is a must-have for Batman fans young and old. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

"It's Never Too Late" to buy this awesome book!
This book is a definite must-have for fans of the animated Batman series. This book shows you how much love all the people involved in the show had for it. The level of detail that went into this show is insane! Take a look at the storyboards shown in the book for the episode "Avatar" and I'm sure you'll agree that those rough drawings look even better than some of the finished cartoons that have been on. There is a lot to like in this book and I hope they make a follow-up to this one because some of my favorite villains (Clayface, The Ventriloquist and Mr. Freeze) don't get as much said about them as, say, The Joker. That makes sense, but it annoys me a bit. That is why I hope they make a second book. Until that day, this is an outstanding work of art and is perfect for any fan's collection.

2 Words: It's Awsome!
Ever since Batman:The Animated Series first aired, I've always wondered how they did their drawings and what inspired them to draw Batman or Joker like they did. This book gives you all the details with VERY nice pictures and storyboard pictures of some episode parts. This book has it all, every single villan and hero from the series is in this book. From information, to crazy prototype drawings. Also it includes info about The new Batman/Superman adventures and how come they changed how everyone looked. The 2 Batman movies Subzero and Mask of the Phantasm are in there too! Why they chose their story and other interesting stuff. This is definitely a must buy for fans of the show and the Dark Knight

Best of its type
The best compendium of modern TV animation layout and design currently available. These artists revolutionized TV animation, and this book is something that everyone interested in the field must have. Strong work, and very good presentation here, especially the storyboard sequences. Good for artists as a learning aid, or as entertainment for fans of the show, whatever age. Clear, uncluttered presentation from the Warners studio archives. A good history of the show, and a great lesson in how to develop an animated project. You should have this sense of design based on strength, simplicity, drama and clarity.

Read this awsome book
come on were talking about a class a+ book here I mean the list price wouldn't be ... if it wasn't the best book ever so if you're a huge Batman fan which you probably are because you're looking at this book you won't regret you bought this awsome book!!!!!!!

Great Book
A spectacular inside view of what went into one of the best animated series ever created, full of paintings, musings, mechandise, idea sketches for the show and movies, etc. I enjoyed most reading about what they were forced to cut for a tv audience, and seeing the beautiful title cards that open each show. I bought this a few years back and I am still finding new things to pour over. I dislike 'Batman Beyond', though, thankfully they don't waste much time on that show. ... Read more

Book Description

From initial concept through to finishing touches, for the first time, Boris and Julie give an in-depth description of how they paint their masterpieces, taking the reader through every stage of the creative process. As well as teaching the main techniques, the premiere fantasy-art team shows the reader how to use a wide variety of media to create a whole range of different types of painting, and explain how they create the effects for which they are so renowned, such as Julie's legendary "metal flesh," with its mix of fluidity and hardness contrasting with the sensual softness of the skin. Illustrated throughout in full color, the Practical Guide to Fantasy Art includes step-by-step photographs that Boris and Julie have taken as they've worked as well as a selection of their finished art appealing to art students and fantasy-art admirers alike. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Keith Haring: Radiant Child
I first became interested in Keith Haring as an artist when I saw a collection of his work at the Tampa Museum of Art in the very early 1990's. By that time, Keith had already passed away; however, he left behind a very large legacy of his remarkable work. I decided I had to know more about this man whose colorful pop art had caught my eye, so I went out and bought the book, "Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography." This book is awesome!! It is part autobiography, part miniature art gallery. Keith's story is told in a very intimate, revealing way, and it really makes you feel as if you are right there in the middle of his life in New York in the 80's. All of the famous artists and people from the entertainment world that comprised Keith's social circle are also included in the book, offering up their observations and anecdotes of Keith Haring, his lifestyle, and his art. There are many personal photographs of the artist at work and with his friends included in the book, as well as eye-popping photos of some of Keith's famous works. Often Keith Haring is called a "grafitti artist." When you read this book, you will realize that he is more than just that; Keith Haring was a down-to-earth man whose stunning and sometimes controversial art holds a universal appeal and a bittersweet social commentary of life as he knew it. Art lovers - don't miss out on this one!

This was the first biography that I'd read
I had always been under the impression that biographies were purposely designed to be dull and pointless, until I picked up this book. I have always liked Haring's work and wanted to find out more about the man himself. Not only is this book a biography but it contains words from Haring himself. It is very accessible, all chapters are broken down into easy to read sections and you can dip in and out of the book as you wish. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in his art (it contains many colour photographs of his more famous works) and all those who are interested in learning more about Haring's colourful life.

A fascinating and intimate portrait of an artist
What makes "Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography", such a moving work is its unique approach to the biographical format. Rather than just recount his research into Haring's life, author John Gruen has pieced together writings by Haring, the artist's friends, companions, mentors, and dealers. The narrative switches perspective quite often, resulting in a balanced and more revealing account of Haring's life and art, from different points of view. Among other things, Haring recounts his beginnings as a graffiti artist, his rivalry with the painter Jean-Michel Basquiat, and his coming to terms with being gay, and eventually, his contraction of AIDS. Profusely illustrated throughout, the book also gives an inside look at several aspects of the 80's art scene in New York city. By the end, the reader gains not only a thorough knowledge of Haring the artist, but more importantly, an understanding of the humanist philosophy and intent behind the art ... Read more

Book Description

This book attempts to show us beautiful things which are not ordinarily thought of as beautiful‹to make invisible art visible. The authors believe that too many people think that art is confined to museums and galleries, whereas, in truth, it is all around us. Some of the things included in Invisible Art are: coloring book covers, novelty catalog illustrations, old postcards, cigarette cards, and children¹s book illustrations. Unusual themes are explored, such as: the number three, men and women in boats, a history of the hammock, personifications of mountains, women¹s backs, and artful modes of concealment. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

about seeing the world anew
An excellent book, this is a set of observations really, spun together by three artists with similar styles, mainly, those of collecting, assembling, and assorting the everyday into powerful, almost shamanistic totems. Unconscious markers of humankind, ones that speak volumes about us.

Takefor example, a picture of a man and woman together in a boat.When we seeone of these, in a chocolate ad, or in a thrift-store painting, we passright by it.It speaks to us in a silent and unassuming way, but it iseasily ignored as trite, or cliche.But here, we see twenty or so of thesepainings assembled together, and by their repetition, we start to feel thepower of the image.We are all in a little boat in this life, and perhapsit might be nioce to share that little boat with someone.

Such a naiveobservation, yet one of such humanity!

This alone would make the workworth while, but in addition, you get a section of juxtaposed images, werethe ordinary is pasted onto the ordinary to tell a fantastic and incrediblestory. A striking example is the image of a turn of the century diver,leaping from a waterfall with his heart in his hands.All these imageshave this same power, as ifthey were illustrations from a story told to usin our sleep, and we've always known it, but we can't recall how it begins,or how it ends. We know the work, and have always knows it.

This is thekind of power you can expect from this book.A must for anyone with adesire to look at the world with amazement and wonder, instead of withcynicism and bile.

Invisible Art
Like nothing else I have ever seen bound together! It is more like looking through your (very inventive) friend's scrapbook. The concept of the book is that art is EVERYWHERE, even in simple and overlooked things we see (ordon't see according to the authors) everyday. I'm not sure if I think allthe examples are "art", but he book sure is - beautiful designand binding. An excellent idea and great for any individual thinker. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1977,Madonna Louise Ciccone moved from Michigan to New York City, re-christening herself simply ‘Madonna’. Six years of hard work in the clubs of Manhattan with a succession of bands propelled her to the forefront of the New York scene. In 1983, her self-titled debut album was released, and the hit singles ‘Holiday’ and ‘Borderline’ soon followed. Then came seventeen consecutive top ten hits, a further ten albums, and roles in nineteen feature films, from her debut in the 80’s classic Desperately Seeking Susan to the steamy thriller Body of Evidence. Multitalented, controversial in her own proud sexuality and a dedicated campaigner for sexual tolerance, Madonna is one of the great Millennial Icons, a one-woman pop phenomenon who has pushed back and blurred the boundaries of the music, film and fashion worlds.

‘Madonna in Art’ is a celebration of the Pop Goddess at every stage of her career. A testament to her unique global impact, it features work by over a hundred artists, including Andrew Logan, Bruni, Sebastian Kruger, Al Hirschfeld, Donna Lief and Peter Howson. These images range across every role Madonna has played on the world stage, from erotic dancer to the dignified figure of Eva Peron in Evita. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Accessibility is the code word for Phaidon's new 500-page dictionary of American art. The book values images over words, and its longest text is the introduction, which is printed in large, bold face and hardly fills one page. But it does describe the book's mission well: "Each artist is represented by a full-page color plate of a significant work, accompanied by an informative and engaging text that places the artist in the context of contemporary movements and preceding traditions...."--concise and informative. By arranging the artists alphabetically, the editors set up some odd and amusing juxtapositions. For example, the suited subject of an Alice Neel painting appears to speak and gesticulate excitedly about the overstacked cornucopia of Louise Nevelson's crates found on the opposing page. The caption over each work includes four artists' names in bold print that function as hyperlinks of a sort, allowing readers to skip, for example, from Willem de Kooning's Woman I to Jean Michel Basquiat's Skull to Alfred Maurer's cubist-like painting Woman with Curlers. This way, with each visit to the American Art Book, readers can discover and follow countless narratives throughout the three centuries of American art.

Filled with large, expertly reproduced images, The American Art Book is, like its cousins The Photo Book and The 20th Century Art Book, a high-quality and surprisingly inexpensive volume that would be a worthy addition to any art lover's library. --Loren E. Baldwin ... Read more

Reviews (12)

An excellent way to relax
I am not an art critic or claim to have any expertise in art but I do find The American Art Book by Jay Tobler an excellent way to relax and view the world of art in compleley different setting. The compilation of artists is very complete and provides an outstanding cross section of artists within our american culture. As I read the book I can't help but think that each artist sat down with Jay and described to him in the artists words what the piece meant to them. The candor and symmetry of the writings are spendid and truly allow you to understand and relate to, not just the art work but also the artist.

A must for art lovers
What an incredible collection! An expertly guided tour through the always fascinating spectrum of American art over the centuries. I found the reproductions of works stunning, and the accompanying texts both accessible and stimulating. And kudos to editor Jay Tobler for choosing such a broad representation of artists -- introducing the reader to new and intriguing figures in the midst of celebrating the greats. This book is a must to own for lovers of art or American cultural history -- and for anyone interested in learning more about it. It's so much more than your usual "coffee table" book -- it's like having your own museum of treasures to revisit -- and trust me, you will.

Mesmerizing
This book has occupied the center of my kitchen table since I received it. I find myself drawn to it at all times of the day and night. The large format pictures are beautifully reproduced, the accompanying text is informative yet concise and the links to other artists provide a fascinating insight into American art movements. I am astonished at the range and variety of American art and feel quite ...patriotic!

Where's Paul Wonner?
I realize it's difficult to include everyone, but I really miss him, especially his gouache figurative work. This is a very nice (and big) collection. The prints are good quality and the design doesn't detract from the pictures. It's especially nice to see 20th century American art scattered in with all the preceding artists. Another really good collection is "Icons of Art: the 20th Century." I don't think Paul Wonner's in that one either. How come?

Art for Everyone
The American Art Book is an incredible compilation of fantastic art. It is accessible to artists and anyone who can appreciate art. The text which accompanies each piece is wonderfully written and provides detail without being too technical. It feels like the artist is sitting with you and telling you all of the interesting things about the work.

I love that I can just pick up the book and always find something I haven't seen before. Jay Tobler has done a wonderful job choosing interesting and unique art from all genres and providing informative and interesting text. ... Read more

Book Description

In the five decades after the Yellow Kid first appeared in 1895, the funnies became an essential element of American life. Comic strip characters-Buster Brown, the Katzenjammer Kids, Krazy Kat, Tarzan, Dick Tracy, Popeye, Blondie, Li'l Abner-were everywhere. They starred in live-action and animated films, stage plays, and radio programs. Their phrases invaded the language; their adventures, which reflected societal changes, were retold in books and inspired hit songs.

This visually stunning, comprehensive survey-copiously illustrated with rare original comics art-is the most authoritative history of prewar American newspaper comics currently in print. It documents the major trends in the funnies business, decade by decade, and presents in-depth biographies of 21 of the most influential creators of the era. The Comics Before 1945 joins Brian Walker's The Comics Since 1945 to form a classic survey of American popular culture by one of the greatest authorities in the field. AUTHOR BIO: Brian Walker, a cartoonist and a founder of the International Museum of Cartoon Art, has written and edited more than a dozen books, including Abrams' The Comics Since 1945. Since 1984 he has been part of the creative team that produces the strips Beetle Bailey and Hi and Lois. He lives in Wilton, Connecticut. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Good For Beginers, not so Good if you know Mehndi at all.
I bought kit and was upset by the small amount of henna. The book tells you very little about creating your own henna paste; its all mixing solutions not telling you how to do it yourself.

It does contain excellent transfers that allow beginners to do great tribal peices and traditional Indian peices. But the weakness of the book is it only concentrates on these designs, not training you to do your own designs.

Ideal for begginers,simple and clear.
Although I haven't used the kit yet,I have found that the book has put me at ease and makes me feel I can do well even without much experience.The chapter about making your own henna explains what the catylist solution is and what its for.Read through it thoroughly and you will learn all the basics to start.More information than I expected from a kit.

Buying for the second time
I liked this kit so much last summer that I'm purchased another for this summer. The amount of henna in the kit looks small, but as they say...a little goes a long way. I used it weekly on my ankle for about 6 months. I still have some left and plan to use that for at least another month. I always get compliments on my henna tattoos.

Disappointed
I was disappointed with the amount of henna & few transfers. I also wish the kit had a bottle with an applicator tip instead of it being it that little baggie thing. But the book is very pretty, as someone else said.

Wonderful
A big group of friends and I tried out this kit together and we had wonderful results. The henna went a very long way, much more so than I had expected. We had to mix a little water into the cones because they were a little too thick, but the rest of it worked great. You will want to reenforce the sides of the cones with tape before you start, because no matter what the seams (they are shaped zip lock bags) eventually give with the force of pushing the henna though the cone. We all had wonderful, dark orange results two and a half hours later. Leave the henna on longer than the author suggests, until it is mostly flaking off by itself (say 2 and a half to 3 hours).
Good luck! ... Read more

Book Description

With the significantly increased popularity of fantasy films, TV, and books in recent years, the work of fantasy artists is in demand as never before. This art instruction manual, written by a noted fantasy artist, coaches students in methods of portraying convincing fantasy figures in all media—pencil, watercolor, acrylics, oils, and computer-generated pixel points. Following a discussion of needed tools and equipment, the author instructs on techniques for drawing convincing fantasy characters and their worlds, with attention to their faces, bodies, action, and costume styles. He advises on the creation of heroes and heroines, villains and wizards, dragons and man-like beasts. Separate chapters deal with different art media, and a final section on computer art covers everything from the basic desktop setup to methods of creating special effects. This beautifully produced book features more than 250 instructive, vividly-colored illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent book (in a lonely field)
There aren't very many illustration books out there that deal with drawing from the imagination. Most are concerned only with drawing from nature, from a model, still life, etc. There's the Encyclopedia of Fantasy Art, of course, but that is more of a collection of examples, and not much of a learning resource. And there are a few well-known comic book titles, but they are mostly dated and directed at the pre-teen crowd.

Cowan's book, however, fills this gap nicely. It has a great look and is very informative. The only reason it doesn't get the full 5 stars is because it tries to cover too much material. Two books -- one on drawing and one on painting -- would have been much better, as it would have allowed more detailed coverage of both topics.

All in all, though, highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great resource, fun read for SW enthusiasts.
If you've been lucky enough to see "The Magic of Myth" in one of its many permutations, this book is a great supplement to and a wonderful reminder of just how cool that exhibit was. If you haven't seen the exhibit, this book is still great to have for it's back-story on the origins of the trilogy.

I'm not the most well-read person around so it was a lot of fun to learn how Lucas' characters and story were shaped by (or copied from) myths and legends of other times and cultures. Reading this book has led me to explore some of the material that Lucas borrowed from in creating Star Wars. I'm a big SW nut, but it's nice to get my head out of the SW universe and out into other forms of art and literature.

If you don't feel like reading, this book is also full of GREAT photos from the trilogy.

I keep this one on the shelf next to Joseph Campbell's "Power of Myth." It is a nice complement to Campbell's book.

THE MYTH IS MAGIC
I love this book. I got it at the National Air & Space Museum. It is very fun to read. You can learn a lot from Darth Vader's Helmet To Luke Skywalker. It talks a lot about the "MYTH" of STAR WARS. A book you don't have to be a jedi to understand. Lots' of color pictures from the movie and the exhition in Washington. Don't miss this book, Also check out the STAR WARS SCRAPBOOK END

Great look at the magic behind George Lucas' masterpiece!
The Star Wars Trilogy is one of the most profound series of our time. This book shows how George Lucas put together many ingredients from history, mythical and factual, to create one of the best stories of good vs evil ever told. And the pictures and illustrations are beautiful. A "must have" for any Star Wars fan. ... Read more

Book Description

The erotic artist Wolf has created a bizarre and juicy little fetish niche unlike anything before - superheroines in bondage! "Capes and kink" works for a growing legion of fans who just can't get enough of the nasty, nasty stuff! Horny apes, evil lesbians, maniacal mad scientists, all taking turns seeing just how much punishment these "so-called" super-types can really take! Fiendishly clever and expertly created, Wolf has pretty much cornered the market on this new form of entertainment. ... Read more

Book Description

Legendary impresario Bill Graham began in January 1966 to commission posters to promote the concerts he was putting on at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium. The poster artists created vivid, irreverent banners that reflected their own sense of poetics, style, and wit. What resulted were signature juxtapositions of design, lettering, and color that represented a brand-new art form. These posters now occupy a place in art history while surviving as treasured artifacts of rock archaeology.

Published in cooperation with Bill Graham Presents, The Art of the Fillmore reunites for the first time in a single volume the original Bill Graham posters created exclusively for the San Francisco and New York Fillmore dance concerts. Indexes cross-reference the posters with the bands they advertised and the poster artists who created them. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must have for any collector of the Fillmore posters.
Now you can see just how beautiful these rock posters are. Each poster in the Fillmore series is presented in full color. An excellent tool to guide you in your purchases, or just help you to enjoy these works of art. Excellent information on the artists and some cool insights into the people and the place that was the Fillmore west. ... Read more

Book Description

New York City, the 1960s: Inside a ramshackle studio known as The Factory, the post-war art world encountered the industrial revolution. For more than two years, Nat Finkelstein was on the scene, documenting the explosive emergence of Pop Art, a subversive spectacle created by the constantly calculating Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol: The Factory Years is an extraordinary photographic account of the twisted, the addicted, the nameless, and the famous. As a member of the club, Finkelstein discreetly captured icons in the making, including Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Allen Ginsberg, Edie Sedgwick, and Nico, along with such legends of another era as Salvador Dali and Marcel Duchamp. And, of course, Warhol himself. Engagingly sequenced by renowned design firm Pentagram, Andy Warhol: The Factory Years features Finkelstein's seminal black-and-white photographs, in addition to several series of previously unpublished color photographs that were thought lost for the past three decades. Finkelstein accompanies these striking images with vivid memories, poetic recollections, and acerbic commentary, providing both visual and intellectual insight into the culture of The Factory. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Worth buying but only just: color photos a big plus!
It is not a little ironic that the photographic record of an artist as prolific and as wrapped up in making and taking film and photographs as Andy Warhol was suffers from a dearth of great photos of the scene of Andy Warhol, The Factory and his Superstars: For real. I mean, I would love to own a book that is just chockablock full of all of the characters, primary, secondary, tertiary and beyond who populate the pages of the many books about Andy Warhol and the Warhol Experience. Unfortunately, there just doesn't seem to be any out there. Most of the books by and about the actors in the Warhol drama are text-based with a few, often the same few, grainy, shadowy, poorly framed black & whites. This book is an attempt by one to bring together more and better photos that fans such as I desire. It is a fair effort but only just. The book is over-size or 'folio' form which is GREAT, and mostly photographs. The text is composed of an opening statement of a couple of pages of over-sized type by the author followed by lots of photographs. The essays contain some valuable information that have the ring of truth to them, but they also seem spontaneous, off-the-cuff and free associative and as a result are not easy to follow. They are more blurted out than intoned, if you get me. The book is printed in the UK on non-glossy heavy stock. I'm unsure if this was done to save money or to impart a flat, gritty, industrial feel to the photos. It is a different look than anything else out there about Warhol and I can live with it; although, I catch myself wondering what this book would look like if done on really expensive, glossy paper with top notch production values. The author explains at one point that his photos were criticized by media critics for being odd and unconventional. He states that today this is recognized as a somewhat ground-breaking and very original and excellent representation of the scene. I think that they are a bit odd and unconventional. There are some great shots there though, and the author gets some portraits of Edie Sedgewick that are heart-breakingly prescient in retrospect. There are a couple great shots of Nico too and, of course, Andy. I was pleased to see some good ones of Taylor Mead and Paul Morissey which is a refreshing change; although, I must say that it would have been cool to see how the author would have represented Andy's mother, Billy Name, and Andrea Feldman. Oh, well, I suppose one must be happy with what one can get. I believe that if you are a huge Warhol admirer such as I you would be mad to not own this. If you are curious but indifferent to Warhol and the scene, right now as I speak you can buy this book right here on Amazon for a fraction of what it is worth and you should buy it NOW. If you don't care for Andy Warhol or care about him this book will certainly not change your mind so don't bother.

new edition
the book expanded redesigned and with the addition with a complete section of color phots has been republished by canongate books ,scotland ... Read more

Book Description

A complete record of the public art installations sponsored by New York City’s Percent for Art Program since 1983 that features two hundred works by nearly as many artists, many of whom are internationally well known, including Vito Acconci, Dennis Adams, Siah Armajani, Alice Aycock, Dawoud Bey, Scott Burton, Jackie Ferrara, Komar & Melamid, Matt Mullican, Pat Steir, Fred Tomaselli, Ursula von Rydingsvard, Carrie Mae Weems, Fred Wilson and Krzysztof Wodiczko. City Art includes interior and exterior permanent art installations at schools, parks, playgrounds, courthouses and other sites throughout New York City’s five boroughs. Contains a foreword by Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City, and specially commissioned photography by celebrated New York-based architectural photographer David S. Allee. A stunning book that will appeal to anyone interested in contemporary art, architecture, urban issues and culture. ... Read more

Book Description

Regularly referred to as the father of Pop Art, Richard Hamilton was an early, lively, and satirical discoverer of the art of the everyday consumer good. In the mid-50s, like many artists who were to follow in his wake, Hamilton discovered the mythic and epic elements that lurked in the contemporary world of imagery and integrated these found objects into his work. If Hamilton is best known for his collages--most especially his 1956 Just What Is It That Makes Today's Homes So Different, So Appealing?--he has maintained a consistent interest in the art of printmaking throughout his career. His first exhibition, in 1950, featured etchings; in the early 60s he pioneered the use of silkscreens; and since 1988 he has created a world of images via the computer. This volume collects 64 years of the artist's prints on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

Essays by Etienne Lullin, Stephen Coppel and Dieter Schwarz.

Hardcover, 9.25 x 12.5 in., 320 pages, 244 color, 36 b/willustrations ... Read more

Book Description

Andy Warhol (1928–1987) is arguably the most iconic figure in twentieth century art, an enigmatic personality who not only altered the definition of art itself but also in his wake left a vast and staggeringly complex record of his activities. Warhol’s archive consists not only of his artworks but also 1,500 cardboard boxes, flat files, and trunks filled with source material, memorabilia, correspondence, and junk mail. When the catalogue raisonné is complete, it will constitute an indisputable record of the artist’s paintings, drawings, and sculptures — some 15,000 works produced by the artist between 1948 and 1987, the year of his death.

Volume 2 documents the artist’s paintings, sculpture, and installations made between 1964 and 1969, the important period known as "The Factory Years," when Warhol began to acquire Pop Art fame as well as a cadre of collaborators and hangers-on — all of which made "The Factory" into one of the most mythologized artist’s studios ever, and Warhol’s work at this time emblematic of his career. This volume documents 23 series and more than 1,400 individual works, including the well-known series Thirteen Most Wanted Men, the box sculptures, approximately 300 works in the Jackie series, and the 1964 and 1964–65 Flowers series, among others. As in Volume 1, Volume 2 includes a fascinating collection of source material — in particular rare studio photographs taken by Billy Name-Linich, who became the Factory’s first de facto photographic historian.

In this volume editors Georg Frei and Neil Printz focus on Warhol’s serial production, analyzing the evolution of Warhol’s working methods and the growing relationship between Warhol’s exhibitions and his studio production. They establish a chronology for the works of this period, many of which have been difficult to locate and date due to their seriality. Their text provides both a compelling overview and unparalleled detail of an endlessly fascinating life and career.

The project is co-sponsored by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts in New York and Thomas Ammann Fine Art in Zurich. ... Read more

Book Description

The mythological giants of popular culture include Captain America, Silver Surfer, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, The X-Men, Spider-Man, and the Incredible Hulk. For 60 years Marvel has not only brought these larger-than-life heroes to their fans but has also created and sustained a coherent universe where all their adventures take place. In a discussion of the evolution of these superheroes, Michael Mallory draws on informative interviews with cartoonists such as Stan Lee, Joe Simon, and Roy Thomas. Illustrated with incomparable reproductions of comic art and hundreds of photographs from film and TV, this revised edition features new, original cover art by Kaare Andrews and contains updated material on the new Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, and X-Men movies. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Marvel had Jack Kirby, DC never quite did.....
One reason why Marvel has so much better characters then Dc is that Marvel had the artistic genius of Jack Kirby working for them. Jack being the artist, and Stan being the writer/editor was a combination that has not been seen in comics before and most likely will not be seen again in the field. Together they created about 50% of the Marvel Universe as we know it now between 1961 and 1966. Kirby would later work at DC both on and off over the years, but the amount of work he did there was less then half of what he did for Marvel. If there is one reason why Marvel has enjoyed the success they have, is because Jack Kirby worked there as long as he did, and I think it's time they acknowledge that.

An Excellent Overview of the "Marvel Age" Of Comics
I put off buying Marvel: The Characters and Their Universe because of the price. I finally decided to give in to the temptation, and WOW, am I glad I did! I had an absolute BLAST reading this book.

The book is beautifully designed; It looks, smells, and feels GREAT. It's so attractive that at times I actually hated to open it for fear of getting it dirty. The cover art by Kaare Andrews is just gorgeous. Content-wise, Author Michael Mallory does a nice job of covering the history of the Marvel Bullpen and it's major players (Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko), and the Marvel Universe and it's major characters (Captain America, The Hulk, Spider-Man, and The X-Men each get extensive chapters of their own, The Fantastic Four, The Avengers, Daredevil, The Silver Surfer, et al, all share smaller chapters). The chapters are lavishly illustrated, and filled with beautiful art from the Comics, Movies, TV shows, and video games that the characters have appeared in. I'm a REAL Marvel Comic afficionado, and not only did I NOT find too many mistakes in the book (A few, but nothing major...), but I actually learned a lot; My favorite tidbit- Captain America co-creator Joe Simon hails from my adopted hometown of Rochester, New York.

Marvel: The Characters and Their Universe is a luxury item, to be sure, but one I'm glad I splurged on. I guarantee any Marvel Zombie will love it.

Great Read and Coffee Table Book
This book is great. It goes into, although briefly the rise of marvel comics. The meat and potatoes of this book though is the study of the marvel characters. Captain America, Spider-man, The Incredible Hulk, and the X-Men are looked into in depth. Other characters in the marvel universe are also explored but not in the length of the others mentioned. Whats great about this book is that it looks at the characters major story lines and their origins but also their representations in other mediums. WOndering about Captain America in the movies or on t.v.? Then this is the book for you. There is also another great book titled "marvel universe." That book looks at the characters in the comics only. So if you want just a study of the comics go with "Marvel Universe." If you want a book that looks at everything invovled with the character go with this one. Or buy both, they are fantastic books. So buy both! I did.

Action packed
This book is great. Full color, large pictures and information from the past to present on most Marvel Heroes. What is great is that you can be entertained and kept interested while reading about charactors you might not have had any interest in before.

Great Book on the universe created by Stan and Jack.
This book on the Marvel Universe gives a very in depth look about the creation of Marvel Comics in the 1960's and how Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created a universe full of human heroes that an everyday reader could relate with. Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, the X-Men, Captain America...the list goes on. Here they created a universe that was beliveable and had their characters live in a real city like New York (No fictional Gothom City or Metropolis here) avoiding the convoluted storylines that DC would often do (and still does to this day). On a more personal note it makes one really hope that the various Marvel films now in production will be a success. I'm hopeing for good films to be made on the Lee/Kirby charecters alone, Of the newer Marvel heroes, created by later generations of writers and artists, the only one I ever liked was Moon Knight, created by Doug Moench. ... Read more

Book Description

It's a typical summer Friday night and the smell of popcorn is in the air. Throngs of fans jam into air-conditioned multiplexes to escape for two hours in the dark, blissfully lost in Hollywood's latest glittery confection complete with megawatt celebrities, awesome special effects, and enormous marketing budgets. The world is in love with the blockbuster movie, and these cinematic behemoths have risen to dominate the film industry, breaking box office records every weekend. With the passion and wit of a true movie buff and the insight of an internationally renowned critic, Tom Shone is the first to make sense of this phenomenon by taking readers through the decades that have shaped the modern blockbuster and forever transformed the face of Hollywood.

The moment the shark fin broke the water in 1975, a new monster was born. Fast, visceral, and devouring all in its path, the blockbuster had arrived. In just a few weeks Jaws earned more than $100 million in ticket sales, an unprecedented feat that heralded a new era in film. Soon, blockbuster auteurs such as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and James Cameron would revive the flagging fortunes of the studios and lure audiences back into theaters with the promise of thrills, plenty of action, and an escape from art house pretension.

But somewhere along the line, the beast they awakened took on a life of its own, and by the 1990s production budgets had escalated as quickly as profits. Hollywood entered a topsy-turvy world ruled by marketing and merchandising mavens, in which flops like Godzilla made money and hits had to break records just to break even. The blockbuster changed from a major event that took place a few times a year into something that audiences have come to expect weekly, piling into the backs of one another in an annual demolition derby that has left even Hollywood aghast.

Tom Shone has interviewed all the key participants -- from cinematic visionaries like Spielberg and Lucas and the executives who greenlight these spectacles down to the effects wizards who detonated the Death Star and blew up the White House -- in order to reveal the ways in which blockbusters have transformed how Hollywood makes movies and how we watch them. As entertaining as the films it chronicles, Blockbuster is a must-read for any fan who delights in the magic of the movies. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Yes, Virginia, blockbusters did kill not just ART films...
...But any movie where people talk to each other, instead of settling their problems with their fists, a crow bar, a car chase, witchcraft, or a snappy one-liner with an adolescent observation about sex.Shone says he's setting out to prove the opposite, but then does little more than give us anecdotes about the making of his favorite films for 200 pages.The chapter on Star Wars, for example, was heavily lifted from Dale Pollack's book about George Lucas, while the chapter on Spielberg and Close Encounters was ripped mostly from Balaban's "Diary" and Julia Phillips' memoirs.More interestingly, the author starts out in his forward differentiating between true must-see blockbusters of years gone by and the everyone's-gotta-see-it films that he claims we've been getting lately--movies like The Running Man and Godzilla that grossed zillions yet were generally disliked by critics and audiences alike.Yet there have always been plenty of these latter films: Superman and Earthquake and The Swarm.Many of these films, 30+ years later, are now being referred to as "classics," but go back and read the original reviews (or just WATCH them) and you'll see they were anything but.(And the original reviews are right.Today's stinkers will become classics too when someone wants to remake them because they're out of original ideas.)

I don't think there's much doubt that blockbusters have eroded cinema, turning the most complex artform of the 20th century into little more than a glorified video game.Just listen to today's audiences discussing the latest spectacle film to see how this is so: they talk about the size of the explosions and not the characters or the acting.I was watching a documentary on the making of Bridge On The River Kwai recently and was amazed to see the filmmakers and actors debating and arguing over the motivations of the characters in the climactic scene.They actually took half a day of shooting time to decide where Alec Guiness's character accidentally or deliberately fell on the detonator that blew up the bridge just as the train was passing by.They went into great detail about exactly how the character would keel over.Today they would just worry about whether the fireball was big enough.But director David Lean stressed over and over that you can't leave details such as character intention neglected or you've cheated your audience and made a dishonest film.

Or consider Roman Polanski, talking about how he had wanted to work with Jack Nicholson for years, but couldn't find a good script until Chinatown came along, so he waited.*Worrying about the script!*Can you imagine a Roland Emmerich or a Michael Bay saying that?Today's films don't even have plots that make sense!Not that anyone notices.

Shone doesn't even discuss this.Of course, what publisher today would worry about making a dishonest book and cheating your audience?The blockbuster mentality has spread to publishing as well.In short, this book comes across like an easy attempt to make a fast buck--just like the films he defends.

I loved Star Wars too, but....
I read this book based on Nick Hornby's review in the Believer.It's a strange beast.Shone makes very clear that he wants to deflate the argument made by Biskind in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls that the Blockbuster killed the New American Cinema.I really did enjoy Biskind's book, though it certainly is gossip-laden and pretty fast and loose with the facts-- so I was quite interested to read Blockbuster for an alternate take on the "Blockbuster killed the Art film" debate.Unfortunately, it is pretty weak.While Shone derides Biskind's take on the after-effects of Jaws, etc. - he really doesn't back up his own stance beyond some very basic observations that do little to convince.Basically, there is not much meat to the book - some good anecdotes are sprinkled throughout, but nothing that doesn't seem like it could have come from a back issue of Premiere magazine.All said though, I did tear through it.The prose is engaging, and it's an easy read.

Fascinating, even if you're not a film buff
I watch a fair amount of movies, but I would hardly call myself a "film buff". I was a little skeptical of the book, but I bought it anyway on Nick Hornby's recommendation in Polysyllabic Spree. It turns out that this is a pretty fascinating subject. I wouldn't have thought I'd be very interested in the making of Batman or Titanic, but I couldn't put the book down.

Shone has a very enganging writing style, and the book is as mucha history of people as much as of movies. He starts with the first big blockbusters of 25 years ago -- Jaws, Star Wars, ET, Alien -- and recreates the excitement we felt when we first saw them. The latter half of the book examines Hollywood's hubristic blockbusters -- Gozilla, Last Action Hero -- and how we all went to see them anyway. I always thought of the big summer action films as something Hollywood slapped together to make a buck, but sometimes they represent somebody's dreams (Back to the Future). Then again, sometimes they really are something slapped together to make a buck, maybe crushing some dreams in the process (Batman, Godzilla).

If you're a movie snob, you may not like this book. Shone is going to take Spielberg over Scorcese, and you know if you're not going to like that. But if you can take that, I think you'll really like this book, and I say that as someone who hasn't even seen Jaws.

FIRST!
I know you are out there, somewhere, waiting for the first review on amazon of this book, so it would be my honor to be that.I was able to get this book, by reading about it first on the Guardian or The Mirror or something British like that.Waited patiently for it to become available.Get it delivered, as soon as it was out on amazon, to my sister's husband in the states, who hand-delivered it here to me in the Philippines on the 20th.I read it in 3 days.Anyway, unto the book.The book exactly captured the feeling I was feeling when I was reading Biskind's book.I was like, am I wrong in liking BIG movies.By the end of that book, I only really read the Star Wars and Spielberg parts, because those were the only parts that interested me.I guess you also felt this way that's why you wrote this book.Anyway, that's all I have to say, that I am proud to say that I am one of the first Shonenites.And since I do not know how to contact you, I am using this review to get through, if Amazon would allow.

Merry Christmas!

joeydaninja@yahoo.com ... Read more