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Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic
Review: As always, Weintraub gets to the essence of the art and the artists. The student interviews are also quite insightful!
Rating: 
Summary: In search of relevance
Review: For all you aspiring artist out there SAVE YOUR MONEY. This book does little to further any critical thought about the contemporary art world. The book is limited in the mediums represented, and seems more to be a platform for Linda Weintraub to promote artists that appeal to her than to critically discuss the issues aspiring artists face.
Rating:
Summary: textbook material meets fun presentation
Review: I think this would be an excellent resource for any artist, especially as a classroom tool (textbook?) TONS of color pictures!! While this book is basically an overview of contemporary artists it takes an interesting form in that it breaks the artists up into 5 'groups' (chapters.) Each artist is looked at in terms of their own oeuvre but also in relation to whatever category they have been placed in. Categories include: "Measuring Success" "Sourcing Inspiration" "Choosing a Mission" "Scoping an Audience" etc. Despite how 'buisness oriented' these topics sound, they are very poignant for contemporary artists, as Weintraub demonstrates. It has a great variety of artists, mediums and styles and a very good representation of women and minority artists. The writing is easy to understand and although there is a lack of heavy critique in this book, it still manages to present challenges: The artists themselves pose questions and challenges both through the interviews and through their work.
Rating:
Summary: perfect for emerging artists
Review: I'm your typical college art student with dirt for self-esteem, and whenever I really begin to question my abilities or doubt if I want be doing art in the first place I haul out this book. I highly recommend it for anybody needing a breath of fresh air regarding the art world. Cool thing: It has spaces for notes at the end of each section so I can jot down all the down-to-earth, pragmatic and yet encouraging pearls of wisdom that Weintraub has extracted from these artists in her interviews. Also, all kinds of media are represented here... from traditional painting to digital film and performance art. There's even a section about Thomas Kinkade! This book also does away with typical artsy-snottisms and elitist attitudes...all of the artists are looked at from a neutral/inquisitive point of view, (including Kinkade), and written about in interesting, accesible, and ultimately inspiring essays.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for teaching contemporary art
Review: This is an impressive introductory survey of where contemporary art is today, and gives a fair account of the myriad options open to young artists. It's easy to understand, beautifully designed, affordable, and up-to-the-minute. As a studio art teacher, I consider this book a great teaching tool. Whereas most college-level art classes are still teaching traditional art-making, this book advocates for a poly-artistic approach more in keeping with the media age. It should be used in all Foundations classes, as well as higher level classes.
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