Edward Ruscha: Editions 1962-1999 [Hardcover]

Clive Philpot (Author), Siri Engberg (Editor), Ed Ruscha (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2, 1999

This slip-cased, two volume publication presents a comprehensive look at the print projects, editions, and artist books of Edward Ruscha.... This monumental book reveals the depths of Ruscha's printmaking process, and offers important insight into the unique aesthetics of a major artist.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Prominent art critic Peter Schjeldahl once wrote that "to know the art of Ed Ruscha, you should know something about Los Angeles, and the reverse: knowing something about Ruscha's art will help you with Los Angeles." Today Edward Ruscha is considered a major voice in postwar American painting and one of contemporary art's most significant graphic artists. Edward Ruscha: Editions 1959-1999 presents the entire oeuvre of this innovative artist, whose subject and sensibility are uniquely American. Ruscha began his career as a commercial artist, and the visual language of advertising and his interest in typography as both word and image have exerted a profound influence on his art over the years. He says, "I like the idea of a word becoming a picture, almost leaving its body, then coming back and becoming a word again." His works often depict the interplay between bold letterforms and a more atmospheric background, a visual strategy that has become a Ruscha signature. For example, in Hollywood (1968), Ruscha created a panoramic image of low hills dramatically silhouetted against the blazing heat and hazy sky of a California sunset. The word Hollywood, reminiscent of the famous sign, sits directly on the horizon, angled toward us in capital letters and seemingly emerging from the setting sun itself.

This catalogue raisonné was published on the occasion of the exhibition of the same name, originating at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, and traveling to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and other venues through early 2001. Both the catalogue and the exhibition document 40 years of Ruscha's innovative work, and they feature 17 artist's books, such as Twentysix Gasoline Stations (1963); a group of photographs taken on the historic Route 66; and some 300 prints, including a fragrant installation made entirely of paper sheets screen-printed with chocolate. Two large, slim, silvery hardback volumes are presented in a handsome black fabric-covered slipcase. Volume 1 illustrates hundreds of prints, books, and other projects with small, numbered images laid out like a series of film cells or words going by on an LED sign. Volume 2 includes entries for each piece and essays about the prints and artist's books, neither of which have ever been discussed in a publication of this scope. --A.C. Smith

From Library Journal

Ruscha, synonymous with Los Angeles's art scene, developed an early interest in printmaking when working as a commercial artist and was soon attracted to bookmaking. These twin passions have been primary aspects of his work ever since. He was a pioneer of conceptual photography, with books such as Every Building on the Sunset Strip, while his investigations of "the word becoming the picture" often use unexpected substances (e.g., hot sauce, gun powder) to silhouette text in the prints. More than 300 such prints and 17 complete books are reproduced in this sumptuous catalogue raisonn?, created to augment a major retrospective traveling from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. The first of two slipcased volumes presents the images in incredibly crisp (though often small) images that are laid out to maintain the horizontal line so important to his work. The second volume includes extensive catalog information for each piece as well as essays covering the basics of Ruscha's themes, methods, and life. Highly recommended for all academic and regional libraries and larger public institutions.ADouglas McClemont, New York
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Walker Art Center; 1st edition (June 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0935640606
• ISBN-13: 978-0935640601
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 10.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #277,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Conceptual

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Edward Ruscha: Editins 1959-1999, October 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Edward Ruscha: Editions 1962-1999 (Hardcover)

The most disapointing book I have ever bought. I am truly in a state of confusion. Mr. Engberg has made the most self indulgent art cataloug imaginable. The reproductions in this book are not just small, not tiny, but miniscule. The gasoline station photographs are literally one inch squares, while three quarters of each page is left completely blank! Ed Rusha's art work is phenomenal, and I have looked forward with huge anticipation for this book, however, I cannot imagine what was going through Mr. Engberg's mind when he made the reproductions unbelievably tiny. It seems he wanted to get in on the action and made this book with an eye for design. It is true that the each page has a nice design, but the book is, about the artwork of Edward Ruscha, not about you Mr. Engberg!!!
I reiterate the reproductions are so small that one can scarcely see them. This is not an exageration an injustice has been done. Please Siri Engberg reprint the book with consideration for the viewer. Until he does I beg you dear reader to buy any, any other book about Ruscha's art.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ed Ruscha from A-Z with all the attractions in-between, August 27, 2000

By 

"ezell" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edward Ruscha: Editions 1962-1999 (Hardcover)

This two-volume set about the work of LA artist Edward Ruscha is in itself a work of art. It's a complete catalog of EVERY print, photograph, series and book Ruscha created from the earliest days of his career until the end of the last century. And because Ruscha's work has its roots in graphic design, it translates well to book format. Many catalogs miss the texture or scale of an artist's work, but this one manages to capture the experience of seeing Ruscha's work in person. Add to that numerous interesting essays and more details about the artist and his work than one can ever grasp, and you'll see why I think that... it's a deal. An impressive work about an important contemporary artist.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars rush to buy ruscha, January 18, 2004

By 

"houseseller" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Edward Ruscha: Editions 1962-1999 (Hardcover)

a must have book for fans of Ruscha and/or contemporary art/ print collectors/dealers in general. I use this reference material frequently. my one gripe is that many of the reproductions are small and very difficult to see clearly. the two volumes are also a bit confusing. but, certainly a worthwhile addition to my art book collection.