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Why a Painting Is Like a Pizza: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying Modern Art

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Why a Painting Is Like a Pizza: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying Modern ArtThe first time she made a pizza from scratch, art historian Nancy Heller made the observation that led her to write this entertaining guide to contemporary art. Comparing modern art not only to pizzas but also to traditional and children's art, Heller shows us how we can refine analytical tools we already possess to understand and enjoy even the most unfamiliar paintings and sculptures. How is a painting like a pizza? Both depend on visual balance for

The first time she made a pizza from scratch, art historian Nancy Heller made the observation that led her to write this entertaining guide to contemporary art. Comparing modern art not only to pizzas but also to traditional and children's art, Heller shows us how we can refine analytical tools we already possess to understand and enjoy even the most unfamiliar paintings and sculptures.

How is a painting like a pizza? Both depend on visual balance for much of their overall appeal and, though both can be judged by a set of established standards, pizzas and paintings must ultimately be evaluated in terms of individual taste. By using such commonsense examples and making unexpected connections, this book helps even the most skeptical viewers feel comfortable around contemporary art and see aspects of it they would otherwise miss. Heller discusses how nontraditional works of art are made--and thus how to talk about their composition and formal elements. She also considers why such art is made and what it means.

At the same time, Heller reassures those of us who have felt uncomfortable around avant-garde art that we don't have to like all--or even any--of it. Yet, if we can relax, we can use the aesthetic awareness developed in everyday life to analyze almost any painting, sculpture, or installation. Heller also gives concise answers to the eight questions she is most frequently asked about contemporary art--from how to tell when an abstract painting is right side up to which works of art belong in a museum.

This book is for anyone who agrees with art critic Clement Greenberg that All profoundly original art looks ugly at first. It's also for anyone who disagrees. It is for anyone who wants to get more out of a museum or gallery visit and would like to be able to say something more than just yes or no when asked if they like an artist's work.-- "Choice"

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 10/13/2002
ISBN: 9780691090528
Pages: 192
Weight: 1.08lbs
Size: 8.80h x 5.80w x 0.70d

Review Citations: Library Journal 02/15/2003 pg. 133
Kliatt 03/01/2003 pg. 53
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SKU: 78470861850

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I did not know that Marc Joseph makes hands free slip ins. I own four pair of Skechers, and I thought they were the only game in town. I decided that I wanted a pair of business casual pair of wingtips. I already own two pair of Skechers Mark Nason wingtips in blue and black nubuck, so I bought a pair of their cognac colored. Perfectly fine shoes, but when they arrived, I didn't like the color, so the search was on! I found these cognac-colored Mark Joseph's and hands down, they fit the bill for what I was looking for! I actually bought two more pair of Skechers in the brown family in the same oxford, elastic lace style: One pair of another style of their Mark Nason line and one pair of their Garza line. So now I am comparing three pair of Skechers to the Marc Joseph's. Obsessive, I know :). Luckily, I have a Skechers store near me for easy returns. The look I was going for is a sleek, business casual that I could dress up or down. Three things that I love about the Marc Joseph's are the beautiful cognac finish: the white yet lower profile soles and the more formal, narrower toe style. The MJ's nailed it with the color. They have a slightly darker, more lustrous and glossier look than the others. The color alone looks classier and pairs well with black pants which I wear for work almost every day. The white soles are exactly what I was looking for. The visible rise is probably about a third of the thickness of the others and are a much more subtle, classier look. They offset the cognac color nicely but are not that in your face, sneaker looking, thick white sole. When I was comparing them to the others right out of the box, I thought they would be too narrow and tight because they looked sleeker and narrower than the others. But they fit perfectly and were very comfortable right out of the box. Upon closer inspection and comparison, I realized the narrower, sleeker look is because the eyelets for the elastic shoelaces are closer together that give the illusion that the shoe is narrower. They compensate for what might create a tighter fit across the top of your foot with two stretchy "gores" they are called on either side of the upper part. The "slits" are nicely finished, and you can't see the stretchy part and add a nice design touch to the shoe. But between them and the elastic shoelaces, they must stretch just enough to make them extremely comfortable across the top. So, if you have a high instep/arch, they should accommodate it nicely. Last but not least, they are very comfortable shoes. I wear a size 8 1/2 to 9 and my foot is slightly on the wide side. I bought the size 9's and they fit perfectly. If you are between sizes or have wider feet, you may want to size up a half size. Because the Skechers have much thicker soles, they might be slightly more cushioned, but the MJ's are cushioned more than enough for my purposes and very comfortable. Plus, they actually just feel better on my feet. I can't speak to how durable they will be as I just got them, but so far, so good. So, there you have it. I rely on other people's reviews a lot when buying online, and especially for shoes. I know it's always a crap shoot, particularly when buying shoes online, so I hope this review helps. Everybody's feet are different, but I highly recommend these.
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