Artforum 1962-1974 By: Amy Newman Amy Newman set out to create a written record of the oral history of Artforum, and has succeeded. The conversational style leaves the reader with the feeling of sitting in the back room office able to stare at the peeling paint on the walls of the humble starting place of what could only be called a lightning strike in the center of the art movement of the 60's. Challenging Art provides the connoisseur of art criticism a rare glimpse into the inner-workings of the magazine that set the bar for the trade during one of the most tumultuous periods of American Art history. The journey from West to East, and the coming of age of the neophyte staff is starkly illustrated through short, conversational style quotes that leave one to wonder at the research required to create this tome. It is an excellent reference book for any who wish to have a greater insight into the behind the art scene activities of the time, but definitely is written for the well-versed art enthusiast or scholar. The organization of the material does not lend itself to encyclopedic style referencing, so this is one that should be read cover to cover. It encourages a reader who is less than knowledgeable about the era to search out other resources to learn more. Challenging Art is a required addition to the collection of anyone who is even remotely curious about the birth of the American Art World, as we know it today. |
By: Natalie R. Collins From page one, Natalie Collins pulls her readers into the mind and life of Allison Jensen, a young girl caught in a maelstrom of stilted church and family values. Mormonism takes a decided hit in this heart-wrenching and suspenseful tale of religious piety gone awry. Allison's world is turned upside down by the disappearance of her best friend, Cindy, after a confrontation with a bearded stranger. Learning quickly that the adults in her life would not answer her questions about her friend, or her doubts about the Mormon faith, Alli took the first chance she could to get away from her hometown. Immersing herself in the world of forbidden pleasures, she gained a false sense of identity and freedom that quickly came crashing down after being attacked by a man dressed like the one who had taken Cindy. With the support of her outcast lesbian aunt and her partner, Alli begins her search for the missing parts of her childhood memories that still haunt her, uncovering a web of deceit spun by church leaders and her family. In spite of a somewhat predictable ending, readers will still be drawn forward, just to see where Collins leaves her heroine. Wives and Sisters is a gripping tale oozing with skillful feminist commentary about the patriarchal nature of Mormonism, which may earn Collins disparagement in her home state. A spirited decision for a newcomer, and it earns her the status of a voice to watch. |