Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass

Arguably the most famous glass artist since Louis Comfort Tiffany, Dale Chihuly has been credited with elevating blown glass from delicate decorative object to groundbreaking fine art. Chihuly's "Blanket Cylinders," "Seaforms," "Persians" and chandeliers are exhibited and collected throughout the world, and many volumes have been devoted to his bold, complex, fiercely colorful work. Little documented, however, though crucial to an understanding of his art, is the role played by physical space in his overall aesthetic--installation spaces, work spaces, but also spaces for living and for housing his extensive personal collections. "Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass" focuses on the artist's pieces and installations in relation to the spaces that generate, shape and surround them. The text, a mix of critical exegesis and Chihuly's own commentary (much of it solicited specifically for this book), provides a new entree into the work, mind, and creative process of one of America's most critically and popularly acclaimed artists
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101 Things I Learned in Architecture School

 "101 Things" de-mythologizes the jargon that obscures the real meanings of what is taught in design schools. Designers too often write in obtuse terms that make relatively simple concepts difficult to comprehend. But understanding how we perceive, experience, and interpret the spaces we inhabit should not make us feel dumb, or left out. This readable and graphically clear book is a great introduction to design terms, principles, and concepts. Anyone interested in design will learn much from this terrific book." --Theodore C. Landsmark, President, Boston Architectural College, President 2006-07, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture
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Dale Chihuly: A Celebration

The appeal of this book lies in the color photographs displaying the originality of color and form in the work of glass artist Chihuly. This companion book to an exhibition celebrating his 70th birthday focuses on how his family, his hometown of Tacoma, Wash., and the Pacific Northwest have informed his career. Chihuly's mother fostered his fascination with color and form through the complex colors and forms in her flower gardens and her love of sunsets. His thinking about gardens certainly inspired Chihuly's Ikebana and Mille Fiori series. Tacoma's frontier mentality, observes Tacoma Art Museum curator Hushka, drives Chihuly's experimentation with scale, texture, color, forms, and thinness (which is technically difficult) free of the conventions of both the East Coast and European conventions. The abundance of water and rain in the Puget Sound area is a major influence on Chihuly, who also explored the frozen state of water in his Icicle Creek Chandelier and other installations. A lifelong interest in Native American culture and imagery profoundly influenced his Baskets, Cylinders, and Soft Cylinders series, which keenly pay tribute to the Indian crafts of basket and blanket weaving. This intimate, thoughtful celebration highlights the influences of nature and nurture on a unique talent, but the book's regional feel and small scale of its photographs likely preclude a wider audience
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Ai Weiwei: Architecture

Ai Weiwei, born in the Socialist People's Republic of China, is one of the most important artists of the present global art scene. Taken under house detention for his provocative political opinion,  he planned a celebration for the official governmental demolition of his Studio. His creations are based on the idea of provoking discussion about their content. For example, he spread about 150 tons of porcelain sunflower seeds on the floor of the Tate Modern in London to remind young Chinese people of propagandist pictures which show Mao Tse-Tung in the middle of sunshine and sunflower seeds. The daab-book embraces some of the astonishing works of the exceptional artist.
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American Artist Guide to Painting Techniques

In 1986, Tate published "The Encyclopedia of Painting Techniques" which quickly became an art instruction reference classic. Practicing artist Harrison here updates it to reflect recent advances and trends in painting materials and techniques. All the most popular painting techniques and a few of the more esoteric ones get concise, two-page, step-by-step explanations. Approaches to a selection of representational themes are covered, but abstract subjects are not explored. Owing to the broad coverage, many different types of artists, designers, students, and hobbyists will want to consult this book
(Library Journal)
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