The boxes and collages constructed by Joseph Cornell (1903ndash;72) are among the most intriguing and beguiling works of art made this century. Old toys; photos; magazine illustrations; bits of electrical wiring ndash; anything in fact more usually left to moulder in lumber rooms or junkshops ndash; were hoarded by him as the elemental materials he needed for his constructions. The finished works are visually entrancing; but the intensely personal webs of reverie and association that determined their content make these boxes at once both oddly familiar yet ineluctably strange.Drawing on the widest range possible of primary material ndash; virtually all Cornells scrapbooks and source files; as well as correspondence and diaries ndash; supplemented by further details gathered during more than fifty interviews undertaken with the artists family and acquaintances; including Robert Motherwell and Susan Sontag; Lindsay Blair gives us the most detailed picture yet of an artist who hid so much of his life from the world. Her conclusion; wholly convincing in the light of the evidence she provides; is that Cornells ultimate subject was the mind itself.
#4476444 in eBooks 2008-01-04 2008-01-04File Name: B00D1VW44U
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Helpful for Artists and Non-Artists AlikeBy Debbra RichardsI liked this book and enjoyed the reading of it. Its a good book for artists and non artists alike because the concepts are life skills; really. There are practical lessons to work on and think about. I recommend this book to people who enjoy being inspired with new concepts to improve over all life.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Its great!By dazzling78Sam is a great writer; you will feel she is personally talking to you.Its a good book to read for people with busy lives ( we are all busy or we should be) who want to see their projects get done. Or for those who need a little push to overcome their fears to start something new.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Very helpfulBy Amanda R. YoungVery practical and easy to understand. I like the tips and tricks and the reflections.