This trio of new artful books I am enjoying this moment is eclectic for sure. From a book celebrating the exhibition RECKONING at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), to one spotlighting architecture and landscapes (SHAPING THE WORLD AS A HOME), to another elevating life breathing inside the barnyard (FARM LIFE)…well, a common thread running through the work is AWE.
New Artful Books from Rizzoli to Fill You With Awe
RECKONING: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.
The visual art inside this new book is gorgeous, moving, and powerful! Indeed art has always been important as a vehicle for protest, commentary, escape, and perspective for African Americans.
Across a range of media (photography, sculpture, painting), work from Black artists including Amy Sherald, Benny Andrews, Sheila Pree Bright, Bisa Butler, Charles Alston, Elizabeth Catlett, Shaun Leonardo, and David Hammons sings inside.
The art exemplifies resilience in times of conflict along with the defiant pleasure of healing.
Reckoning is based on the exhibition of the same name at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). Take a peek:
The exhibition and new title explore ongoing struggles Black Americans have faced in their pursuit to enjoy the fundamental rights and freedoms promised in the Constitution to citizens of the United States.
Drawn from the museum’s permanent collection, the featured works respond to the dual crises of Covid-19 and systemic racism that shaped 2020.
This period has been called one of reckoning, as the world witnessed the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other African Americans, leading to some of the largest protests in US history.
Kevin Young is Andrew W. Mellon Director of the NMAAHC. Aaron Bryant is curator of photography at the NMAAHC. Bisa Butler is a textile artist. Michelle D. Commander is deputy director at the NMAAHC. Tuliza Fleming is curator of visual arts at the NMAAHC. Amy Sherald is a painter and portraitist. Deborah Willis is University Professor and chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at Tisch School of the Arts.
SHAPING THE WORLD AS A HOME: The Houses & Gardens of Erik Evens
Erik Evens is principal of Evens Architects, a boutique studio of the KAA Design Group.
What a glorious first book with detailed architecture of one of the finest firms working in traditional styles in California.
As one of the country’s leading contemporary architects, Evens aspires to create the complete living environment, in the same vein as Gil Schafer, Bobby McAlpine, Ray Booth, and Stanley Dixon.
Inspired by classical traditions and informed by contemporary Cali indoor-outdoor living, Evens’s projects range from a Spanish Colonial Revival to an American farmhouse-inspired property.
Natural materials (wood, stone, and brick) form the foundations, walls, and ceilings of understated spaces, while nature itself is an integral part of the work.
“The language of the classical is there to show us the beautiful, and to remind us that those things are possible by our hand.”
-Erik Evens
Evens is a fellow of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art (ICAA) and a member of its national education committee.
“Our design philosophy is predicated on deep, meaningful connections between the house and the land. Southern California is blessed with a nurturing environment that provides extraordinary opportunities for true indoor-outdoor living. The homes we design fulfill that promise with beauty and joy.”
-Erik Evens
FARM LIFE: A Collection of Animal Portraits
Randal Ford is recognized across the globe for his masterful photography and award-winning animal portraiture! You may have seen his work in USA Today, People, the Wall Street Journal, Time, and Wired.
What fills me with joy is the thought these farm animals were photographed in the studio as supermodels.
From Highland cows to Polish chickens to Arabian horses, Ford’s compelling animal photography invites us to fill with barnyard awe.
This whimsical collection celebrates the spirited charm of these pastoral creatures even as it invites us along a heartfelt journey of expression, play, and contemplation.
Soooo many animals (domestic to exotic) including cows and calves, horses, chickens and chicks, ducks and ducklings, pigs and piglets, sheep and lambs, goats, barn cats, cattle dogs, rabbits, yaks, and barn owls.
Ford’s ability to capture each animal’s expression entertains and also connects subject and beholder. Here’s a look at the making of another book of his called ANIMAL KINGDOM:
Stunning and sweet, the farm animal portrait collection spotlights the special breeds at the center of farm life.
Any of these new titles calling your name?
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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