Talking Shops: Detroit Commercial Folk Art (Great Lakes Books) [Paperback]

David Clements (Author), Jerry Herron (Afterword), Bill Harris (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Great Lakes Books | Publication Date: December 30, 2004

A striking collection of full-color photographs celebrating Detroit’s unique commercial folk art.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Cruise down the inner-city streets of Detroit and your eyes take in an array of familiar images of poverty and decay. What renowned photographer David Clements sees on these gritty Detroit streets are the ad displays on so many local businesses, including salons, churches, and car washes. In Talking Shops, Clements captures mural facades that transform what might have been a typical urban landscape into a canvas for some of the city’s most vibrant folk art. With more than 130 full-color photographs, this delightful book uncovers such treasures as the "Mr. Foote Hand Car Wash," and the "Kill Them Dead" roach exterminator. Yet for all their whimsy, these subjects were created by artists who have used brilliant colors, meticulous words, and aggressive messages that seem to talk, if not shout, to passersby.

About the Author

David Clements is a professional producer and director of radio, television, and photography. His work also appears in Art in Detroit Public Places (Wayne State University Press, 1999).

Product Details

• Paperback: 173 pages
• Publisher: Wayne State Univ Pr (December 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814330908
• ISBN-13: 978-0814330906
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 10.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,981,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Stellar Photographic Archive, May 3, 2008

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Gal Noir - See all my reviews

This review is from: Talking Shops: Detroit Commercial Folk Art (Great Lakes Books) (Paperback)

As a former native of Detroit, I have seen several of the sites in Mr. Clement's book, Talking Shops:Detroit Commercial Folk Art. His photographs are masterful; clear, crisp and skillfully composed. Clement's deep respect for the art he photographs is apparent. His book pays homage to the spirit and creativity of the people in Detroit.