Summer Reading

We’re now deep into the laze of summer and I can already feel the urge to sit back with a cold drink and catch up on some overdue reading. I’ve assembled a selection of books that I have my eye on (or would like to revisit), as well as some blogs I’d suggest adding to your favorites list. For fun, there are also a couple of things you might want to watch or listen to.

Books:
(Click the titles to link to the books on Amazon. By using these links, OVAC will receive a percentage of your sale.)

Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton
An insider account of the inner workings of the contemporary art world.

Chuck Close: Life by Christopher Finch
A new biography of the artist, chronicling his evolution as a painter.

The $12 Million Stuffed Shark: The Curious Economics of Contemporary Art by Don Thompson
An investigation of the economics and psychology of the contemporary art world.

Talking Prices: Symbolic Meanings of Prices on the Market for Contemporary Art by Olav Velthuis
An economic analysis of how prices are set in the contemporary art market and the tension between art and commerce.

Why Is That Art? Aesthetics and Criticism of Contemporary Art by Terry Barrett
A book addressing common questions viewers raise about contemporary art.

Art & Today by Eleanor Heartney
A comprehensive survey of contemporary art over the past three decades, organized by theme and featuring over 400 artworks.

Drawing is Thinking by Milton Glaser
Based on the idea that all art has its origin in the impulse to create, this book is mostly images of drawings that delineate this idea.

I'd Rather Be in the Studio: The Artist's No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion by Alyson B. Stanfield
Practical approaches to help you sell more art and build a career that lasts. Also check out her blog at www.ArtBizBlog.com.

The Artist’s Guide to Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions by Lynn Basa
Written by an artist, for artists, explaining how to start and build a career in public art.

Blogs:
Art:21 Blog: blog.art21.org
Modern Art Notes by Tyler Green: blogs.artinfo.com/modernartnotes
Art in the Public Interest: www.apionline.org

Listen/Watch:
Work of Art: The Next Great Artist on Bravo TV (Oklahoman and former Momentum artist Jaime Lynn is a contestant.)
Tate Podcasts: channel.tate.org.uk/podcasts

This list should be enough to keep us all reading until the end-of-summer cool down. Please share with us what you’re reading or your thoughts on any of the books included here. Happy reading.


Editor's letter from the July/August 2010 issue of Art Focus Oklahoma magazine. Read the full issue online at www.ArtFocusOklahoma.org.