Reviews (4)

Welcome to the FUTURE!
This ia a great book, for science fiction fans or just people interested in future forecasting of the 20th century. The book deals with the ideas, serious or not, of what past artists, scientists and writers thought the future would look like. Cities, cars, airships, rockets, monorails fill the pages of this book, with text which guides you on your tour of the 'future'. Some designs like the floating airports, the car/boat and the monorail HAVE changed reality (for some of us),while other ideas, like the six mile high tower, are not yet available.
My problem, my ONLY problem, with the book is how small it is. At 96 pages it barely covers anything. The chapter on robots is only TWO pages long and only has TWO illustrations. I noticed only ONE underwater city and some drawings, like a few pages on the 'Future City' have no text at all.
Still, it is a great gift for sci-fi fans, future engineers or fans of the cartoon series "Futurama".

Designs for the Twentieth-Century Future
Published in conjunction with the Fall 2000 exhibition organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, this volume contains color reproductions of original vintage artworks created to illustrate magazine stories or books. Focusing on the enthusiastic embrace of a particular 20th-century spirit, they form a visual archaeology of industrial and architectural design for the world to come, a historical exploration of the not yet known and the soon to arrive, and a stage for the visionary theater of vintage science fiction and futuristic speculation.

Where's the rest of the book?!
This was my first reaction upon opening the parcel containing this book. Truly, it is a wonderful book; chock full of colourful illustrations and lively text. As such, it is a keeper.
Alas, it simply isn't enough! At 96 pages it is barely longer than a two part magazine article.
Where, for example, are the futuristic designs for the 1939 World's Fair? Or the 1962 World's Fair? Or the 1964 World's Fair?
Where are the designs for seminal 50's sci-fi movies like 'Forbidden Planet'?
Where are the concept drawings for Disneyland's Tomorrowland and Epcot Center?
Where are the space age clothing designs of Rudi Gernreich? Where are'The Jetsons'for crying out loud?
Wherever they are, they are not to be found in the pages of this book. Never has a book created within me such a mixture of delight and colossal disappointment.

Out of Time: Designs for the Twentieth-Century Future
aharlib@worldnet.att.net 'Out of Time: Designs for the Twentieth Century Future' by Norman Brosterman is a glossy 8 X 10" trade paperback which gathers together numerous, rather fascinating and fun images of what has now become standard, even cliched concepts of the future: flying, domed cities; bubble-topped cars; humanoid robots; monorails; rocket ships, etc.---the output of talented American dsigners, artists and illustrators who, in the period covering the 1890s to the mid-1960s, focused their imaginations on rendering 'things to come'. 'Out of Time', utterly enjoyable as a book in its own right, also serves as the catalog of a Smithsonian Institute sponsored 3 year traveling exhibition also curated by author Norman Brosterman, a NY-based writer, architect, artist, and

collector of modern cultural artifacts whose own possessions comprised a considerable proportion of the contents celebrated herein. Interest in this volume is vastly increased due to the fact that few of the orignal water colors, oil paintings aand pen-and-ink drawings which took Brosterman years to track down have ever been displayed for the public before.

Essentially, 'Out of Time' is a wonderful nostalgia trip for those who grew up relishing the old pulp magazines, popular technology periodicals and promotions for the 1939 NY World's Fair. It will be a revelation for later generations who are curious about the work of the "inveterate technodreamers" who imagined an alternative 20th century with visions that had an impact and influence on the real world---in industrial and automotive design, fashion, warfare, the exploration of space, and the arts---that was widespread albeit hardly recognized at the time.

'Out of Time' is not only filled with illustrations (many in full color), but offers substantial text giving the historical context for the visual archeology of industrial, architectural and fanciful design for the world to come. Sections of the book are devoted to: the future as history, as visualized in illustrations for science fiction stories; and the future as style as depicted in architectural designs, renderings of transportation of all types (especially flying machines and space vehicles) and conceptions of

robots. An appendix is also included of brief biographical sketches of the artists whose work can be found in the book---most notably: Frank R. Paul, Alex Schomburg, Alexander Leydenfrost, Cheslay Bonestell, Virgil Finlay and Hannes Bok. There is also a bibliography. Thus we have a book---text and images---that has a cumulative effect of gee-whiz, gosh-wow exuberance. 'Out of Time; is a treasure trove that documents the optimistic imaginations of the writers, designers, architects

and engineers who envisioned the future as if it were already there---making it the perfect gift for science-fiction afficionados, especially those that love illustrations of yesterday's tomorrows, visions that can be---corny, extravagant, misguided, wild, impractical, awesome, quaint or even dead-on accurate. 'Out of Time' should not be out of place on many bookshelves. ... Read more

Book Description

Men’s magazines first appeared in great numbers after World War II and the Korean War. Their signature stories, supposedly based on reality, often depicted brawny he-men protecting lustful women from savages, Nazis, Koreans, or Cubans. It’s a Man’s World explores a time when magazines like Argosy and True flourished, along with their more sexually charged counterparts such as Stag and For Men Only. The book is both an art gallery and a lively history, profiling the magazines’ themes of bondage and S/M, racism, and sexism. Editor Adam Parfrey provides sociological context for the extraordinary covers, interior art, and articles in these cultural artifacts. Extensively illustrated with reproductions from magazines like Saga, Stag, and more, this is a colorful and lively retrospective of masculinity in the cold-war era. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Gloria Steinem Beware!!
After exploring the lurid confines of It's a Man's World ,the latest/boldest offering from Feral House on the post war adventure magazines, I immediately flashed an idea for a cover of the next issue of Ms. Gloria Steinem would appear, campily cartooned along with CIA operative Clay Felkner, the Esquire editor that brought her to feminist fame in the early 70's. Picture it if you can: a Bowie knife wielding, Green Beret uniformed Felkner trying to liberate a skimpily dressed Steinem who is entwined to a United Nations flag pole by some giant viper with the face of Henry Kissinger (who she actually dated in the 1980's). Elizabeth Forsling Harris, a CIA-connected PR executive who, by the way, planned John Kennedy's Dallas motorcade route, looks on with smug satisfaction, bull whip in hand, wearing a moth eaten Gestapo uniform. Or maybe Rosie O' Donnell could be garishly depicted on the cover of, let's say, Misandrist Monthly , a potential pulp alternative to her now ailing 'zine, held in similar serpentine bondage by her very own CIA backed publisher,begging for sweet release. (I can't think of anyone who would want to rescue her however....maybe Andrea Dworkin dressed up like a Navy
Seal.)

What I'm struggling to say, via these unlikely to be seen in the mainstream images, is that we are currently suffering from a kind of mass polarity reversal. It is now the castrating fantasies, Will to Power drives and other hormonally imbalanced Überfrau desires of today's corporate woman that are beckoning to be scrutinized in comic book fashion. However, these burgeoning fantasies are kept just beyond the margins of acceptable consensuality, veiled behind carefully crafted PC ideologies that will ensure that the heterosexual white male will forever remain the perennial scapegoat. I suggest that these estrogenated day dreams, on the verge of rising above the subconscious horizon, be as graphically and overtly rendered as the images depicted in It's a Man's World. It very well may prevent something truly horrible from happening.

The cover illustrations within It's a Man's World seem to beg for us to breathe life into them so the soldiers, hunters, cowboys, criminals and jungle adventurers can animate their way into the very crux of our psyches and conquer whatever needs to be conquered and plunder what needs to be plundered . I can confidently say that buying this book, fetishizing it, whether you are a man or a woman, will be profoundly therapeutic and even cathartic because nothing like the art depicted within It's a Man's World exists on the newstands any longer and probably never will again. The images within this garish but intriguing testament to the American male of a bygone era, some how give a kind of unadulterated power to the very things within ourselves that we try to repress and then project upon one another.

With this kind of power in mind, now is the time to try and convince the men's magazine illustrators of the 50's ,60's and 70's to come out of retirement, ignore the PC police and translate these current fantasy modes such as described above to the covers of noxious feminist tabloids, T.V. Guide, Playgirl and maybe even Newsweek. I'm confident that many of the evolution retarding, sexual/political conflicts we now distract ourselves with would instantly be resolved.

Defines "over the top"
These magazines were considered the absolute bottom of the barrel when they were published. To be truthful, they're still offensive today. But now they can be examined in terms of sociology and popular culture. If you don't pass judgemnt on their content, you can marvel at the sheer audacity of these publishers! Nothing was too outrageous to be published in these mags - they define the term "raw." Included is the magazine from which Frank Zappa cribbed his famous "weasels ripped my flesh" line.

This book has extemely high production values and fascinating commentary, whether you agree with it or not. Wholesome entertainment? No. Fascinating? Yes!

I Fought Off Nazi She-Wolves and Cannibal Head Hunters
Conventional wisdom says that the pulp era in American publishing reached closure during WWII. This is incorrect. It just stagnated until morphing into something more extreme and sensational: the man's adventure magazine of the '50s and '60s.
This book presents hundreds of the most outrageous covers in full color throughout, as well as perfect reproductions of many of the original canvases by masters like Kunstler, Saunders, and Eastman. The reproduction work on the covers is excellent, but the original canvases are much sharper and more vivid. Anyone remotely interested in pulp or paperback book style illustration from the golden age should pick this up immediately.

great covers
The covers were great...what was not needed is the looney left commentary.

Raw emotions and the armpit slicks
Who would expect to see such a lavish all-color book about this down-market corner of American publishing, not me but I'm interested in visual popular culture and It's a Man's World is really quite a fascinating study of these 'slicks', produced from 1950 to 1970. They were edited by a small group of men who put out over six thousand issues of about a hundred and thirty titles. The leading publishers, Magazine Management went bust in 1975 and this particular male market slid predictably into soft porn.

The book rightly concentrates on the garish, dazzling covers, fortunately they all retain the logos and unbelievable cover lines and there are hundreds to pore over. Each cover (many shown life size) has a caption with the publishing date and where known, the artist's name. Leading illustrators like Mort Kunstler, Norm Eastman and Norman Saunders have a magnificent showing through all the pages. These covers were the USP of this particular market, a few of the magazines inside pages are shown and it seems clear to me that most of the editorial budgets were spent on the cover art. No matter what the title, it would sell better if some female, who always seemed unable to do up all the buttons on her blouse, was in a distressing situation just about to be rescued by a nearby white hunk.

One chapter, The Sadistic Burlesque, covers the titles that are most sought-after today. The paintings show sadistic extremes, mostly by Nazis or Commies, yet they were displayed on newsstands across the nation to be bought by any male. Perhaps for obvious reasons many of these covers have no artist credit. The cover lines are equally suggestive, the February 1963 issue of 'Men Today' promised 'Brides of agony in the cave of horror', 'Soft maidens for the monster devil fish' and 'Love captive of Castro's execution squad harlots'. Needless to say all the 'true' articles in these magazines were made up.

I found 'It's a Man's World' covered the post war pulps in loving detail and certainly worth getting if you are curious about popular art and culture. Now that these titles are (fortunately) gone men can read about themselves in 'The Von Hoffman Brothers: Big Damn Book of Sheer Manliness' (ISBN 1575440849) and I doubt that the male authors of this book would be seen dead reading the 'armpit slicks', they would be too busy being real men. ... Read more

Book Description

Illuminating the dark side of the American century, The Monster Show uncovers the surprising links between horror entertainment and the great social crises of our time, as well as horror's function as a pop analogue to surrealism and other artistic movements.

With penetrating analyses and revealing anecdotes, David J. Skal chronicles one of our most popular and pervasive modes of cultural expression. He explores the disguised form in which Hollywood's classic horror movies played out the traumas of two world wars and the Depression; the nightmare visions of invasion and mind control catalyzed by the Cold War; the preoccupation with demon children that took hold as thalidomide, birth control, and abortion changed the reproductive landscape; the vogue in visceral, transformative special effects that paralleled the development of the plastic surgery industry; the link between the AIDS epidemic and the current fascination with vampires; and much more. Now with a new Afterword by the author that looks at horror's popular renaissance in the last decade, The Monster Show is a compulsively readable, thought-provoking inquiry into America's obsession with the macabre.
... Read more

Reviews (6)

Good Book With One Caveat
If you're a fan of the classic horror movies, this book makes for fascinating reading. It's full of facts about the movies from the thirties and forties especially.

But sometimes the author over analyzes, perhaps goes too far into the psychology and meaning of it all.

Nonetheless, this book was a good read. Recommended, despite the caveat!

Monster Movie Making History
I have decided to review this book because it needs to be a little clearer about what you are purchasing here. The first half of the book focuses on what is clearly David Skal's expertise-- 30's monster movies. He covers biographies on Tod Browning and Bela Lugosi, James Whale's battles against the censors, the influences of war and the Great Depression, and the move from stage to screen. It was so pleasurable and enlightening to read all about the beginnings of the genre.

After 200 pages on this decade, I soon realized that the following 6 decades could not possibly get the same attention in the second half. Hammer horror from England receives two sentences in the book when it easily deserves at least a lengthy chapter. Italian horror (which has one of the largest cult followings within this genre) is completely unmentioned. To my shock, a film with such powerful cultural relevance as The Stepford Wives also remains completely unmentioned in the book. A chapter that I thought would discuss the cultural emergence and relevance of slasher films ends up covering plastic surgery. Basically the book is greatly unbalanced. There is so much passion in the first half that the second half of the book seems a drought by comparison.

However, if you are even reading this review, then I must say that this book is a must-own. The information is absolutely fascinating (even in the second half). The photos throughout the book are excellent and add so much to the experience of reading it. The information I regretfully did not get is now more accessible to me through the foundations and structure of this book.

Doom, Gloom and...Va-Va-Voom?
Much better cover on this revised edition then the Edward
Gorey illustration on original hardcover.

Simply one of the best cultural reviews of movie horror ever
written. The chapter on Fifties' drive-in horror alone is
worth the cost of the book. Loads of documentary information,
intelligent commentary, trenchant insights. The only drawback,
as others have mentioned, is David J. Skal's habit of leaning
a little too heavily on certain prejudices or opinions in order
to make a theory or speculation of his fit a little more neatly
then it otherwise would have. Mr. Skal, your "post modernist"
academic roots are showing! (Though this stealth editorializing does not intrude too much in The Monster Show, it truly gives
you the creeps while struggling through much of his Screams Of Reason.)

Anyway, this book is a MUST for anyone devoted to American history, horror trivia, cultural pathology --
all that cool stuff and much, much more! Nicely researched and

written, a great reference and resource for the Crypt Keeper-
Monster Mash kiddies out there (like me). If you know what I mean, you ought to own this book.

Wonderful, interesting, thought provoking.
I really enjoyed this book... I do think you can go overboard using culture to PREDICT the future (1991 being roughly equivilant to 1931), but looking back on it as history, it fits. I do not think it is any coincidence that we got all the evil child, and childlike things during the time of the heated abortion debate in this country. Or that vampires have come more to the front in the age of AIDS. But just as I would be mistaken to say we are now headed into a depression because of all the 30's style clothes I see in the stores in NYC right now, you can't make some of the furture pridictions he makes. We may look back in 70 years and say, hey, look what the fashions predicted, but not now.

At any rate, for the cultural evolution of our monsters and a beautiful and loving (?) tribute to Tod Browning, this book is worth its weight in gold.

I especially loved the plastic surgery discussion, and the photos of plastic surgery-man himself, Michael Jackson.

terrific
I received this book from my little brother - he had used it as a textbook in film school. What a tremendous book. A fascinating and erudite study of horror films. Thirty years ago I was a child with dozens of pictures from the magazine *Famous Monsters of Filmland* plastered all over my bedroom wall. This book has given me a great deal of insight into the genre with which I was once obsessed. The book is fun and the pictures are a hoot as well. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fits the title!
While this book has " All the Basics" in it's title, it still could be VERY useful to more mature artists. This book covers any kind of drawing tool you'd ever want: templates, rulers, inks,pencils,erasers, cutting tools, screen tone, mechanical pencils, tape, correction fluid, manuscript cards, light box tracer, manikins, tone tools, photo collections, manuscript paper, pen nibs, pen holders and much more. It tells you how to use them, and lots of tips. It has a section on Perspective, something VERY nifty. No "wrong" stuff, and has a section on drawing people,( of course ) which is pretty good. And 2 Interviews with manga artists Takao Yaguchi and Toru Fujisawa. The only reason I gave it a 4 is 'cause it could have had more variety. Dogs, cats, older people.

Overall, though, very good. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Musee D'Orsay in Paris, formerly a grand train station, houses one of the world's finest collections of 19th-century art. Opened as a museum in 1986, its constant flow of traffic is a testament to a worldwide love affair with impressionist art. While the museum contains an extensive collection of drawings, sculpture, decorative arts, architecture, and photography from 1848-1914, its true pride is its collection of paintings. Flip through pages of work by some of history's most celebrated artists: Ingres, Delacroix, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Monet, Cézanne, Rodin, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Toulouse-Lautrec. While the bulk of the 240 color illustrations are devoted to paintings, a fine selection of the museum's entire collection is reproduced here. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Just a collection of prints
This book is ok if you want a collection of prints of about 240 art objects. It is useless otherwise, specially if you are a beginner, because there is no commentary with any of the prints.

Each section begins with a short commentary - and that's all. For example, one section for Manet, Degas, Whistler, Latour, Monet, Morisot, Pissaro, Renoir, Sisley, Cezanne, etc has just a single page of commentary for 43 paintings!!

Treasures of the Musée D¿Orsay
For many of us a trip to one of the greatest museums in the world, Musée D'Orsay in Paris, can prove to be mindboggling. We are not only overwhelmed with the magnificent art that is on display but we never seem to have enough time or energy to view a fraction of these great artistic contributions to mankind.

Treasures of the Musée D'Orsay, authored by former director of the Musée Françoise Cachin, is one solution to resolve our dilemma in planning a meaningful visit to this great institution.

The author in her introduction introduces us to the most important artworks of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist eras.
While we take this journey, we are also made aware of the fact that the museum was a train station and a hotel that were classified as historical monuments in Paris, and as a result were spared demolition.

The museum houses the works of artists born between 1820 and 1870, with some exceptions. It is also explained to us that the Musée d'Orsay, insofar as its paintings are concerned, is to be placed between the Louvre, which houses artworks before 1820, and the Beaubourg Museum, which prides itself with works, executed after 1870.

What is interesting about the book is that the author gives us a detailed tour of the museum and this is what will make an ultimate tour to this great institution invaluable.

Cachin leads us by the hand from one section of the museum to another where we discover realism on the first floor; the Ingrism and Romanticism as well as social scenes by Daumier and highlights of Manet, Monet, Renoir, Sisley and Cezanne in the upper gallery; awesome statute surrounded by a steel architecture in the middle floor; and Winslow Homer and other foreign artists in the esplanade.

Another vital aspect about this beautiful book is that the co-author, Xavier Carrère, presents background information and concise essays pertaining to each and every one of the periods.

It is also breathtaking to view the many photographs of just about every aspect of the museum's collection-oil paintings; sculpture, decorative arts, pastels, drawings and watercolors, architecture and photography that are all well represented in the book.
What is also noteworthy is that the volume contains several works that may not even be on display when you personally visit the Musée as they are constantly being rotated in order to preserve them.

Francoise Cachin and Xavier Carrère have reached their goal of preserving vivid memoirs of the quality and variety of works seen at the Musee d'Orsay.
They have also provided the reader with an extensive index that will facilitate the viewing of a work of art within the book as well as in person at the Musée.
If you want to save steps and enjoy the Musée, read this book before visiting.

This review first appeared on reviewer's own site
www.bookpleasures.com

An excellent companion or inspiration (if you haven't been)
as with most guides, the best give you an understanding of context as well as information on what you're seeing. after a recent visit to the museum, with my head full of memories of the arresting paintings i'd just seen, i picked up this book as a memento. while it doesn't fully take me back (after all, what guide can transport you to the roof, overlooking the seine river and the louvre?), it does help you recall the wonderful memories of days spent wandering the halls.

the book doesn't catalouge the entire museum and some of my favorites weren't in there, but it does have an incredible selection of art. additionally, the commentary is well written and accessable. most importantly, they've thoughtfully put in several sidebars that help you understand the art scene in paris at the time - making the paintings much more relevant.

definitely one of the better museum guides i've seen. reproduction quality is quite good as well. i've shared it with several friends who haven't been and now they're clamoring to go.

Fantastic!
This book covers the amazing collection of the Musee D'Orsay very well. This book is an absolute must for an art lover, art historian, or visitor of the museum. I did not have as much time in the museum as I would have liked. One could spend days in the Musee D'Orsay, and this book brings me right back and allows me to reexamine the works I missed, forgotten, or wanted to spend more time with. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Forall fanatics rock music 65-75
Forall fanatics rock music 65-75 ... It great and magic ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Beautiful and Nostalgic
As a quilter and vintage fabric lover I found this book to be a beautiful feast. The photos are large and clear, all aprons shown are displayed over period dresses, or on their own. This book is fabulous for collectors, or people like me that love to recreate vintage designs. I hope aprons come back, but even if they don't I will still wear them. This book is very timely, and it does deserve five stars. One word of cation, it isn't a pattern book, there are no projects, or patterns. It is simply aprons, in all their glory. A great coffee table book!

MY NEW FAVORITE BOOK!
This book is full of large, colorful photos of many beautiful aprons. It is also filled with pertinent information for anyone interested in vintage aprons. Reading it makes me feel "home again." I've been an apron collector for years, and I had the opportunity to view Ms. Cheney's apron exhibit in my town's museum recently. It was fabulous! This book is my new favorite! Thanks, Ms. cheney!

Unsung Heros of the Wardrobe
Aprons & Icons is for vintage clothing fans and for those who have a warm spot in their hearts for the unsung heros of the wardrobe. Documenting everything from groovy '60's styles to early 1900's workaday models, the book is well researched and beautifully presented. It makes a great gift. Each time I open it I discover something new.

Americana at its best
I just loved Joyce Chaney's book, Aprons:Icons of the American Home. It is the only book to date on the history of the american apron. The photographs are beautiful and the content is complete. Every page brings a memory of mom, grandmother or an aunt. This is a must for anyone interested in american icons, aprons or vintage clothing.

Captures the history and creativity of apron fashions
This book will take you back through vivid memories of aprons for cooking, home, and just fun. It also inspires a fashion sense because these aprons are timeless and fit today's world as much as yesterday's. Thank you Mme. Cheney for a great book and one that fills a void in the history of fashion and textiles. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Ground-breaking book that redefines the study of performance
I have been a fan of RoseLee Goldberg's books for years, but she really has out-done herself with this visually stunning book. She has captured the essence of performance pictorially without diluting the "live-art" aspect of it. Some of her chapters could be called mini-performances, themselves. Goldberg organizes her subject into conceptual chapters that keep the material from falling into strictly a popular phenomenon. A must buy for academics and non-academics alike. A great Christmas gift for an art lover. The pictures in this book are gorgeous and fun. A real treat. ... Read more

Book Description

Drawn from work created for books, comics, magazines, art galleries, advertisements, and the portfolios of some of the finest contemporary artists in the field, Spectrum 9 has a wider reach than any previous volume, with work from the U.S., Germany, England, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Canada, and France. Divided into seven categories, including one devoted to comics, the book includes James Gurney (Dinotopia), Brom (designer of the films Sleepy Hollow and Scooby-Doo), Michael Whelan (ten-time Hugo Award winner), Leo and Diane Dillon (Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Award recipients), and many more. Contact information for each artist is provided in a handy index, and the editors’ lengthy illustrated "Year in Review" preface puts the entire field in focus. 300 full-color images are featured. "A feast for the eyes and the imagination." — New Times ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Real Art..
This book is like a kick-ass mobile art gallery. Anyone interested in some cool artists with real talent that you can't find in museums or galleries should have this edition on their coffee tables or on their mantles. A visual cornicopia of excellently presented ideas compiled in a book that will have you closely staring at the pages. Really cool.

Consistent with the series.
Not unlike the other titles in the Spectrum series, Spectrum 9 provides a great overview of contemporary fantastic art, the best emerging artists, new trends, and samples of the forever-loved art. The artwork is much better documented with sources listed for further study of fantastic art.

If you've ever admired a cover on a sci-fi book, cool credits in a fantasy movie, or even action figures of your favorite super heroes, this book might be for you. The nice thing about the Spectrum series is that you do not need to reach for a specific volume to look at specific form of art. Each volume offers a pretty even and ,personally I think, good cross section of the current fantastic art and design.

Spectacular, As Usual
I have been patiently waiting (OK, maybe not so patiently) since November for Spectrum 9 to be released. Even though I had to wait an extra month and a half, it was well worth the wait. Once again, the Spectrum series provides us with the best in contemporary and fantastic art, and it IS fantastic. Entries range from weird, to gory, to funny, to beautiful. I began this series with Spectrum 8, then bought 7. Unfortunately, the other 6 are out of print (and cost a pretty penny), but these 3 will do. If you like sci-fi/fantasy art, this is the book for you. There's something for everyone, and in my opinion, there is not one bad painting in the whole book. Buy this today - you will get more than your money's worth. ... Read more

Book Description

We Love You is a unique compilation of sonic artworks featuring collaborations between innovative musical originators such as Brian Eno, Derrick May, Boy George, Hugh Cornwell, Add N to X, Pet Shop Boys, and Arthur Baker with a cross-section of the most cutting-edge British contemporary artists including Tracey Emin, Marc Quinn, Gilbert & George, Jake Chapman, and Angela Bulloch. It is presented in the form of a CD/book, a new format, a "futique" - a collectable piece of the future. We Love You is published in conjunction with Candy Records and contains original pieces of art by all the artists whose sonic artworks are contained on the accompanying CD. All the tracks on the compilation are previously unreleased and exclusive to We Love You. Designed by The Carpet Gypsies."A genuinely gorgeous collection of disco-pop and literate groove music... his is the uneasy listening album you could slap on only the coolest of coffee tables." - Laura Lee Davis, Time Out"We Love You - pretentious, silly, funny, frequently better than Robbie Williams." - Matthew Collings, Tate Magazine ... Read more

Book Description

Lucio Fontana was one of the most influential and innovative figures of twentieth-century Italian art. From his earliest monumental sculptures and collaborations with architects in the 1930s to his spatial environments and slashed canvases of the 1950s and 1960s, Fontana's raw, vigorous, and richly expressive works overturned the conventions of art and challenged existing ideas about the role of the artist in the age of rapid technological development.

Throughout his lifetime, Fontana was driven by the spirit of exploration, constantly questioning and extending the boundaries of his own practice, confounding expectations, and provoking and amazing an ever-growing audience. This opulently illustrated and beautifully produced book shows how Fontana redefined the possibilities for art, using a rich vocabulary of material, form, color, and space. Produced to accompany a retrospective exhibition marking the artist's centenary at the Hayward Gallery, this book spans Fontana's prolific career and brings together over 100 of his sculptures and canvases as well as a reconstruction of one of his most physically impressive and distilled spatial environments. An incisive critical essay by Sarah Whitfield provides a more thorough understanding of Fontana's life, influences, and artistic achievements, while excerpts from the atist's writings and interviews give readers a chance to hear his distinctive voice firsthand. An illustrated chronology of Fontana's life and career, an exhibition history, and an annotated bibliography make Lucio Fontana an even more valuable resource. ... Read more

Book Description

The essential subterranean tract of 2005, Midnight Mavericks is a rollicking tour through the hearts and minds of today's most uncompromising artists from the lower depths of entertainment culture. Profiled are controversial underground icons, angry stand-up comedians, exploitation filmmakers, hardcore crime novelists and controversial cartoonists, including Abel Ferrara, John Waters, Andrew WK, Chris D, Mike Diana, Lydia Lunch and Jim Goad. Includes Sounds from the Underground, a bonus 70minute CD of interview excerpts and songs from the musicians featured in the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Stencil Pirates is the first comprehensive book dedicated to stencil street art. Included are artist profiles, an in-depth history of stencil graffiti, its political context, and how stencils fit into the larger pantheon of street expression. Also here are a detailed "how-to" manual with designing, cutting, and painting tips from the artists, as well as 20 perforated cardstock stencil templates for readers who can't wait to hit the streets. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Futura is more than an artist; he is a living legend.Over three decades he has been bringing the visual language of hip-hop and the street to a worldwide audience-first through his New York graffiti from the 1970s, then through his 1990s cover art for London-based record label MoWax, and recently through comics, animation, photography, multimedia and clothing.Now he has produced his first book.Think sketchbook, confessional, photo album and archive-not just an overview but an extension of his work.He tells his enthralling story in his own words-some handwritten-while the flow of images, chosen both from his massive archive and work-in-progress, show he has developed his highly personal language of values and storytelling in many media.Be prepared to be gripped by Futura's story, moved by his ideals and inspired by his art.And count yourself lucky that you can now buy an original!

Futura is one of the most respected members of the global street-art community.Central to the mid-1980s New York graffiti art movement, he re-emerged in Paris in the 1990s and since then has toured exhibitions across Europe, Japan, Australia and the US.He created the cover art for the 1998 gold-selling album UNKLE, has designed for street fashion-labels, and has run his own web-site and workshops for inner-city kids.

Futura is cover artist for award-winning label MoWax and clothing designer for GFS, Agnes B., Project Dragon and The Bathing Ape

He has exhibited in London, Tokyo, Paris, New York, Los Angeles ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Futuristik coffee table tactiks
First of all, this is a beautiful book. In its design, content and construction. Printed on a variety of papers and bound within a hard cover it even feels good. Inside there are special cut pages that look like documents unveiling the early years of Futura, fold out pages with large colour spreads and pages with excellent stickers (would you dare defile your book?, its very tempting). The content features some nice design and layout by Ben Drury, utilising Futura's various photos, sketches, designs, canvas work, commissions, web graphics and paintings. It is a book about the man himself and works as an overview of everything he has accomplished so far. It works very well as an art book, but not necessarily as a book of his art. The only thing that stopped me from giving this book 5 / 5 was the amount of artwork not shown from the superb history of his work. It was probably intended as a promotional tool for things to come, but really just left me wanting a proper retrospective of his work so far, his early graffiti paintings, gallery shows and private commissions. As a big fan of Futura 2000, and having followed his work for years I was a little disappointed not to see all that work finally together in one book. Maybe that is for the next book, when everyone has had a little more time to realise just what they are missing and demand to see more. I sure hope so. Meanwhile, we are still able to own a very good book that will impress our friends.

A legendary book befitting a legendary artist
I finally got my hands on this book yesterday, and I can't stop looking at it. Futura 2000 is an icon in the world of graffiti and its metamorphosis into the realm of graphic design and "fine art". It's rare that an artist's work is so innovative that as it evolves over years and years it continues to re-inspire its audience at each point along the way. When I was 15, Futura's graffiti changed the way I understood public art, now 15 years later his current work inspires me to keep pushing my own artwork into new experimental forms. This book, which is a sort of visual biography is designed and constructed so beautifully. The hard cover looks like a writer's piecebook from the old days, the interior includes everything from hand written notes, fold-out pages, stickers, etc. to custom cut out scrapbook-like overlaps. I would urge anyone interested in graffiti, skate-style graphics, and even Mo'Wax album covers to get this book, you will not be disappointed. Also, if you own the LoDown Book of Graphic Design, or the Scrawl book of Dirty Graphics & Strange Characters, this book is a required addition to your library. Much gratitude goes out to Futura for assembling this collection of his visionary artwork.

Waste of Money
I returned this book right after I received it. The pieces are sparse, and don't reflect what Futura is known for -- the graf history that he's a part of. If you want a real book worth your money, check out 'Dondi White'. It is filled with pieces that Dondi did along with the sketches that preceeded them. It also contains artwork he has done for the gallery setting and is a much better designed book in general. In all fairness, 'FUTURA' does try to get innovative with some of the paper-cutting techniques and material, but that kind of experimentation should be done at the artists' own time and not at the expense of the consumer. I give it one star above horrible.

"The Definitive Underground Graf-Designer."
This book is so wonderful. It really captures the variances over the years in Futura2000's work. The most special, a personal side to the private man in the shadows of so many of the Greatest Designs (Mo'Wax, Bathing Ape, BSF, as well as his website! etc.) of the 1990's. I find this much more fulfilling than that of say, "Scrawl" an odd book that Many of the Artists contained, (i.e. Dj Shadow and Phil Frost) have claimed to have not known their words nor their artwork were to be printed. That has left "Scrawl" to feel quite the "exploited" book of artists rather than the Futura book, which Futura himself is quite proud. Futura2000 reveals his thoroughly detailed eye and hands on project through the collective pieces of his work and personal notes and background to his book "Futura." (You'll respect it right down to the paper and binding choices.) This one's the real gem of all the books put out around this 1990's; "Who's Who, Definitive Underground Graf-Designer."

FRESH but not THE FRESHEST
if you're a dj krush fanatic like me, no question you should pick up this book. unfortunately, while the book's design and art direction is interesting, at times it overshadows futura's pieces. there seems to be a lot of 'filler' spreads, leaving me not completely satisfied when looking through it. still, its nice to see an oldschool talent have this kind of piece book.

also, if you haven't seen it, check out "scrawl: dirty graphics and strange characters" by the same publisher. its as good if not better at serving up fresh aerosol art (mode 2, phil frost, twist, etc.) for the people. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wow!
I bought this book for my classroom and wondered later why I picked it up.When I really looked through the book, I found some really great art focusing on important personas from the 20th Century.It is a really nice book to have.A keepsake.

Summary
'Celebrating Time's 75th anniversary, this book presents work commissioned for the magazine's cover by some of the century's best-known artists, ranging from Andrew Wyeth's portrait of Dwight Eisenhower to Andy Warhol'sMichael Jackson.This book presents seventy-five artworks commissioned forthe magazine's covers by some of the century's best-known artists, fromDwight Eisenhower by Andrew Wyeth to Michael Jackson by Andy Warhol. Facesof TIME accompanied an exhibition organized by the National PortraitGallery, Washington, D. C. Among the outstanding covers reproduced are RoyLichtenstein's dynamic 1968 image of Bobby Kennedy, Ben Shahn's MartinLuther King, Jr., and Gerald Scarfe's papier-mache caricatures of theBeatles. Jay Leno relates his feelings - and his mother's reaction - tobeing pictured on the cover of TIME. Frederick S. Voss provides a visualhistory of the magazine and shows how making it onto the cover of TIME hascome to be the ultimate accolade.' - From The Publisher ... Read more

Book Description

First published in 1997, Mirage took the fantasy world on a whirlwind tour, introducing us to paintings so bold, so provocative and superb that it became a major success. This astounding volume showcases alluring paintings of sensuous women and strong men, set against mythical, otherworldly backgrounds, and contains over 40 color and black and white illustrations, as well as 8 full pages of new, never before seen or published art work. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

His BEST Work...
I have been admiring and studying the Art of Boris Valejio since 1988. This is a collection of Art (late 1970s-mid 1980s) from his career PEAK. Details and tones duplicated from a MASTER Painter. If you buy ONE collection of Boris's fantastic Art, IT MUST BE MIRAGE...

There are some beautiful pencil renderings with precision use of the eraser to bring his sketches to life. An added bonus to pages of glorious full color women and men in the god-like exploitation of the human form.

ONE OF THE BEST
Boris Vallejo is one of the best artists who can create and depict fantasy art like no one else. I really believe that if someone is not turned on to fantasy art and they recieve a chance to look at the contents of Mirage they will be a fan at the least. This is my favorite book out of his collection and I like to look it over before I work on my drawings and paintings of women. It helps me focus on what I am trying to create and what I want to create. Buy this book you will not regret it.

Erotic and beautifully illustrated
Boris Vallejo, to me, is an exceptional artist. He is also my first inspirational artist. At school, I had seen his images but never knew directly anything about Boris. So, I went and found some information and as soon as I discovered the many books on his art, I made it my business to try and get them all. Mirage is truely a beautiful part of my collection. The images of the women embracing demons, in seductive poses and their fleshy vibrancy really make this book attractive. At the start of the book, which I found helpful with my drawing, are graceful images drawn in pencil. Delicate particles of graphite sculpted to create beautiful images. What makes Boris a great artist is his ability to see, not just to view a body in 2D but to see all the angular parts of the body. This is best demonstrated in his shading and the way he captivates light illuminating the body. This book also contains erotic landscapes, and I say erotic because they clearly depict forms of an erotic and sexual nature. The text pieces accompanying the images are abstract but they do add to the mystery and interpretations of each and every picture. If you are a collector of art books or anything to do with the fantasy art genre, I would honestly recommend this as a book to have, simply because of the depictions, the colour and because it's Boris, Boris at his best. Look for the washing image and the soapy bubbles and the woman's rear!---Magnificent and realistic.

A fantasy art collection like no other!
For many years now Boris Vallejo has been at the top of my favourite artists, no other painter comes close (perhaps Michael Whelan?). A collection of erotic fantasy paintings from a time when Vallejo was at his best. A must for any budding fantasy artist (like myself!).

Stunning, Gorgeous work
I've been a fan of Boris' work ever since I first bought the 1978 TARZAN Calendar. I've been buying just about every calendar and book he's put out since. But THIS book-- remains my favorite. Every piece included was done specifically for this collection. A few years after it came out, one of his calendars was made up of paintings from here; I only wish ALL of them were available calendar-size! The beauty and imagination that he puts into every piece is a joy for the soul and an inspiration to fantasy artists! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A book for all ages
I originally bought this book for my husband, who loves Roy Lictenstein, to read to our son. I bought it because I thought that my huband would love it. In fact, my son, who is a year and a half, also LOVES it, and it helped him learn the alphabet as well as some words. For those familiar with LIctenstein's work, it is interesting because all of the work existed and was put together for each letter. For example, the letter O has a picture of the oval office. It is an easy way for children -- of all ages -- to learn about words and art. ... Read more