Originally written as a thesis for the Parsons/Cooper-Hewitt MA program; The Miserrsquo;s Purse by Laura Camerlengo; a Curatorial Fellow at the Philadelphia Museum of Art; tells the compelling story of how a small decorative purse became deeply embedded in nineteenth-century Victorian popular culture. Known at the time as long purses; gentlemenrsquo;s purses or simply purses; they came to be called "miserrsquo;s purses" because their diminutive openings made it difficult to retrieve coins. References to miserrsquo;s purses in womenrsquo;s magazines and etiquette guides reveal that they were given as gifts or sold at charitable fundraisers; and these social uses were adapted by many artists and writers in their portrayals of society.DesignFile is the new line of e-books on topics and trends in design published by the Cooper-Hewitt; Smithsonian Design Museum. There will be six to twelve titles published annually; each ranging in length from 7;500 to 20;000 words. Building a consortium with institutional partners and design practitioners; Cooper-Hewitts series will bridge the academic; museum; design; and publishing worlds. Inaugural members of the e-book consortium are Parsons The New School for Design and the School of Visual Arts.
#2798082 in eBooks 2012-08-28 2012-08-28File Name: B00AT9K836
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Simply FabulousBy Knowledge ContagionIf you are easily offended; this is not the book for you. If it tickles you to see iconic images put into a pornographic (yet artistic) context; this is the perfect book for you.Isabel Samaras apparently favors using classics like "I Dream of Jeannie;" "Batman and Robin;" "The Addams Family;" "The Munsters;" etc. and gives them a fabulous pornographic twist; she puts The Addams and Munsters in bed together; has Batman and Robin making out (and so much more); Lily and Morticia sharing a moment or two. She paints beyond these examples; of course; and every painting is just wonderful. Every once in a while; an original painting is shown to give the viewer a better idea of what inspired a particular painting and many paintings take up two pages because one page is devoted to giving a close up of something in the background.Her introduction to this book is fabulous! Her writing style is very engaging: she explains what and who inspired her to start painting and why she started off with vintage lunch boxes and TV trays as canvases; she mentions her trips to Italy and how each trip was a completely different experience because of the way it affected her painting. She details why she decided to depict classic monsters in alternate (i.e. happy) scenarios and she gives us a glimpse of her painting process.Justin Giarla (a gallerist who showed her work) writes about what made her artwork appeal to him. One thing he said was "Yet Isabels subjects arent the perverse musings of some twisted mind. Instead; they are actually loving portraits of humanity; with all its failings and crazy drama." He wrote that for people who grew up on these television shows; Isabels paintings remind them what it is like to be a kid again.Colin Berry wrote "... Isabel clearly embraced tenderness in her work ... [she] favored scenes of affection; mystery and passion." He juxtaposes her work with other artists in that genre (which is apparently "Lowbrow") and goes into some detail about how her style and subject matter differs from the others.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Make sure the recipients are not easily offended :)By Purple_CasperLoooove these postcards! Make sure the recipients are not easily offended :-) I love the book version as well; I gave it as a gift.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Craig S. ThomThis postcards are terrific and cost less each than souvenir postcards in a gift shop.