Stitches and Stuff: Three books you'll love
Monday, August 25, 2008 11:34 PM PDT
By Melisse Laing
For The Daily News
Printable version
E-mail this articleIn my last column, I recommended three outstanding art exhibitions in Portland. I hope you went or are planning to go. In this column, I’d like to personally recommend three books that I’ve recently purchased.
My first recommendation is association with the Klaus Moje glass exhibition at the Portland Art Museum. “Klaus Moje: Glass” by Megan Bottariwas first published in Australia in 2006 as part of ‘Living Treasures: Masters of Australian Art.” The 140-page catalog includes beautiful photographs of Moje’s work along with an accounting of his growth as an artist and comments by professionals who have followed his work.
It’s an expensive book — about $80 retail — but one from which you’ll find much inspiration. It’s available at the Portland Art Museum gift shop and online at www.amazon.com.
“Masters: Art Quilts” by Martha Sielman is a collection of the works of 41 artists who are working today as art quilters. Many are well known — Jane Sassaman, Hollis Chatelain, Yvonne Porcella, Caryl Bryer Fallert, to name a few.
Others you will enjoy getting to know as you read brief biographers and comments from the artists and see color photographs of their works. Autographed copies of “Masters: Art Quilts,” which is published by Lark Books, are available from Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) for $24.95. To order log onto www.saqa.com and click on the SAQA store or call 860-487-4199.
My third book recommendation features the recent work of my friend and mentor, Nancy Crow. “Crossroads — Constructions, Markings, and Structures” was created to accompany a solo exhibition of Nancy’s work at the Snyderman Gallery in Philadelphia in 2007. Commentary is by David Hornung, gallery director, and Nancy herself.
What make this book special are the photographs, not only of the completed work with hung in the exhibition, but also of Nancy at work in her studio, the works in progress and pages from her journal. I have known Nancy for years as an incredible piecer. It’s exciting to see this work expanding and to see her new direction, working with markings using paintbrush and screens. Published by Breckling Press “Crossroads” retails for $22.95 and is available online at www.amazon.com.
Quilt artist Melisse Laing can be reached at melisse@gocougs.wsu.edu
Other recent columns by Melisse Laing:
Stitches and Stuff: A trip to Portland to see the arts (Aug. 12)
Stitches and Stuff: Sewing with metallic threads (July 15)
Stitches and Stuff: Saying no (July 1)
Stitches and Stuff: The woven look (June 24)
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