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I attended this exhibit at the MoMA and was thrilled to see so many great artists interpreting what museums and "the institution" means. For some artists, the act of collecting is very private...like Joseph Cornell and his many obsessive boxes, or Christian Boltanski and his melancholy installation of forgotten photographs. In another personal piece, Sophie Calle interviewed various staff members at a museum where prized artworks by the Old Masters were stolen about how they now feel in the artworks' absence. The snoop in me wished that the audience could see what all the boxes contained in pieces such as Herbert Dristel's "Museum of Drawers", which houses over 500 miniature pieces of artwork by many of my favorite artists from the 60's and 70's. The Barbara Bloom installation "The Reign of Narcissism" was hilarious and disturbing. It consists of a museum within a museum, with all pieces and decor dedicated to herself and her own likeness. Claes Oldenburg's "Mouse Museum", another amazing installation, consists of various sculptures and found "junkstore-type" objects that the artist has accumulated. The shape of the walk-in structure of Oldenburg's "Museum" is Mickey Mouse's head! An absurd and fun commentary on pop culture! This show would not have been complete without the work of Marcel Duchamp, a pioneer in calling into question the value of "original" artwork and the importance that institutions place on it. "L.H.O.O.Q." (the Mona Lisa with a mustache) and many of Duchamp's Valises containing miniature reproductions of his own work and readymades are represented here. Vito Acconci decided to use the MoMA as a post office and in a separate piece, tried to infringe upon museum-goer's personal space by standing uncomfortably close to people while they were trying to be cultured and study the 'Art'. Overall, it was a fascinating exhibit. The subversive, but good-humored mockery of what humans do with and in the presence of art made me feel somewhat self-conscious as I was wandering the galleries, but that seemed to be the point!

This book's subject matter is right on the money. I haven't read it, but Museums have everything to do with the production of art nowadays. Museums and catalogs or big, glossy ads. Because that's where the authority of the printed page meets its audience. And Kynaston McShine is such a cool name.

Listening to these tapes has opened up a whole world of sounds and of life to me. Kay Gardner also plays the flute to the different frequencies she is explaing to you. A must for anyone interested in a better understanding of how sound effects the universe.

Kay Gardner has created a course that covers many aspects of sound healing in a very cohesive and easily undefstood format. Her personality comes through beautifully in spoken word, singing and her flute playing. She illustrates by example. I cannot recommend this more highly.

This book is delightful. It can be read to preschoolers thru beginning readers, and read by beginning readers. I've even used it in the ESL program I teach. The beautiful soft colors hold a child's interest and convey the feeling that "these bugs are wonderful and not dangerous" without even looking at or hearing the text. The story is factual while also catching the 'magic' of the dragonfly with such lines as this favorite of mine describing when the larva leaves the water to metamorphose into a flying insect, "A new me emerged and left a shell of my former self." I recommend "My Life as a Dragonfly" heartily.

This book is a great educational story for children. The illustrations are very colorful and really enhance the story. What a way to tell your children about a real life experience!!

Angela Elwell Hunt has worked with middle schoolers for 20 years, but it's her parenting experience that qualifies her as an expert on tweens. With humor and compassion she offers support to parents of children who are at that awkward stage between childhood and adolescence. Hunt does a thorough job of describing the problems, circumstances, and situations affecting children of middle school age--everything from academics to zits. Hunt maints that tweens need special attention because today's children are growing up faster than yesterday's. Parents need to give firm guidance to counteract the effects of the media. . . Frustrated parents will take comfort in the knowledge that the growing pains of tweens are typical and temporary. Though you could read the book from cover to cover in a couple of sittings, you'll want to keep it handy for future reference. --CHRISTIAN HOME AND SCHOOL, December 2000

"Angela Hunt takes a down-to-earth, common sense look at parenting kids through the awkward middle school years. Though the book is chock full of practical information and statistics, it manages to be highly entertaining as well, with real stories of real families' experiences. The alphabetical arrangement of topics is clever andvery helpful since this book is bound to be used over and over as a reference. What an encouragement this will be for parents just entering the 'tween' years with their children. Hunt does a wonderful job of answering those nagging questions of 'what's normal?' vs. 'what should I be concerned about?'

This book contains, in one of the 4 interviews Preston conducts with people in the extended porn industry, and the many astute and honest remarks about a life spent in the not inconsiderable task of making permanent art out of fleeting desire - it contains the single most perceptive remark I've come across about the dilemma of art versus commerce. The interviewee observed of a series of his activities that in each case, "In the beginning you think, This is going to make me..hard! And that's the greatest rush I've ever had, ..finding something new and different to make me..hard beats them all." Then follows, inevitably, the stage when he asks, "Can I eat doing this? Can I make a living at it? Because, if I can, then I'll be in heaven. I'll have made it to the place I want to be."But, he observes, "It doesn't work that way..It doesn't work that way because, eventually, the second part of the equation takes over and, no matter what you're doing, you're doing it for the business of it and the concerns about making a living are the same, no matter what the job is."

This is a well written, thoughtful collection of essays about the concerns of any artist. It is also refreshingly free of the usual pretension that accompanies such musings when engaged in by poet, painters etc. Pornographers are more fun between the sheets, as well as between the sheets.

Who knows if this collection will ever see the light of day again but I do know that from time to time some of the 15 essays, an interview with Preston and an set of 4 interviews by Preston, will be printed in more current works about BDSM, pornography, and writing. For Preston pornography seems to be anything that includes sexuality where one of the goals is sexual arousal; a definition you may not personally agree with but it took guts in the late 1980s and very early 1990s to say that. Preston didn't just write pornography but just like today that would not have kept him alive because it pays either so poorly for quality or you create a lot of junk just to pay the bills. In a way, some of these essays could almost be classified as a manifesto for writers, especiallythose of us who use sexuality to communicate, entertain, and investigate humanity. If you aren't interested in the political, the social, and the controversial in gay porn from one of the "masters" of that field, don't buy this book. If you are interested in all of those things or love Preston's work, you have to have this book.

This book should be required reading for two sets of readers: All trial lawyers facing monstrous odds and all readers interested in the history of the United States from about 1956 to the present. The first time I read this book (five years ago, while in law school) I picked up very specific lessons regarding the practice of criminal defense law. The second time through (2002), I picked up very specific historical lessons about turbulent times in our nation's history (civil rights litigation in the 1960s, the counter-culture of the late 1960s, and the American Indian Movement).

Of particular interest is the section on Mr. Kunstler's representation of a defendant in the 1993 WTC attacks.

I have read many autobiographies of lawyers and am a collector of books relating to real life court drama. Mr. Kunstler's (affectionally also known as Bill)autobiography is one of the best I've read. As a lawyer myself, I truly felt inspired by his actions in court. I can only wish in my lifetime as an advocate that I can be at least half of a court room lawyer he was. I highly recommend this book to all advocates and aspiring trial lawyers. This book is as good as Louis Nizer's "My Life In Court".

I used to have a great deal of trouble sleeping. It was a mixture of insomnia (due to a great deal of worry) and fear of going to sleep (due to inevitable nightmares). Thank God(dess) that I came across this audio interview with Alice Walker. There is nothing more soothing to a frightenned child in the night than the sounds of a voice of a loving mother.
This tape includes an interview as well as poems that Walker recites with an occasional backdrop of Bluegrass/Folksy music. She discusses with genuine concern issues such as the creative writing process, religion, the repulsive act of Female Genital Mutilation (which she has researched and written about elsewhere), anger and rage, remorse, reunion, animals, racism, meditation, silence, personal identity, and many other topics.
This interview took place in Walker's home in Northern California and you can sense the utter peace, silence, and a very deep spiritual focus surrounding her dwelling. Her presence (from just hearing her voice) is deeply mysterious with a quiet power.
It is probable that only die-hard Walker fans will search this tape out. This is really a shame. But, I suppose (as Patti Smith once said) those who seek feel the glow.

I loved Alice's writing early on, but when I heard this audiotape, I was mesmerized by her soft, breathy lovely voice. It was then I got a sense of the fullness and width of the lady's heart, social conscience, love, and grounded spirituality. This is a lady of courage and integrity. A wonderful introduction to the author.

THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST is a marvelous, contemplative exploration of the mysteries of Catholic Liturgy as reflected in the central themes of Christianity throughout the year. There are certain rhythms to every season, whether in nature or in worship. The author captures a deep appreciation for these abiding themes and presents them as central to our faith and indeed, our personal spirituality.

The book is well organized around the central themes of Advent/Christmas, Lent/Easter, Pentecost and Ordinary Time and integrates the various topics with the nature of centering prayer and contemplative prayer. The prose is rich in meaning, yet is easily read, making it a useful reference throughout the year. The book is just one of Thomas Keating's fine books, OPEN MIND, OPEN HEART and INVITATION TO LOVE being two others well worth the time.

Father Keating's haunting, exquisite reflections on the Scriptures and liturgy bring new depth and freshness to passages one may have heard a hundred times - but which, with each chapter, seem refreshingly new. For example, his treatment of the Annunciation, John the Baptist, and the parable of the Prodigal Son, and the continuing call to holiness in each incident, presented beautiful truths in an engaging, casual, and deceptively simple style. Father Keating's words about the "double bind" (doing God's will when two "callings" seem contrary), which he applies to the Passion of Christ itself, are intense food for thought, and he skillfully presents them in terms which are very easy to understand. Excellent work for anyone interested in the spiritual life.

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ESL teachers you don't know what you're missing. Students love this play, get excellent practice with pronunciation, and even become familiar with the Guy de Maupassant original. Lots of humor and a much more satisfying ending than the original.

Wanting to diversify my portfolio I figured I needed this book. Oh, how right I was. This book gives the reader a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of precious metals which in itself would be well worth the price paid but it also provides great psychological insights into why precious metals gain and loss their luster during times of tumultuous markets. The author has an easy to understand and witty style that makes it a pleasant research vehicle. Good luck to all, Todd

THE NEW PRECIOUS METALS MARKET provides the most comprehensive and up to date analysis of precious metals currently available. This is a no-nonsense and objective review of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium as investments, trading vehicles, inflation hedges, and plain old commodities. Philip Gotthelf does not provide the typical sugar coated view that "nothing is as good as gold." Instead, he details realities facing precious metals which include digital photography's impact upon silver, new gold extraction technology, technical cycles, and even stock investing.

This book avoids complexity and gets down to business. Why should you consider precious metals in your portfolio? The answer in the book is a surprise to many. Philip Gotthelf does not take the traditional line that these metals are good investments. Instead, he gives pragmatic reasons why investors should avoid accumulating hard inventories in the "new economic environment." He covers metals as monetary instruments. He touches upon scandals like Bre-X and how investors can avoid getting caught.

The book is full of charts and illustrations that are clear and easy to understand. In a time when economic uncertainty is at a peak, this book is essential for anyone considering gold, silver or the other metals as investments.