EG Books

Robert Kipniss has for many years been respected for his drawings and paintings, but he's most admired and defined by his print work. The 158 reproductions found in this catalogue raisonne of his intaglios present abundant evidence of why this is so.

As the title implies, this volume emphasizes intaglio prints but it also it presents several drawings and oil paintings. This is necessary because Mr. Kipniss cross pollinates images from one medium to another. But it is intaglios that predominate here, especially mezzotints.

The technique by which mezzotints are created give them their special look: the surface of a copper plate is prepared either mechanically or by hand with a steel instrument called a rocker that has a slightly curved surface composed of many pointed teeth to texturize the plate and this creates a toned effect when printed. On this surface an artist uses one or more of various kinds of steel burnishers and scrapers to polish the rough copper surface. This polishing decreases the amount of ink the plate will hold and permits the artist to achieve a wide and subtle range of tonal effects, the name mezzotint means "middle tones." In mezzotints forms emerge from darkness and this gives them a distinctive and magical appearance.

Kipniss' mastery of this technique imbues his subjects with a contemplative solitary mood, whether the image is landscapes, or views of towns featuring trees, house, or both; closer views of isolated trees or branches with leaves and still lives in front of window views.

Although his images are realistic, Mr. Kipniss distills the forms to essential shapes and he uses a wide range of values to intensify light and mood. His prints have an air of dreamlike stillness and mystery. These are works suffused with ethereal otherworldliness and, in my opinion, are achingly beautiful.

This is a handsomely produced book and has excellent, mostly full page, reproductions. I saw an exhibition on Mr. Kipniss' prints at a local gallery last month and must admit to being pleasantly surprised to find that the reproductions is this book lose none of the subtlety of the prints.

The essays by Trudie A. Grace and Thomas Piche' Jr. are both informative and a pleasure to read with a complete absence of art speak or obscurantist jargon.

I think that is one of the best art books of 2004. A complete joy.

Ms. Charlton's History is the rare rock book written from a musician's point of view. She starts from the very beginning in blues and jazz, and traces the various developments in what we call "rock". For example, she shows there could be no Rolling Stones without Little Richard, and no Little Richard without Howlin' Wolf and gospel. Ms. Charlton is eminently democratic in her even-handed discussion of ALL important rock acts, from Chuck Berry and Bill Haley to Ten Inch Nails. The roles of these groups are musicians are woven together in prose that is always calmly reflective and thorough, while never without enthusiasm. Ms. Charlton obvious loves rock music, and her book is an enduring trust for all those who love it also.

I already had Francoise Read's "The Stamper's Bible" when I went looking for anything else she may have written. I purchased the Brilliant Birthdays book solely on her name. I was not disappointed. She creates designs that can be adapted to any stamp. I'm a stamping demonstrator, so her books become the premier part of my reference library.

This book is an essential reference not only for those interested in evaluating samplers for purchase but for those who like to stitch reproduction samplers and are interested in capturing an authentic period look.

Mary Jane Markell has written an important book that helps elucidate why imaginal work in healing modalities such as sandplay therapy holds such transformational power. Sandplay therapists long have needed an in depth review and elaboration of what Dora Kalff taught about the transformational process in sandplay therapy as it affects the body. Kalff believed that working imaginatively with the elements of sand and water had the possibility of engaging a person in a transformative experience at a cellular level that touched upon the deepest sources of healing. This occurs at a non-verbal, symbolic level that has analogies in the ancient mystery religions. Markell writes "The logical conclusion of this process is the self as shaman, and it is in this area that the greatest changes in Western scientific and medical thought are now occurring." Jung intuitively knew about the unconscious connection between body and psyche at what he called the "psychoid" level, and it was Kalffian sandplay that demonstrated and offered the experience of this connection. Mary Jane Markell's book offers extensive amplification of this wisdom.

Sand, Water, Silence-The Embodiment of Spirit provides a container for the author's considerable creative and intellectual energies that focus on distilling and uniting a wide array of traditions and viewpoints. These include Eastern and Western, scientific and spiritual, spatial and temporal, body and mind. She draws on and integrates ancient and modern ideas and wisdom from such diverse sources as quantum physics, Mesopotamian myths, Taoism and Buddhism, and Jungian depth psychology. She points the reader towards an integrative view that she thinks is already happening in the human collective consciousness of a transcendent state of non-duality in the reunion of the mind-body disharmony that has plagued modern man. She believes that with the conscious balancing and reconciliation of opposing traditions and perspectives into a unitive world-view a deepening understanding of the cosmos as well as a personal, individual unfolding will evolve.

Mary Jane Markell has written a book that emerged from the currents of her own individuation journey that had one beginning in her relationship to Dora Kalff and her sandplay therapy process. In the years that followed, her connection to natural and internal landscapes as well as to the world of ideas incubated. Mary Jane Markell's inspiration springs from her own internal alchemy that began in the water and earth and in the "woods and valley" of her life experiences. These provided the foundations that led to writing this book. She integrates her intuitive connections that come directly out of her with objective learning from studies and reading that she shares extensively. This is a book both to savor and enjoy.

I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Barz speak to one of my classes this semester, and we read a chapter of this book before it was released. He is an amazing person who is so immersed in his work. He is passionate and incredibly intelligent. His book is compelling and really is a great way to see how Uganda has turned the tide on AIDS. It is great to see the way that Western traditions were abandoned and with great success!

this is a great little tool to have for aspiring bands and/or songwriters; A friend and I depend on it to catalogue/ organize our songs; there are chord boxes to draw in the chord, lines for lyrics, place for song title; repeat measure, etc. (Of course you can see for yourself with the search inside tool on Amazon); My only complaint is that for me the lines/ space alotted for lyrics is too short(but I tend to write lengthly lyrics); For others the space provided is probably enough; And this isn't a complaint on my part, as I don't write the guitar parts usually, but others may wish there were spaces for tablature; There is good quotes throughout; It's a small paperback, but we haven't used it all yet(2 pages per song). I wish they would combine some of the aspects of the guitar version and it would be perfect; People at Amazon you really need to sell this book; I'd buy another but since it's from other sellers it's more costly and you don't get free super saver shipping; Which you really do need b/c I wouldn't pay more than $13 total for this book; Don't bother paying more or you may be dissapointed.

This collection of eleven essays, each written by different therapists, depict their experiences and observations having children use non-verbal methods to communicate their feelings. Actual case histories tell quite moving stories, some with direct quotes from the children themselves. Through play with puppets, dance, drawings, clay, miniatures in the sand, and nature they convey their innermost fears, anguish, trauma, frustration and jealousy. In expressing these feelings we can see how they start on the road to healing.

The book shows how the experience of play in a relaxed relationship with an accepting therapist allows the children to be themselves, overcoming the need to be guarded and watchful. Aggressive behavior and negative impulses are often expressed. Various problems begin to make themselves apparent and are explored. Even without words, their feelings are seen and heard. Freed from fears and worries, anxiety can gradually drift away, making self-regulation possible. Now more confident and self-directive, their creativity, imagination and good feelings can be experienced.
Some cases are illustrated with photographs of actual drawings and sculpture. The foreword by Priscilla Rodgers and the introduction by editor Dennis McCarthy alone are worth the price.

Solomon Kershaw
ptpny1@hvc.rr.com

If you are like never really learned your phonics and findyourself stumbling on how to pronounce medical terms the incuded software is a big bonus. I'm just a lay person but it makes discussing things with my doctor easier.

This is the one you can use, IMO better than Tabers, and more concise than others on the market has color photos of many conditions.