The Sculpture of Ursula von Rydingsvard (Hardcover)

by Dore Ashton (Author), Marek Bartelik (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Environmental sculpture, with its looming scale and often site-specific settings, is the only possible medium in which European emigre artist and child of WWII Ursala Von Rydingsvard feels she can meditate on history's physical presence. Richly carved dark woods, beam upon beam or block upon block, form giant "Lace Mountains," "Hand Rollers" or "16 Handrests," whose abstract, almost minimalist yet majestic and humane effects are well documented in the 27 color and 48 b&w photos. Three interpretive essays , including one by Dore Ashton, enhance the volume.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
Powerful cedar-beam constructions combine minimalism and the primative in unique sculptural oeuvre.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 108 pages
• Publisher: Hudson Hills Press; 1st edition (November 25, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555951228
• ISBN-13: 978-1555951221
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,725,483 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Personal or Professional, March 10, 2000

By	Lisa Elliott (Wihita, Kansas) - See all my reviews

I was arrested in my steps the first time I saw Ms. von Rydingsvard's powerful sculptures. Without any "education" about this artist or her work, I was moved. I bought this book in the museum gift shop right away. Unfortunately, it is primarily useful for giving its readers many phtographs. This is no replacement for experiencing the sculptures in person, but that is not always possible. The pictures will give the reader a feel for the breadth of this artist's body of work and a longing for the depth of an actual encounter. I found some of the text useful, but unfortunately there is a tendency to glom on to the personal history of the artist to buy an unassailable "importance" for work that speaks quite nicely for itself. It seems that many female artists are "reviewed" this way. I do not believe the authors intended this outcome. They seemed to share my respect for von Rydingsvard as a professional, nevertheless the dwelling in her personal life serves to tie her sculpture to a ready-made context that narrows viewers' focus and ultimately trivializes the WORK. The details of von Rydingsvard's life are riviting, but when there are so many valid aesthetic approaches to her work (that evoke tremendous emotional response), I have to wonder about the sexism in the academics of art. As an aside, I must say that this book is much less guilty in this regard than the Madison Art Center's exhibit catalogue (1998) about von Rydingsvard. I rated this book at four stars because real ART always transcends the pedantics that surround it and you owe it to yourself to discover THIS ART one way or another.