The first time she made a pizza from scratch, art historian Nancy Heller made the observation that led her to write this guide to contemporary art. Comparing modern art not only to pizzas but also to traditional and children's art, Heller shows 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 ...
Read More
The first time she made a pizza from scratch, art historian Nancy Heller made the observation that led her to write this guide to contemporary art. Comparing modern art not only to pizzas but also to traditional and children's art, Heller shows 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 should help 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". 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.
Read Less
Add this copy of Why a Painting is Like a Pizza: a Guide to to cart. $32.98, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2002 by Princeton University Press.
Add this copy of Why a Painting is Like a Pizza: a Guide to to cart. $10.80, good condition, Sold by Books From California rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Simi Valley, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2002 by Princeton University Press.
Add this copy of Why a Painting is Like a Pizza: a Guide to to cart. $69.09, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2002 by Princeton University Press.
Nancy Heller has a refreshing approach to looking at contemporary art. She relieves you of the fear of looking and not understanding. I am a docent at a popular art museum; many people on my tours seem intimidated by contemporary art....they are not sure what to say about the works or whether their reactions are legitimate. Nancy Heller presents page after page of "comfortable" ways to look at and appreciate puzzling pieces.
