May 17, 2013

Who are those bronze heads guarding the CFR door?


If you’ve wondered about the two bronze busts on either side of the south entrance to Central’s Center for the Reader, here is the scoop.  To the left stands the bust of the Reverend John C. Learned, made in 1894.  Learned (1834-1893) was a beloved and admired Unitarian minister, serving as the first pastor of the Church of the Unity (now First Unitarian Church) from 1870 until his death.  He was also President of the St. Louis Public Library Board from 1887 to 1892.  The artist of this bust was St. Louis sculptor Robert Porter Bringhurst (1855-1925).  Bringhurst was well-known nationally, was among the founders of the St. Louis Artists Guild, operated the Ozark Pottery Company, and taught at the St. Louis School of Fine Arts.  He also designed many sculptures for the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition (World’s Fair) of 1904. 
 
On the right is a bust of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain), created in 1915 by Pittsburgh sculptor Frank Vittor (1888-1968).  This bust has an interesting history.  It was donated to the library in 1936 by the International Mark Twain Society, an organization founded by Cyril Clemens, a distant cousin of Mark Twain.  Cyril had signed up every famous person that he could and listed them as friends, sponsors, or donors.  Cyril claimed that funds to purchase this statue were donated by Benito Mussolini, then emerging as the dictator of fascist Italy, but also a Mark Twain fan.  Cyril later dropped Mussolini’s name from the Society. 

May 7, 2013

Celebrate Spring (at last?!) with these new arts/crafts books

Since Central Library re-opened, this department now carries the craft and arts how-to books that were previously elsewhere.  We are trying hard to beef up that collection with new and useful titles, and hope it fills the needs and wants of our crafty patrons!  See the rather long list below.

Reference

The Official Museum Directory 2013 

Standard Catalog of World Paper Money 1961-Present,  18th Edition

Warman's Antiques & Collectibles 2014,  47th Edition


Art History / Art Theory

African Cosmos: Stellar Arts  by Christine Kreamer

Bamum  by Christraud M. Geary

Dyeing Elegance: Asian Modernism and the art of Kuboku and Hisako Takaku  by Sonya Quintanilla

George Seurat: The Drawings, exhibition catalog of the Museum of Modern Art, N.Y.

Italian Renaissance Maiolica  by Elisa P. Sani

Korean Lacquer Art: Aesthetic Perfection  by Patricia Frick

Luc Tuymans Graphic Works 1989-2012  by Luc Tuymans

Nam June Paik: Global Visionary  by John Hanhardt

New Technologies in Glass  by Vanessa Cutler

Richard Hamilton: The Late Works  by Christopher Riopelle

Wade Guyton OS  by Scott Rothkopf
 

Architecture / Planning / Landscape Architecture 

Building: Inside Studio Gang Architects  edited by Jeanne Gang & Zoe Ryan 

Frank Lloyd Wright: Force of  Nature  by Eric Peter Nash 

Herzog & De Meuron + Ai Weiwei Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012 

Kenzo Tange: Architecture for the World  edited by Seng Kuan and Yukip Lippit  

Public Parks: The Key to Livable Communities  by Alexander Garvin 

Sverre Fehn: The Pattern of Thoughts  by Olaf Fjeld 

Town Planning in Practice: An Introduction to the Art of Designing Cities and the Suburbs  by Sir Raymond Unwin
 

Design / Interior Decoration / Graphics / Fashion 

African Textiles: Color and Creativity across a Continent by John Gillow 

American Furniture 2012 edited by Luke Berkerdite 

Comics Sketchbooks: The Private Worlds of Today’s Most Creative Talents  by Steven Heller 

The Soul of a Tree: A Woodworker’s Reflection  by George Nakashima
 

Photography 

Digital SLR Video & Filmmaking for Dummies  by John Carucci 

Gordon Parks: A Harlem Family 1967  by Gordon Parks
 

Crafts / Applied Arts / How-to Books 

Bead Necklaces: 13 Beautiful Jewelry Designs  by Susan Beal 

Colorwork for Adventurous Knitters  by Lori Ihnen 

Creating Handmade Cards Step by Step  by Cheryl Owen 

Draw and Paint 50 Animals  by Jeanne Filler Scott 

Drawing and Painting Animals  by Jonathan Truss 

Drop Earrings: 17 Sparkling Jewelry Designs  by Susan Beal 

Exquisite Embellishments for Paper Crafts  by Keri Lee Sereika 

Fair Isle Hats, Scarves, Mittens & Gloves: 7 Stunning Patterns to Knit  by Kathleen Taylor 

Get Started Knitting  by Susie Johns

Goldwork  by Helen McCook 

Jeweler’s Studio Handbook  by Brandon Holschuh 

Knitting in Circles  by Nicky Epstein 

Knitting Never Felt Better: The Definitive Guide to Fabulous Felting  by Nicky Epstein 

The Needlecraft Book  by Maggi Gordon 

Painting with Pastels  by Jenny Keal 

The Perfect Basket: How to Make a Fabulous Gift Basket for any Occasion  by Diane Phillips 

The Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Making Pop-ups & Novelty Cards  by Trish Phillips 

Prints: 50+ Designs and 20 Projects to Get You Started  by Heather Ross
 

Antiques / Collectibles 

Insider’s Guide to U. S. Coin Values, 20th edition,  by Scott A. Travers

Official M. J. Hummel Price Guide  by Heidi Ann von Recklinghausen

April 22, 2013

Late April acquisitions

We wind down the April days with some very fine, beautiful books:
 

Reference

54th Annual of American Illustration  by the Society of Illustrators

Liberty’s Furniture, 1875-1915; The Birth of Modern Interior Design  by Daryl Bennett

Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues (1961—Present), 19th edition
 

Art History / Art Theory

Arts of Nigeria in French Private Collections, exhibit catalog of the Musée de la Civilisation, Quebec

Dickens and the Artists, exhibit catalog of the Watts Gallery, Surrey, UK

Native American Modernism; Art from  North America  by Peter Bolz

Royalists to Romantics; Women Artists from the Louvre, Versailles, and Other French National Collections, exhibit catalog of the National Museum of Women in the Arts

Swing Time: Reginald Marsh and Thirties New York, exhibit catalog of the New York Historical Society
 

Architecture / Planning / Landscape Architecture

Edward Durell Stone: Modernism’s Populist Architect  by Mary Anne Hunting

Fair Park Deco; Art and Architecture of the Texas Centennial Exposition  by Jim Parsons

Schindler, Kings Road, and Southern California Modernism  by Robert Sweeney

Twenty Minutes in Manhattan  by Michael Sorkin


Design / Interior Decoration / Graphics / Fashion

Thonet:  Classic Furniture in Bent Wood and Tubular Steel  by Alexander von Vegesack

 
Crafts / Applied Arts / How-to Books

Gemstone Settings: The Jewelry Maker’s Guide to Styles & Techniques  by Anastasia Young

Learn to Burn: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started in Pyrography  by Simon Easton

Mosaic; Techniques & Traditions  by Sonia King

The New Tunisian Crochet; Contemporary Designs from Time-honored Traditions  by Dora Ohrenstein

Polymer Clay Master Class  by Judy Belcher

Pricing Photography; The Complete Guide to Assignment & Stock Prices  by Michal Heron

The Spirit of Bead Embroidery  by Heidi Kummli

Weaver’s Inkle Pattern Directory  by Anne Dixon

April 5, 2013

New Books for Early Spring

An impressive new batch of books has arrived -- enjoy!
 
Reference 

The Language of Towns & Cities; A Visual Dictionary  by Dhiru A. Thadani
 

Art History / Art Theory 

African Textiles Today  by Christopher Spring 

Alberto Giacometti; A Biography of his Work  by Yves Bonnefoy 

Manet: Portraying Life, exhibit catalog of the Royal Academy of Arts, London 

The Painting Factory: Abstraction after Warhol  by Jeffrey Deitch
 

Architecture / Planning / Landscape Architecture 

Aalto and America  by Stanford Anderson, et al. 

Contemporary Follies  by Keith Moskow 

Tumult and Order; Malcontenta 1924—1939  by Antonio Foscari 

A World of Gardens  by John Dixon Hunt
 

Design / Interior Decoration / Graphics / Fashion 

Bespoke: Furniture from 101 International Artists  by E. Ashley Rooney 

Black Images in the Comics; A Visual History  by Fredrik Stromberg 

Kate Spade New York: Things We Love 

1950s Modern; British Style and Design  by Susanna Walker 

Printmaking Revolution  by Dwight Pogue 

PUSH Print; 30 Artists Explore the Boundaries of Printmaking
 

Photography 

Digital Photography; A Basic Manual  by Henry Horenstein 

Gordon Parks Centennial; His Legacy at Wichita State University, exhibit catalog of the Ulrich Museum of Art 

Masterclass: Arnold Newman  by William A. Ewing 

Focus on Travel Photography  by Haje Jan Kamps 

The Photographer’s Story; The Art of Visual Narrative  by Michael Freeman 

Pictures and Progress; Early Photography and the Making of African American Identity 

Understanding Composition  by Bryan Peterson 

Understanding Exposure  by Andy Stansfield
 

Crafts / Applied Arts / How-to Books 

Beading Artistry for Quilts  by Thom Akins 

The Finer Edge; Crocheted Trims, Motifs & Borders  by Kristin Omdahl 

Jewelry Design; From Fashion to Fine Jewelry  by Elizabeth Galton 

Kumihimo Wire Jewelry  by Giovanna Imperia 

Leatherwork: 25 Practical Ideas  by Mary Maguire 

Reverse Glass Painting  by Anne Dimock  

Simple Weaves  by Birgitta Bengtsson Bjork
 

Antiques / Collectibles 

Lalique  by Eric Knowles 

Postcard Collector: Greetings from The Way We Were  by Barbara Andrews

April 1, 2013

Central's renovation featured in national magazine

The March 2013 issue of Architect, the official periodical of the American Institute of Architects, includes an article about the renovation and restoration of Central Library, with beautiful photos.  In fact, the double-page spread that begins the article is of the Fine Arts Room.  The Great Hall is pictured on the Contents page (p. 2), and the actual article begins on page 90.  Take a look:
http://mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/frame.php?i=152075&p=&pn=&ver=flex

March 14, 2013

New art and craft books for mid-March

Celebrate the coming of Spring by checking out some of these wonderful new books, just received:

Art History / Art Theory 

The Art of Southeast Africa from the Conru Collection 

Berthe Morisot, 1841-1895, exhibition catalog of the Musee Marmottan 

Beverly Pepper: Monumenta  by Robert C. Hobbs 

Chinese Jade; The Spiritual and Cultural Significance of Jade in China  by Gu Fang 

Claes Oldenburg: The Sixties, exhibition catalog of Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien 

Full Spectrum; Prints from the Brandywine Workshop, exhibit catalog of the Philadelphia Museum of Art 

Gustave Caillebotte: An Impressionist and Photography, exhibit catalog of the Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt 

Interviews with Artists, 1966-2012  by Michael Peppiatt 

Jasper Johns; Seeing with the Mind’s Eye, exhibit catalog of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art 

Kehinde Wiley  by Thelma Golden, et al. 

Masterworks of Chinese Art, catalog of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art 

Modern Sculpture Reader  edited by Jon Wood, et al. 

Thomas Hart Benton and the American Sound  by Leo G. Mazow 

20th Century Pewter; Art Nouveau to Modernism  by Paul Robinson
 

Design / Interior Decoration / Graphics / Fashion 

The Age of Elegance: Interiors by Alex Papachristidis 

Ann Getty: Interior Style  by Diane Dorrans Saeks 

The Best of Brochure Design, 11th edition 

The Best of Business Card Design, 9th edition 

Coming into Fashion; A Century of Photography at Conde Nast  by Nathalie Herschdorfer 

Denman Ross and American Design Theory  by Marie Frank 

English Decoration; Timeless Inspiration for the Contemporary Home  by Ben Pentreath 

Fashion Design, Referenced  by Alicia Kennedy 

The Iconic Interior: Private Spaces of Leading Artists, Architects, and Designers  by Dominic Bradbury

Industrial Chic:  50 Icons of Furniture and Lighting Design  by Brigitte Durieux 

Vivienne Westwood; Designer Monographs Curated by Terry Jones
 

Architecture / Planning / Landscape Architecture 

Building Taliesin; Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home of Love and Loss  by Ron McCrea 

Common Ground; Biennale Architettura 2012, catalog of the Venice Biennale 

Frank Lloyd Wright Natural Design; Organic Architecture  by Alan Hess 

Mathematical Excursions to the World’s Great Buildings  by Alexander J. Hahn 

Ralph Walker; Architect of the Century  by Kathryn E. Holliday 

St. Paul’s Cathedral; 1400 Years at the Heart of London  by Ann Saunders 

Tadao Ando: Conversations with Students  ed. and translated by Matthew Hunter
 

Photography 

Dawoud Bey: Harlem, U. S. A., exhibit catalog of the Art Institute of Chicago 

Ezra Stoller, Photographer  by Nina Rappaport 

Hello Nature  by William Wegman 

Looking at Ansel Adams  by Andrea G. Stillman 

“The Steerage” and Alfred Stieglitz  by Jason Francisco 

Vivian Maier; Out of the Shadows  by Richard Cahan
 

Crafts / Applied Arts / How-to Books 

African Inspirations In Embroidery  by Mary Sleigh 

Classic Knits; More than 100 Beautiful Projects 

Complete Beginner’s Woodcarving Workbook, 2nd edition  by Mary Duke Guldan 

Crewel Twists: Fresh Ideas for Jacobean Embroidery  by Hazel Blomkamp 

Kyuuto!  Japanese Crafts; Woolly Embroidery  

Liberty Love; 25 Projects to Quilt & Sew Featuring Liberty of London Fabraics  by Alexia Marcelle Abegg  

The Spinner’s Book of Yarn Designs  by Sarah Anderson 

Star Quilts; 27 Stunning Designs   by Fons & Porter 

Tapestry Weaving; Design and Technique  by Joanne Soroka 

Women’s Work; Embroidery in Colonial Boston  by Pamela A. Parmal
 

Antiques / Collectibles 

Collecting World Coins, 1901 – Present, 14th edition.

 

March 2, 2013

New books for a new month

The beginning of March has brought us a large batch of beautiful and informative new books.  Take a look!

Reference

American Illustration, volume 31 

American Newspaper Comics; An Encyclopedic Reference Guide  by Allan Holtz 

The Thames & Hudson Dictionary of Graphic Design and Designers, 3rd edition  by Alan Livingston
 

Art History / Art Theory 

Caribbean:  Art at the Crossroads of the World, exhibit catalog of El Museo del Barrio, New York 

The Gothic Stained Glass of Reims Cathedral  by Meredith Parsons Lillich 

In Giacometti’s Studio  by Michael Peppiatt 

Jay DeFeo; A Retrospective  by Dana Miller 

Robert Longo, exhibit catalog of the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Nice  

Romare Bearden in the Modernist Tradition; Essays from the Romare Bearden Foundation Symposium, 2007 

Treasures from the Cleveland Museum of Art, catalog of the CMA
 

Design / Interior Decoration / Graphics 

Antonio Lopez:  Fashion, Art, Sex & Disco  by Roger Padilha 

Jonathan Adler on Happy Chic Accessorizing  by Jonathan Adler 

The Logo Brainstorm Book; A Comprehensive Guide for Exploring Desig Directions  by Jim Krause 

100 Ways to Happy Chic your Life  by Jonathan Adler 

The Postcard Age; Selections from the Leonard A. Lauder Collection  by Lynda Klich 

W:  The First 40 Years, edited by Stefano Tonchi
 

Architecture / Planning / Landscape Architecture

Museum Island Berlin  by the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin 

Sustainable Design; A Critical Guide  by David Bergman
 

Photography 

Beautiful Beasties: A Creative Guide to Modern Pet Photography  by Jamie Pflughoeft 

Digital Photography Through the Year  by Tom Ang 

Faking It:  Manipulated Photography Before Photoshop  by Mia Fineman
 

Crafts / Applied Arts / How-to Books 

Candlemaking the Natural Way  by Rebecca Ittner 

Cartooning; Philosophy and Practice  by Ivan Brunetti 

Crafted Lives; Studies of African American Quilters  by Pataricia A. Turner 

Creative Beading, Vol. 6  from Bead&Button magazine 

Cross Stitch: Skills, Techniques, 150 Practical Projects  by Dorothy Wood 

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, 4th expanded & updated edition by Betty Edwards 

Fused Glass Mosaics; Master Class Techniques  by Martin Cheek 

Kaffe Quilts Again  by Kaffe Fassett 

Keys to Drawing  by Bert Dodson 

Lovely Knits for Little Girls  by Vibe Ulrik Sondergaard 

Mastering Sketching; A Complete Course in 40 Lessons  by Judy Martin 

Practical Mixed-Media Printmaking Techniques  by Sarah Riley 

The Stitching Book; A Step-by-Step Guide to Surface Stitching Techniques  by Patricia Bage