From the late 1960's, Chuck Close had received recognition as one of America's most talented artists, renowned for his portraits based on family, friends and public figures. In December 1988, a collapsed spinal artery left him paralyzed from the shoulders down. His life and career appeared shattered, but in 1991, an exhibition showed he had continued to paint. This book is a collaboration between Close and the playwright John Guare. It tells the story of Close's life since 1988, describing his recovery, the gradual regaining of the minimal movement that still allows him to paint, and the transformation of his art as a result. All the paintings from the last seven years are illustrated, including portraits of Roy Lichtenstein, Eric Fischl, April Gornik and other contemporary artists.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Close moves beyond the typical artist monograph by engaging the painter in a discussion about his profound personal "catastrophe." In 1988 painter Chuck Close had achieved a rare success: he was just 50 years old and his monumental portraits had already been the subject of a major museum retrospective, 60 solo shows, and hundreds of other group shows. His portrait subjects were often other painters such as Francesco Clemente and Lucas Samaras, and his work was shown in the prestigious Pace Gallery in New York City. Then catastrophe struck: Close suffered a collapsed spinal artery, which ultimately left him paralyzed and permanently wheelchair-bound. For weeks, many in the art world thought he might be dead. Certainly, the obituary of his painting career was quickly written. But a scant two years later, the indomitable Close reemerged, his canvasses as large as ever, the heretofore objective distance between him and his subjects foreshortened to make room for a new depth of emotion in the work.
Playwright John Guare (Six Degrees of Separation) interviews Close about the effect the catastrophe, as he calls it, has had on his life and work. Interspersed throughout are beautifully reproduced, full-page images of Close's portraits. Many of these images are placed alongside the photographs from which the painter works and the maquettes that are the next step of the process. Included, too, are close-ups of the grids of color that make up the paintings. Seen at this level of detail, they create their own impressionist imagery. The conversation between playwright and painter culminates in the writer's sitting for the artist in front of his massive Polaroid camera--the first stage in Close's portrait process. Close offers readers the opportunity to examine the painter's work and read about his emotional and artistic shifts and the meaning behind them, making this book a worthy addition to any art lover's library. --Jordana Moskowitz
From Publishers Weekly
In 1988, an occluded spinal artery left painter Chuck Close partially paralyzed, yet since his injury, this artist famed for his monumental photorealist portraits has produced some of his most vigorous and intense work. This informal scrapbook, which reproduces all of his new paintings from the last seven years, includes an interview conducted by his friend, playwright John Guare, plus Guare's commentary on Close's new directions. Many of the artist's larger-than-life-size faces are now patterned into gridlike human "landscapes" composed of myriad cells, each cell filled with a swirling miniature blob of color. This slightly eerie technique adds a psychological dimension to Close's deconstructions of the way our brains rearrange visual sensations into coherent images. Featured here are his portraits of many contemporary artists, including April Gornick, Eric Fischl, Cindy Sherman, Roy Lichtenstein, Dorothea Rockburne and Francesco Clemente. First serial to Interview magazine.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good book dealing with the man more than the art.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Chuck Close: Life and Work 1988-1995 (Hardcover)
This book is excellent if you are looking for a text on Chuck Close and his story. The photos in the the book are nice but merely brush on the true genius of Close's techniques in optical mixing and abstract/realism. The book is well designed and is an easy read. Most paintings shown have excellent details, giving the reader an inside look at his methods to achieve his unique style. If you enjoy this book, there is an excellent retrospective on Chuck Close at the MOMA in NYC from Feb.28.98-May.28.98.
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