Ode to the Human Face: Seeing/Molding the Human Face As Meditation (Codhill Press) [Paperback]

Frederick Franck (Author)

Book Description

Series: Codhill Press | Publication Date: May 1, 2004

Visual presentation of the artist's masks, a powerful affirmation of what is still human in us humans.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In September and October of 2004, Franck's exhibit of drawings, paintings and icons was on display at the Yale Institute of Sacred Music in New Haven, Conn. Unlike other art books that are produced in tandem with an exhibit, this collection is affordable and portable, packaged in a pocket-sized paperback with starkly beautiful black-and-white photographs of Franck's artwork. The pieces are drawn from a 50-year span of Franck's observations of the human face, in all its absurdity and profound emotion. Franck writes that he sees his works as icons, or windows into the sacred: they are "non-dogmatic reflections on That Which Matters." The 95-year-old artist draws his powerful observations on human frailty from life; as a small child, he witnessed WWI being fought practically on his doorstep, and as an adult, he worked with Albert Schweitzer in Africa and drew portraits of hundreds of the prelates who participated in the Second Vatican Council. In these faces, Franck compassionately displays both the wonder and the terrible weakness of being human.
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From the Publisher

With Ode to the Human Face, Frederick Franck brings us another beautifully produced book. This one presents photographs of ceramic masks. His series of forty-two thoughtful images show the pathos and glory of the human face and illuminate the meaning of being truly human. A real feast for the eyes and mind!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 98 pages
• Publisher: Codhill Press (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930337124
• ISBN-13: 978-1930337121
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 6.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #934,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful thing to behold, January 11, 2007

By 

Melvin S. Stanforth "MexStarfork" (Greenville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ode to the Human Face: Seeing/Molding the Human Face As Meditation (Codhill Press) (Paperback)

Frederick Franck's work consistently surprises me with his gifts as a student who reports on all sorts
of conditions that are human. This work was unknown to me until recently. I know his skills as an
old fashioned draughtsman, his support of drawing as meditation. I did not know of this
work of his that celebrates the fluidity of clay, it becomes drawing in three-dimensions. These
faces never ever lose their sense of all healthy, spontaneous drawing, They are about a life
time of obeservation by Franck, but we see split seconds here of revelation.

3.0 out of 5 stars Ode to the Human Face:Dr Framck, July 23, 2010

By 

Pilot Jack "JR" (Honolulu, Hawaii, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ode to the Human Face: Seeing/Molding the Human Face As Meditation (Codhill Press) (Paperback)

Dr Franck is an inspiring writer. He inspired me to draw and paint. After his book "Ode to the Human Face", he makes me want to get into sculpting. I wish he would live forever.