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Showing 21 - 40 of 3560 items
By David A. Neel. 2019
David Neel was an infant when his father, a traditional Kwakiutl artist, returned to the ancestors, triggering a series of…
events that would separate David from his homeland and its rich cultural traditions for twenty-five years. When the aspiring photographer saw a mask carved by an ancestor in a Texas museum, the encounter inspired him to return home and follow in his father’s footsteps. Drawing on memory, legend, and his own art, Neel recounts his struggle to reconnect with his culture and become an accomplished Kwakwa_ka_’wakw artist. His memoir is a testament to the strength of the human spirit to overcome great obstacles and to the power and endurance of Indigenous culture and art.By Antonio Michael Downing. 2021
The triumph of Saga Boy is the triumph of Blackness everywhere--the irrepressible instinct for survival in a world where Blacks…
are prey."--Ian Williams, Giller Prize-winning author of ReproductionAn enthralling, deeply personal account of a young immigrant's search for belonging and Black identity amid the long-lasting effects of cultural dislocation.Antonio Michael Downing's memoir of creativity and transformation is a startling mash-up of memories and mythology, told in gripping, lyrical prose. Raised by his indomitable grandmother in the lush rainforest of southern Trinidad, Downing, at age 11, is uprooted to Canada when she dies. But to a very unusual part of Canada: he and his older brother are sent to live with his stern, evangelical Aunt Joan, in Wabigoon, a tiny northern Ontario community where they are the only Black children in the town. In this wilderness, he begins his journey as an immigrant minority, using music and performance to dramatically transform himself. At the heart of his odyssey is the longing for a home. He is re-united with his birth parents who he has known only through stories. But this proves disappointing: Al is a womanizing con man and drug addict, and Gloria, twice abandoned by Al, seems to regard her sons as cash machines. He tries to flee his messy family life by transforming into a series of extravagant musical personalities: "Mic Dainjah," a punk rock rapper, "Molasses," a soul music crooner and finally "John Orpheus," a gold chained, sequin- and leather-clad pop star. Yet, like his father and grandfather, he has become a "Saga Boy," a Trinidadian playboy, addicted to escapism, attention, and sex. When the inevitable crash happens, he finds himself in a cold, stone jail cell. He has become everything he was trying to escape and must finally face himself. Richly evocative, Saga Boy is a heart-wrenching but uplifting story of a lonely immigrant boy who overcomes adversity and abandonment to reclaim his Black identity and embrace a rich heritage.By Nathan Greenfield. 2021
Molly Lamb and Bruno Bobak shot to prominence as war artists during the Second World War. Marrying shortly after the…
end of the war, they moved first to Vancouver and then, in 1960, to Fredericton, where they settled permanently. Molly’s paintings were vibrant and colourful, featuring dynamic crowd scenes and wildflowers that seem to wave on the page. In contrast, Bruno painted near-abstract cityscapes, stunning landscapes, and distorted bodies wracked with inner torment, work that is unique in Canadian art.In this book, acclaimed author Nathan M. Greenfield brings to light the private and public lives of two of the most important figures in 20th century Canadian art. Combining archival research with Molly’s diaries and letters, interviews with friends and contemporaries, and an analysis of paintings by both artists, he develops an intimate portrait of their life and art: their critical acclaim, commercial success, and a turbulent marriage that lasted over fifty years.By Molly Peacock. 2021
Mary fought for a place as a professional artist without having to live as a tragic heroine. She married George…
Reid, Canadian muralist, and while their relationship was more equal than most, this was still the Edwardian age. How do you find time to paint when you need to get to the market to buy a chicken for dinner?By Alain Stanké. 2021
Tour à tour journaliste, réalisateur, écrivain, éditeur, Alain Stanké a vécu mille vies et autant de rencontres. À l'aise avec…
les grands de ce monde tout autant qu'avec les quidams, sourire en coin, il a marqué des générations par des émissions placées sous le signe de l'humour. Pourtant, rien dans son parcours aux alluresglamourne laisse deviner ses débuts tragiques. C'est que l'homme, au regard tendre, ne s'est jamais départi de cette qualité qui manque cruellement à nos sociétés désabusées : l'émerveillementBy Jason Zinoman. 2017
A comedy critic for the New York Times examines the career of comedian and TV host David Letterman, especially his…
many years as host of two consecutive groundbreaking late-night TV shows. Includes interviews with Letterman and his collaborators. Some strong language. 2017By Andrew Potok. 2017
Author describes his family's flight from the Nazi invasion of Poland, including his father's betrayal of the rest of them…
to save himself. Potok also recounts his battle to reclaim his family's home in Warsaw and his encounters with anti-Semitism in postwar Poland. Some violence and some strong language. 2017By Rachelle Burk, Claudia Gadotti. 2016
Describes the life and career of Esref Armagan, a blind artist from Turkey. Esref spent his childhood days in his…
father's shop, where he developed a curiosity to create and draw. He even taught himself colors, shadows, and perspective. For grades 2-4. 2016By Doogie Horner, David Stabler. 2016
Highlights unusual yet true stories from the childhoods of great artists. A young Leonardo da Vinci painted a Medusa head…
on a shield that couldn't be sold right away because it was too terrifying!For grades 3-6. 2016By Francine Prose. 2015
Author of Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932 (DB 79323) profiles the life of modern art advocate Peggy Guggenheim…
(1898-1979). Discusses the influence of her Jewish heritage on her life; the artists she championed, including Jackson Pollock and Man Ray; and her at times chaotic personal life. 2015American-born Buddhist lama describes the concept of inter-meditation--allowing one to "see through the illusion of separation"--and ways to achieve it.…
Discusses learning to see from another's perspective, being kinder to ourselves and the greater world, connecting with our families, and more. 2015By Mickey Hess, Buddha Monk. 2014
Musician and friend of Ol' Dirty Bastard, Monk--with English professor Hess--details the life of the cofounder of the Wu-Tang Clan.…
Details ODB's childhood in Brooklyn, his work with Wu-Tang Clan, his solo musical efforts, and the challenges he faced before his early death by drug overdose. Some strong language. 2014By Ricky Skaggs. 2013
Grammy Award-winning bluegrass and country-music star (born 1954) recounts his life and career. Details his formative years in rural Kentucky,…
professional success, and personal relationships. Describes his recommitment to his Christian faith after his second marriage and his friendship with the Reverend Billy Graham. 2013Coanchor of Nightline and Good Morning America recounts his recreational drug use and 2004 nationally televised panic attack that--coupled with…
overextension at work and his stint covering religion--prompted him to practice meditation, which he asserts led to increased calm, focus, and happiness in his life. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2014By Tony Bennett. 2012
Winner of seventeen Grammy Awards, singer Bennett (born 1926) reminisces about growing up in New York City, his sixty years…
in the entertainment industry, and his friendships with musicians. Forward by Mitch Albom, author of The Time Keeper (DB 75616). 2012By Cissy Houston. 2013
Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Cissy Houston recalls the life of her daughter, singer/actress Whitney (1963-2012). Discusses Whitney's career and family…
relationships, including her tumultuous marriage to fellow entertainer Bobby Brown. Speculates on Whitney's drug use and the pitfalls of fame. Foreword by Dionne Warwick. 2013By Calvin Tomkins. 2008
Contributor to the New Yorker profiles ten modern artists: Matthew Barney, Maurizio Cattelan, John Currin, Damien Hirst, Jasper Johns, Jeff…
Koons, Julian Schnabel, Richard Serra, Cindy Sherman, and James Turrell. One piece discusses the 1992 tiger-shark-in-formaldehyde work by young British artist Hirst, as well as anecdotes revealing his personality. 2008By Thich Nhat Hanh. 2015
Author of The Lunar Men (DB 58797) presents a biography of Sarah Losh (1786-1853), who designed a uniquely decorated church…
in the village of Wreay, England, in 1842. Details her family history, her architectural and artisan endeavors, and the socioeconomic and cultural changes that influenced her. 2012By Jean Fritz, Hudson Talbott. 2001
The story behind the American Horse at the Frederik Meijer Gardens. An artistic idea envisioned but never finished by Leonardo…
da Vinci, the horse was subsequently completed by a pair of American artists in 1999. One bronzed statue remains in Milan, Italy, and the other resides in Grand Rapids. A 2002 Michigan Notable book. For grades 3-6. 2001. Award winner