5 comments about Still Time.

1. In my view, three works by this gifted photographic artist should be treated as a triptych: this volume, At Twelve, and Immediate Family. Taken as an ensemble, they mutually inform each other both for the range of stylistic and technical mastery exhibited by Ms. Mann, as well as demonstrating the breadth of her photographic vision.
   
   The most recently published of the three works, Still Time is also the only one that displays both black/white and color photos. The subject matter includes portrayals unique to this book and also a brief selection from the two volumes mentioned above. Her cibachrome and polaroid color pictures demonstrate her eye for pure design. Several platinum prints display her awareness of texture and contrast; one of them--a photograph of an arm draped in a flowing sleeve against a multiply flecked, aged wall--is exquisite.
   
   As is all of her work, taken as a whole. Less appealing to me were the impressionistic black-and-white photos presented in a circle as if peering directly through the camera. However, this is part of her creative experiment and it is to be expected that not every subject or mode of presentation will appeal to all.
   
   Were you to buy only one volume of Ms. Mann's work, or as an introduction to it, this book would be a good choice.



2. a rehash of photos from other sources. interesting, but the buyer should have been made aware so as not to duplicate previous orders.



3. Sally Mann was so shockingly good in her book of photographys of her children called "Immediate Family" that I was sure none could be as good. And this book is not as good but it's still five stars.Just the cover of a night blooming cirus draped across her daughter is enough.........like the flower yet to be and the book is fully of much more. In her first books prologue there is the story of the very unconventional growing up that Sally Mann had......her father was a wildly creative man who had his children experience the unusal to say the least........but the most unusal is they apparently experienced the beauty of youth and family and life. Today some would stone her.....we know who they are ......so sad for them.



4. I bought both "Still Time" and "Immediate Family" sight unseen after seeing her new book "What Remains". "Still Time" is a compilation of works from various periods. It is easy to see her promise, and there are some nice photographs. Her progress is interesting. But she really hits her stride when she photographs her children in "Immediate Family". Some of the early shots in "Still Time" seem sort of concocted and overdone-until the photos from "Immediate Family" which are breathtaking. Save your money and buy "Immediate Family".



5. I am an English/photography teacher at a high school in southside Virginia. I had always been a fan of Sally's work and used this book as a teaching tool in my classroom. The way Mann has captured the human form and the "inner workings" of something as private as her family is breath taking in the flawless medium of black and white photography. I had an opportunity to meet her and after explaining to her how her book was used to inspire my students, she happily signed my copy of the book (my students went wild when when they saw her signature)!

5 comments about Portrait of Dr. Gachet: The Story of a Van Gogh Masterpiece, Money, Politics, Collectors, Greed, and Loss.

1. While reading about the history of the Sotheby's and Christie's Auction Houses the story of the highest priced paid for a painting at auction was quite a tale. I qualify my comment with an auction sale, as the possibility exists that somewhere an individual may have spent more. Based on what I have read I doubt it, for even with all the deception in the art world, secrets are not particularly well kept.

   Ms. Cynthia Saltzman has written a scholarly work that is readable by anyone who enjoys well-written history, or even a novel. The course this painting has taken in a bit more than 110 years is as extraordinary as the price paid when it was last sold.

   Vincent Van Gogh was a troubled man who managed to produce a rather large body or work before tragically taking his own life. There are dozens of speculations as to the manner of disease he suffered, but suffer he did. Van Gogh did not live to see any appreciation of his art, and even for years after his death his work was not of any renown nor sought after. This final portrait that he was to paint did not sell for 7 years after his death, and even then the purchase price was $58 in US currency.

   Over the next 14 years the painting would again change hands 4 more times, and with the last of the 4 sales became a museum piece for the first time. The locale was Frankfurt, the year 1911, and the price $3861. It was this last move that was to place this painting and hundreds of others into a collection of Art deemed "degenerate" by the Nazis of Hitler's Germany. The piece also was in the possession of Herman Goering briefly. Fortunately for the painting it was sold outside of Germany, where a new owner would hold it for the next 52 years. The Germans may have thought it degenerate for propaganda purposes, but money was another matter. While the painting was confiscated, when sold in 1938 the passing 17 years brought the value to $20,000.

   Until the next and final sale the painting would be hung in a home in New York City, the property of private collectors. When the "crazy years" of the art market arrived impressionist work was in great demand, much of which was generated from Japan. For in 1995 Mr. Saito paid $82.5 million, and then 2 days later another $78.5 million was spent by the same man on a Renoir. What has happened since then really has to be read as it would make a great novel were it fiction.

   Ms. Saltzman has done an amazing job of documentary work, and added the history of the times surrounding the work, as well as those who sought the piece, and the personalities of those who came in contact with, or were the temporary custodians of the work, "The Gachet".

   A wonderful read for anyone who enjoys a good story written with consummate skill and style.




2. It was very interesting story for me to know this masterpiece's history. However, it was too much skipped the history in Japanese period and sometimes I did feel that she has a prejudice against Japanese culture. She investigated history in Europe very well but less investigation in Japan ! I wanted her to investigate it more. Anyway, it was very interesting and I want to recommend it very much.



3. She veers off into things that really don't pertain to the needed info about Vincent V. Too much like a history lesson on WW2! How about some info on other masterpieces and there values like, is Starry night worth more than Dr.Gachet? Some art experts put it over that and the value of the Mona Lisa(125,000,000!)Also where is the painting at now and go into why Saito kept it away from the public!?The book in my opinion was done too early!Hey, why don't I write the sequel I could do alot better job in my opinion!



4. The history of a single work of art from conception, several owners, war, and fame as the record-holder for highest price for a painting at auction, this book is nothing short of amazing. Cynthia Saltzman's concept is fresh and her writing ludcid. This is a book you won't be able to put down. It has everything a good story should have; suspense, tragedy, triumph, and action. I found myself holding my breath, though I knew the outcome, as I read about the auction of the Portrait of Dr. Gachet.

   This is a book I heartily recommend, and so far, everyone I've leant it to or purchased it for has loved it just as much as I have.




5. The stories of the owners and caretakers of the portrait, from its beginning to present, create a colorful tapestry of their own. For someone who is not intimate with the negotiations of the art world, the book is informative and surprising. It may not have been the author's intention, but I also felt a thread of sadness and melancholy, as though the artist and the subject still have an investment in the future of the canvas. Perhaps it is the awareness that all the owners eventually gave it up and that the current owner has removed it from sight. The author of this book has given us the facts, but has also invested those facts with meaning which speaks clearly about the impact of the artistic process, if one is willing to consider beyond the obvious.

5 comments about How to Market and Sell Your Art, Music, Photographs, & Handmade Crafts Online: Turn Your Hobby into a Cash Machine.

1. Simply packed with essentials. Lee Rowley's HOW TO MARKET AND SELL YOUR ART, MUSIC, PHOTOGRAPHS AND HOMEMADE CRAFTS ONLINE will appeal to general-interest libraries strong in alternative career guides. Learn how to become an online entrepreneur, from creating a low-cost marketing plan and a strategy for selling products quickly to using insider tips to enhance and boost sales. Will appeal to general-interest novices.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. As much as I love Ramen Noodles I don't want to live on them. The idea that being a "starving artist" is romantic is for angst-ridden teens in the burbs. To a sane adult, the idea of doing what you love to do and making a living at it is, if not romantic, at least much more pleasant.
   How to Market and Sell Your Art, Music, Photographs, and Handmade Crafts Online-Turn Your Hobby Into A Cash Machine is the book for any artist who would like to get their work in front of people and sell it. The internet is where to be if you want maximum exposure to potential buyers, but you need to know what you're doing before you jump in.
   As promised in the intro, this book tells you step by step how to stand out in the now very crowded online marketplace and to successfully market and sell your work. Simply putting your photos or music downloads on a website won't cut it anymore. People need to find you first amid all the clutter and lesser talent! Then, as with any business, you need to earn a reputation and hopefully a following. Everything you need is covered here: Selecting the right computer and software, creating an impactful website, low and no-cost advertising and marketing, online auctions, etc. Along with providing incredibly useful tips and techniques on building a successful online business ("keywords" are one key!), there are tons of websites and sources listed that are invaluable- Many referrals to free software and online resources. (Note: I took so many notes I got writer's cramp, and then realized there was a handy-dandy appendix at the end of the book that listed online resources, websites, etc.)
   Even with zero online experience you can be up and running very quickly by using this book as your guide. I'd never heard of "Squidoo" or "CGI Forms", but I now know what they are and how to use them. I found the information on marketing and "strategies infrequently used by creative people..." particularly helpful. The "Hows" and "Whys" are all explained in an organized and easy to understand way. It's a great book that I'll be referring back to often.



3. Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, How to market and sell your art, music, photographs, and handmade crafts online: Turn your hobby into a cash machine, is the ideal "soup to nuts" book for the person who wants to sell online but doesn't know where to begin. It thoroughly covers all the basics, with a particular focus on the essentials of effective website design and strategies about how to best incorporate your art or music into your site.
   
   I'm a photographer and consider myself to be fairly well experienced in website design and marketing so I thought that the "basics" sections would bore me but I was wrong. I learned a lot of things that I didn't know.
   The book is detailed, well-written and interesting to read, unlike other "how to" books I've read. The sections about marketing online, the importance of content in attracting visitors, optimizing for search engines and using social marketing to build clientele are especially useful. Separate chapters for art, music, photography and crafts outline aspects unique to each medium.
   
   This is the kind of book that I will refer to again and again and highly recommend it for any artist that wants to establish a web presence and market online and wants to really learn how to do it properly. I rate it 5 stars.



4. Although the information in this book is very helpful and useful to those who wish sell their work, the title is too long and there is a lot of over kill and one finds themselves forcing him or her self to finish the book. There is a lot of information such as Google search terms that are not necessary in this type of book.



5. In this day and age, anyone who produces products for sale needs to be aware of the possibilities of selling them online. This book is especially valuable for artists, musicians, craftsmen, and other creative people who could increase their volume of business by becoming Internet-savvy. The book's premise is that artistic people are very good at producing wonderfully creative items, but most likely do not have the knowledge needed to be good internet marketers. It provides a wealth of information without assuming that the reader has any understanding of how to sell on the World Wide Web. It begins by enumerating the reasons that an Internet business is a good choice for an artist or musician, and goes on to give a step-by-step guide for how to begin such an enterprise.
   
   There is a complete chapter that describes the computer hardware, software and peripherals that will be necessary to get a web-based business up and running. I could see that this information would be of great value to anyone wondering how to get started marketing to a global customer base. Technical topics such as how to create a website are covered in a style that makes them accessible even to those with computer phobias. There are hints about how to present products in a clear and appealing manner, and describe them in a way that will encourage website visitors to make a purchase. There are many more chapters concerned with how to drive traffic to an online store, how to outsource certain aspects of your web business, and lots of other topics of interest.
   
   This how-to book has a complete appendix, as well, so that the reader can easily find websites and other resources that will help him as he continues to develop his customer base. Any artist that would like to take advantage of technology to expand a business will find help for his enterprise in this guide.

No comments about Walk Ways.

5 comments about The Irish Game: A True Story of Crime and Art.

1. "The Irish Game" tells the true stories of two separate art robberies at the palatial Russborough House in Wicklow. Of several paintings stolen, The Dutch master Jan Vermeer's "Lady Writing a Letter with Her Maid" (called the Dublin Vermeer) is easily one the most valuable at several hundred million dollars. I'm not ordinarily predisposed to enjoying true-crime tales, but I found this intriguing and engaging. The world of art theft is a labyrinth of interconnected criminal factions and the trail of stolen art can easily traverse several countries. To accurately present the myriad details--not only of the heists, but also of the extraordinarily convoluted stings that would recover the stolen art--is a feat of painstaking research. To present this to the reader as a thrilling read as opposed to mere reportage is an even bigger challenge. I think that Hart did a splendid job in both.
   
   Whether there was too much background or not enough of the characters' lives, the heists, and the coterie of detectives, depends greatly on one's preference. In a story such as this, I consider it vital to be given a surplus of details rather than a mere spattering. The art theft world is not as straightforward as most people would assume, that is steal the art then sell it. Most of the stolen art, we are informed, are not fenced but used as collateral for other crimes, usually drug dealing and arms procurement. To catch these criminals and recover the lost art goes beyond conventional detection, to say the least, and Hart does a fine job in elevating the narrative from a mere recitation of facts to a thrilling account of this complex game. As to be expected, there are maps, illustrations, color plates, photos, etc., that serve as visual aids to heighten interest.
   
   Of particular interest to me was the segue into the discovery by an art conservationist of a Vermeer "secret." Anyone who's seen a Vermeer is amazed by the realism. The other thing that amazes is the perspective (the convergence of parallel lines into a vanishing point). To refresh my memory, I pulled out my copy of "Vermeer" by Arthur Wheelock, Jr., one of the National Gallery of Art's curators and the U.S.'s leading Vermeer scholar, and once again stared at each of the forty color plates. When I look at them, I get the sensation that I can almost `step into' the picture or that the scene depicted is immediately in front of me. It's both wondrous and chilling, and his mastery of perspective has baffled scholars for close to four hundred years. Several years ago, I saw a documentary featuring David Hockney of the "Secret Knowledge" infamy, illustrating his theory that the old masters had used optics such as the primitive versions of the camera obscura to help create their masterpieces. His theory was equated to heresy and fueled controversies and numerous critics, but I will admit that I found it logical and utterly believable. Shame on me. In Chap. 9, I was stunned by the spectacularly simple technique the innovative master must have used, and for some of us, it will evoke memories of the grade-school technique we were taught on how to draw a perfect circle (bet you want to know now, don't you?). I had forgotten that oftentimes, truth is simply...simple!
   
   Two of the more astonishing facts the reader learns is that the Dublin Vermeer was stolen twice from the same place, first in 1974 by a gang headed by Rose Dugdale, an IRA supporter and the spoiled daughter of a millionaire, and second by a career criminal, Martin Cahill, twelve years later, and the other is that the two separate cases were solved by a father and his son, Ned Hogan and Liam Hogan. Both were officers in the Garda Síochána (Ireland's police force) and Ned was one of the major players in the recovery in the 1970s. When the second heist occurred in 1986, Liam was instrumental in the recovery of the same Vermeer. As father and son look at the recovered Dutch Vermeer, Liam says to his father, "If they lose it again, they can get it back themselves." Ned's reply? "If we get it back again, we keep it."



2. Matthew Hart's The Irish Game : A True Story of Crime and Art is an excellent read about Ireland, art, art theft, and criminal investigation. This is a very intiguing non-fiction book about the theft of art by Johannes Vermeer in 1986 from a great house/museum known as Russborough in Ireland.
   
   Not only is this book a pleasure to read, I walked away learning quite a bit about art techniques, and art theft. Whereas non-fiction, if not done right, can tend to drag, this real story moves along at a brisk pace due in large part to the story, compelling characters, and smooth pace.
   
   I really enjoyed learning about the Irish police AKA the Garda and the techniques they employed to track the art theft's chief suspect Martin Cahill.
   
   I would encourage anyone interested in any of the aforementioned matters, inlcuding but not limited too: art theft, criminal investigative techniques, art techniques, and Ireland, to give this excellent book a try.



3. 
   I don't generally read mystery novels;for the simple reason that when I finish one,I don't really feel that I've learned anything.Sure,there is the suspense, of trying to figure out whodunit;in the final analysis,logic isn't the governing factor;and the author calls the shot.
   True crime is quite a different matter,and I find that getting into the real mind of a real person,is much more interesting.
   Reading this book, one gets a very real insight into crime in the art world. The way the mind of Cahill works is unveiled as well as the way that the Irish police operate. After all,Irish culture is the result of many centuries of the people fighting the establishment.
   The author beautifully sums it up with this paragraph;
   "But the roots of insurrection stretch much farther back in time,into an ancient tradition of secret,peasant societies formed by the dispossessed Gaels in the centuries following the Norman invasion,and persisting into later times. These small,clandestine bands had no chnce of reversing history. Their mission was to exact a steady taxation of terror from those in power over them. They depended on concealment on the complicity of their fellow Irishmen,who shared their language,race and fate. This old tradition of resistance to authority was too deeply engrained to evaporate with Irish independence,and the job of a policeman in Ireland is always at war with the past."
   Along with gaining a good insight into Irish crime; we get a real understanding of the nature of crime in the world of priceless art. I often wondered why criminals stole these items when they are so easily identifiable and therefore virtually impossible to fence. This book clearly explains what goes on here. When a great piece of art is stolen,we also see that it becomes an international crime.
   This book reads like fiction; but when you come to the end ;you are left with the satisfaction that you've really learned something.



4. A delightful book. If you like true stories about the almost perfect heist involving great works of art, then you'll enjoy this book. And like any good book, it is not only entertaining but teaches you something you didn't know...in this case about the world of crime and art.



5. This is the first true crime book I have ever read, and it won't be the last! Hart gives a history lesson of the Russborough Mansion and some of the paintings in it. You don't have to be familiar with art to really understand the heists and why the paintings were stolen. Hart gives you enough overall information; by the end of the book you will be an expert yourself. This book is packed to the max with great information. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants suspense, and historical information about the paintings.

4 comments about Chihuly: Form from Fire.

1. This book is great for any fan of Chihuly's work, or just anyone who enjoys beautiful art. Not only are Chihuly's works extremely aesthetically pleasing, but they are enchanting and inspirational.



2. Purchased as a gift for a beginning glass artist, the book is inspiring and beautifully done. It is a great reminder of the exhibits that we have seen.



3. This book was produced in conjunction with a series of Florida exhibitions in 1993. This book, filled with dozens and dozens of Full Color and full page reproductions in approx. 142 pps., really lays it out for the viewer in a way that, if you were either unfamiliar with or indifferent to Dale Chihuly's work, will make you a convert. Really. I fall into the latter category perhaps because, as the world famous art dealer Henry Geldzahler puts it in the foreward of this book " Chihuly's work is American in its apparent vulgarity, it brazenness and its fearlessness to move farther out west even if there is no further west to move to."
   However, when one goes through the varous glass genres that the artist creates, Baskets, Sea Forms, Persians, Venetians, Ikebana, Niijima Floats and Macchia, among others, one begins to appreciate the sheer power and artistry that gets expressed in Chihuly's florid craft. The publishers might have botched the operation if they had cheaped out on the book's production values, fortunately they did not and this 'Made In USA' book can takes its place among any other of your expensive, high-end coffee table (folio sized) art books. As the reviewer states below, there isn't a lot of text here, just an introductory paragraph or two from the artist before each themed chapter but really, the art work says more than enough. I can heartily recommend this book even if you do not collect glass work, and even if you haven't yet cottoned on to Mr. Chihuly's work.



4. Absolutely amazing!
   Chihuly is incredible.
   Not much in the way of descriptions, just a brief introduction to each series (Macchia's, Persians, etc.), which I found just enough. What I'm interested in are the actual pieces, and there are plenty of exceptional pictures.
   Again, amazing. Truly inspiriational for the novice glass blower and an absolute delight for everyone else!

5 comments about The Artist's Guide to New Markets: Opportunities to Show and Sell Art Beyond Galleries.

1. If you are so disconnected from the world that this book is helpful to you then you are probably too far gone already.
   
   Did you know that there are things out there called Art Fairs? No? Then there's a whole chapter telling you that there is! Of course all the chapter does is tell you to buy the leading art fair magazine. No joke!
   
   Does hearing that you should find a way to make potential buyers feel like their lives will be enriched by your art fill you with ideas? If so then you've got a whole chapter beating that very notion to death. You think I'm kidding?
   
   If those things seem novel to you, here's another: It's called the internet and you can find out everything in this book and more, including actual working links and contact information, for a lot less money.
   
   Sorry, this book is not very good. There is just absolutely nothing new in it and it's told in such a demeaning/upbeat style that will have all but the most bright-eyed and bushy-tailed gnashing their teeth. If it isn't a gallery then this book considers it "new" and wastes no amounts of usefulness giving it a gloss-over.



2. I started reading this book and did not put it down until it was done. Although some info is outdated, it is an excellent read.



3. ...it would stop them from having access to the most valuable ideas to helping anyone from progressing as a serious artist, and leave more room for ME to advance!!!!
   I thought I was an ideas person, and knew most of the ways of getting my art 'out there' but this book is jam packed with viable options of all imaginable venues and opportunities, as well as spelling out specific contacts and how to go about it all.
   From the moment I opened the book, I was highlighting, jotting down ideas, and revitalised in my enthusiasm to succeed with my art. I intend to read, re-read, and then read again this book. It will become my artist 'bible'.
   It encouraged me to put effort into submitting work to a hospital where it will now be viewed by thousands of people, and other exciting projects are now being explored.
   A HUGE thank you to Peggy for writing this book and being so generous with her first-hand knowledge sharing. I certainly learnt SO much from it, and would have to recommend it to any artist who wishes to progress in the art world (even though I wish they don't buy it, so that I can have all the opportunities to myself!).



4. Keep this on your bookshelf to get your mind jumpstarted re: where to show your work. It's a great guide to be read cover-to-cover or just occasionally flipping through. The suggestions of how and where can be easily answered if you're wondering how to get started in showing your work. It's like someone is there to hold your hand when you're worried or to cheer you on when you're excited.



5. Great Book. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. This book looks like a do it yourself art promotion book. This book gives me hope and confidence outside the gallery realm. Some of these are markets I never even heard of and list many references. Page 45 on corporations is a really inspirational section and even lists some. The book even talks about marketing to public transit systems which is where I work. I recommend this book to any artist who wants to sell their work. This is one of the best art marketing books I ever read.

1 comments about Robert Irwin: Primaries and Secondaries.

1. I was fortunate enough to see this exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego. This book is the next best thing to being there. Robert Irwin is a national treasure, and this book is a wonderful glimpse into his work. The DVD (inset into the back cover of the book) is worth the cost alone. Although not long, it is an absolute joy to hear Robert Irwin speak about his work. He has a wonderful air that is captured in the documentary. This is a great value for the money. And a really handsome cover is just icing on the cake... I leave it out on my coffee table!

4 comments about Hats and Bonnets: From Snowshill, One of the World's Leading Collections of Costume and Accessories of the 18th and 19th Centuries.

1. As a person who studies fashion and historical fashion as an avocation, I particularly like books with excellent pictures of fashions and accessories that are actually from the period and not historical plates from magazines, though I believe renderings extremely helpful. With a clear picture, one can derive better methods for recreation in historical costuming ventures. I have long been a fan of the Snowshill collection. I loved this little book. I hope there are more published. I appreciate the fine photographs, the brief and informative descriptions. The color and fabric choices of history very interesting and can spend an hour or two with one book trying to absorb every detail. I have the Shoes and Slippers book as well as the Hats and Bonnets book. They are wonderful additions to my costume library.



2. This little book contains lovely photos and info on bonnets and hats from the 18th and 19th centuries. It's a small book, and I was left wishing it contained more examples of the exquisite Snowshill collection, however, I enjoyed it greatly. Can't wait to get the other Snowshill book on shoes and slippers and hope they publish more in the future.



3. I was disappointed that there were not more hats from the 1770's. I guess many did not survive. The Shoes from Snowhill had better variety of shoes.



4. Wonderful photos of the collection. After devouring all the information as well as the photos... you just have purchase the other books from the series to complete the set! Interesting background on the collector himself, in the book's introduction. A good source of information and ideas for anyone interested in 18th and 19th century headwear.

1 comments about Lynching Photographs (Defining Moments in American Photography).

1. Yeah, well, how many books could there be about this topic? Morbidly fascinating. Nothing like having a well-rounded library, Dewey.