5/7/13

Schiffer Book Reviews of Contemporary Art on the Northwest Coast: Salish Nuu-Chah-Nulth Makah, A People and their Music, and Wharton Esherick's Illuminated & Illustrated Song of the Broad-Axe By Walt Whitman




"Snazzy is as Snazzy Does!"
Gwen Joy is an artist who specializes in colorful folk art paintings. 
Life experience is her subject matter which is translated in a lyrical/mythical fashion.
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This collection is extensive. The artists in this collection have an updated knowledge of execution. The artistic style is folk art. "Contemporary Art on the Northwest Coast: Salish Nuu-Chah-Nulth Makah" is a refreshing collection of art that showcases the many artists who have been inspired by Northwestern Native American art and culture. Ceramics, paintings, sculptures, large Native American wood pieces, and fiber pieces are in this stunning and thick volume.  Ralph and Karen Norris provides information about each artist and gives detailed information about each art piece and what inspired the piece. This is a good book to read to learn more about Native American traditions and customs. Definitely a rich and spirited culture. It will undoubtedly inspire many generations of artists to come. Some candid photos of the artists working on their pieces is in this volume as well.

A People and Their Music is a book by John Rice Irwin. In this collection he traces the inspiration for music's current state back to the turn of the century.  He distinctly links modern country music to Appalachian music. Country, folk, traditional, old-time, hillbilly, and bluegrass all were touched by Appalachian culture. Most people were rural and part of their life was storytelling and singing and entertaining their friends and families. The Carter family, Jack Jackson, Bob Douglas, Grandpa Jones, Bashful Brother Oswald, Mac Wiseman, and Earl Scruggs are written about in this fine collection. Many of them tell their own colorful recollections of their life. Their families and friends add their recollections of this unique time in american musical history. This is a must have for anyone interested in american culture during the last century. There is too much to learn to miss out on this one.

In Wharton Esherick's Illuminated & Illustrated Song of the Broad-Axe By Walt Whitman, Esherick matches his woodcut prints to Walt Whitman's Song of the Broad-Axe. This is a splendid collection with pages of handmade paper, folded and uncut. This book is a reproduction of Esherick's orginal. A lot of thought and care was used to make sure these books had the magic of the original.


I will be reviewing books by Schiffer Publishing every month. For more information please visit http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffer/.