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Asphalt Renaissance: The Pavement Art and 3-D Illusions of Kurt Wenner [Paperback]

Kurt Wenner (Artist)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 2011
"Making a street painting is a lot like constructing a sand castle: while working on one part, another part is eroding... Street painting is a constant reminder that art is about process rather than product." -- Kurt Wenner
 
ASPHALT RENAISSANCE brilliantly recounts the creation of 3D pavement art by innovative artist and Internet sensation Kurt Wenner. Wenner revolutionized this ancient art by inventing a unique technique that produces astounding 3D images that appear to reach out of the pavement toward the viewer and seem perilously deep. 

Featuring photographs of hundreds of his paintings, this volume spans Wenner's career and captures his thoughts on art and the ephemeral nature of his work. 
 
Includes a free poster!
 
 

Frequently Bought Together

Asphalt Renaissance: The Pavement Art and 3-D Illusions of Kurt Wenner + Sidewalk Canvas: Chalk Pavement Art at Your Feet
Price for both: $34.23

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kurt Wenner worked for NASA as an advanced scientific space illustrator, but left to pursue his love of classical art. In Rome, he began creating street paintings to finance his travels and study; within a few years, he had won several gold medals in European competitions. Wenner is widely credited with inventing 3D Pavement Art in Rome, Italy and is responsible for bringing the art form to the US and around the world.  His work has garnered national exposure in 1985 with a documentary on his work by National Geographic called Masterpieces in Chalk; a print ad for Absolut Vodka as part of their prestigious artist ad series; in-flight video segments; and coverage on major morning network news shows.  In addition, Wenner was awarded the Kennedy Center Medallion in recognition of his outstanding contribution to arts education.  He has since gone on to create Interactive 3D art, which has proved to be another global phenomenon. 

Product Details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Sterling Signature; Original edition (August 2, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1402771266
  • ISBN-13: 978-1402771262
  • Product Dimensions: 1 x 8 x 10 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,468 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Kurt Wenner Page
Kurt Wenner
Kurt Wenner is an artist with an international following. He is best known for his invention of 3D pavement art. Wenner was inspired by anamorphic perspective, but had to invent an entirely new geometry in order to create his stunning 3D pavement art images.

Wenner's images always tell a story and challenge the public to reconsider the use of classicism (discarded during the era of Modern art). Wenner believes that the language of classicism is a critical tool that has been overlooked for far too long. He developed 3D pavement art precisely to illustrate that a new art form can be expressed within this language. Wenner has not only become known for his own body of work, he has inadvertently become the father of an art movement.

An often-overlooked fact of Wenner's career is that he dedicated one month every year, for 10 years, to teach more than 100,000 students from elementary through university level how to work with chalks and pastels. For his dedication, he was awarded the Kennedy Center Medallion for his outstanding contribution to arts education.

Wenner lived in Italy for 25 years before returning to the United States. His work has been seen in 30 countries, and he currently creates work for clients all over the world.

Customer Reviews

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“ If you read the book, I'll bet you decide it is the perfect Christmas gift for more than one friend. ” David A. Ralston  |  10 reviewers made a similar statement
“ Amazing art work by Kurt Wenner! ” dolpali  |  9 reviewers made a similar statement
“ This book is AMAZING! ” Karen Schmidt  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read with FABULOUS IMAGES! August 9, 2011
By Theodore W. Miller
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
With all the amazing images in this work, one could be forgiven for expecting just a coffee table book, but just wait till you start reading it!

Asphalt Renaissance explains the history of the street painting and how Kurt Wenner converted this very traditional and impermanent art-form into a breakthrough medium that is cherished today by art appreciator and commercial client alike.

The anecdotal stories behind the amazing literal and figurative journey he has taken along the way make the read all the better.

Enjoy!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential to Any Serious Scholar or Student of Contemporary Art November 28, 2011
By NGA Sgropino
Format:Paperback
Asphalt Renaissance is a beautifully illustrated and sensitively written account of artistic creativity in today's world. Kurt Wenner is a long time practitioner of the popular art of street painting, the pavement art of the madonnari. This volume provides both a long needed history of street painting, and an invaluable presentation of Wenner's extraordinary achievements. A great scholar of perspective theory, Wenner wasn't content to be just another street muralist, painting copies of familiar works on the pavement. He was intrigued by the many other expressive possibilities of the street surface. This book traces Wenner's evolution from his early two-dimensional imagery in Rome to his stunning mastery of three-dimensional illusionistic space. Along the way, Wenner assumed the mantle of leadership among the madonnari, elevating street painting from the mundane to the highest levels of artistic accomplishment. Asphalt Renaissance is a perfect holiday present for art aficionados, both scholars and novices.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing and inspiring read April 30, 2012
By Parka TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Length: 1:24 Mins
This is an inspiring book. It covers the history of street art dating back to the renaissance period, and provides lots of references to how street art are adopted by people all over the world. There are lots of great photos of his trips and work from the 80s to today.

Kurt Wenner's journey in art and street painting is fascinating. He has been painting for more than 25 years, and the book collects the many interesting stories that are a joy to read. He started out as a struggling artist. His art professors claimed he had no talent. He thought otherwise and traveled to Rome to spend his days drawing in museums, to the point that the guards know him so well and became his fans. He became real good at art, and the book features some of his amazing sketches.

After that, the stories are about how he traveled across European countries trying to make a living off street paintings. He talks about the different things he learned in each country, people's preference for art, the laws governing street art, his interaction with the locals, making his own chalk and more. He even hired homeless people to look over his street paintings. Some had memorized Wenner's usual lines that they were able to give talks on art history themselves.

Street painting is not easy, and that's a constant underlying theme throughout the book. He had to draw with unpredictable weather, or draw onto burning asphalt during a competition. Once, he had to sleep in open air beside a gas station because he had no money. All these just make the stories more inspiring.

Kurt Wenner's story is a truly absorbing and uplifting read.

Highly recommended.

(There are more pictures of the book on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing what the mind can imagine and then create!
Absolutely Great! Kurt Wenner is an incredible artist and brings the history of street painting to life.
I have had the opportunity to watch Kurt at work. Read more
Published 16 months ago by John C. Elam
5.0 out of 5 stars New Horizon
Wenner's captivating prowess stops me in my tracks. It transports me into another dimension of not just artistic creation, but thinking and imagining. Love it!!!
Published 17 months ago by Lindsey Clifford
5.0 out of 5 stars An Enlightning view of Asphalt
The Sarasota Chalk Festival in November of this year was amazing and our realty company, J Wood Realty sponsored Kurt Wenner's visit. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Marnie
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling images and personal story of an artist
"Asphalt Renaissance" provides beautiful graphics of Wenner's amazing three-dimensional street painting, while interweaving this with the story of a young (and now not so young)... Read more
Published 18 months ago by sarahorr
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Art ....and A Great Read!
This book is AMAZING! Kurt Wenner is an incredible artist and a fantastic writer. He brings the history and the street painting revolution that he started to life. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Karen Schmidt
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book for an awesome artist!
Finally! a book to showcase this absolutely amazing artist. I have been following Kurt Wenner's career for many years and his talent never ceases to impress me. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Pamela Sheldon Johns
5.0 out of 5 stars Asphalt Renaissance
I received this book as a gift and could not put it down. Kurt Wenner is a master in such an unusual form of art. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Historical Novel Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Read - Inspirational Tour de Force!
Kurt Wenner's "Asphalt Renaissance" is an enchanting book - not to mention visually stunning! From the moment I purchased it, I have cherished this book. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Lori Escalera
5.0 out of 5 stars Asphalt Renaissance: The Pavement Art and 3-D Illusions of Kurt Wenner
As a professional artist myself I am always on the hunt for an inspirational art book. Kurt Wenner exceeds all my expectations of a fabulous art experience. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Tanawa
5.0 out of 5 stars Asphalt Renaissance - awesome gift
Asphalt Renasissance is a beautiful book rich with images of Kurt Wenner's breathtaking renassance street paintings. Read more
Published 18 months ago by pat
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