New Book: Land Art

Land Art

Land Art

by Michael Lailach

What greater canvas could an artist ask for than the surface of the Earth?  For these artists, that’s all they require.  In his book, Land Art, Michael Lailach explores the development of earthworks as an art form, and the influential artists of the movement.  With a brief, informative introduction, he explains a little bit of the history of the art form, and what is involved in creating an earthwork structure.

Lailach then jumps straight into the major players and their creations.  The rest of the book is dedicated to explaining some of the well-known earthworks … and some of those who are more obscure.  In an easy-to-follow format he gives the artists’ names, the location of the piece, the dates of creation, photos, and a one or two page write up about the work.  With each new piece he provides a background of the artist, and their thought process as they developed the earthwork.

If you’re curious about the significance and symbolism of some of these amazing creations, and the artistic minds behind them, then Land Art is certainly the book for you.

Bri Meyer, 12/2008

New Book: Japanese Style

Japanese Style

NK 1484.A1 L66 2008

Japanese Style

Have you ever heard of the Pokemon themed airplane? Have you seen the Curtain Wall House?  Do you know what a capsule hotel is? Never fear, Japanese Style has the answer to all of these queries and more. With over 300 pages of full color photographs and descriptive paragraphs cataloguing everything from fashion to vending machines, Japanese Style is not only a book on style, it’s a primer on modern Japanese culture.

Japanese Style, however, is not just a showcase for all cool things Japanese; it is a photographic documentary of the contrast between traditional Japanese symbols and the creeping influence of western culture. The book highlights how and where western culture has been adopted and integrated into modern Japanese life; for example, Kabuki theater makeup is compared with modern gothic Lolita fashion. The book takes this concept even further by contrasting the universal idea of lunch; the Japanese Bento box versus the American grilled cheese sandwich.

Whether you are interested in Japanese culture as a hobby or if you are looking for information for a certain project, Japanese Style is loaded with a variety of strange facts sure to entertain and satisfy.

- Danielle Tisdale, 11/2008

New Book: Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy

NK2195.A6 A62 2008

How would you describe your ideal room? Are you interested in a cozy space packed tight with retro memorabilia? Or are you more a fan of modernism and industrial design? Regardless of your taste, Apartment Therapy has got stunning, full color images that are sure to astonish and inspire.

Apartment Therapy’s main motivation is displaying the home as something more than just physical shelter. Written by Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, Jill Slater, and Janel Laban, it features over 250 pages of photos, interviews and sources from their site, ApartmentTherapy.com, that highlight design solutions. The houses used in this book are those of real people in realistic living situations, not those of celebrities or the ultra-rich, providing real solutions and sources for those of us on a tight budget.

Apartment Therapy’s largest asset, however, is the range of homes and rooms displayed. From teeny-tiny apartments with cozy nooks and crannies to gigantic lofts with soaring ceilings, Apartment Therapy succeeds in providing inspiration for designing a room of any stature. The authors encourage, “Nothing you do for your home is ever wasted,” so what are you waiting for?

- Danielle Tisdale, 10/2008