Tibet Style
with
images by fashion photographer Yann Romain looks at the clothing
and adornment of those Tibetans who live in a rural,
high-plateau area leagues away from the capital. Their clothing
not only protects them from the climate (harsh winds and eight
months of bone-chilling cold), but it also recalls the draped,
wrapped, and elaborately tied layering of their nomadic
ancestors. Instead of being driven by whatever trends are
popular, these Tibetans retain and pass down through generations
elaborately appliquéd coats made of animal skins or fur. Instead
of rejecting the symbols of the various religions that have
swept over them - whether Buddhist, Muslim, or Christian - they
incorporate those symbols and colors, along with Western
influences, into their dress. The result is a fascinating
personal style unequaled on the catwalks of Paris, Milan, and
New York.
House of Worship: Sacred Spaces in America
by Dominique Browning
and Peter J. Gomes features more than 30 edifices devoted to
prayer and contemplation. These buildings, all in the US, run
the gamut from a simple Quaker meetinghouse to a
Byzantine-inspired cathedral. Religious architecture in America
was largely a reaction against, or an invocation of, European
styles. Visionaries such as H.H. Richardson, with his design for
Trinity Church in Boston, and Bernard Maybeck, who designed
First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Berkeley, Calif.,
transcended the arguments for or against European influences. In
the late 20th century, Philip Johnson's Crystal Cathedral in
Garden Grove, Calif., and Fay Jones's redwood chapel at Powell
Gardens in Missouri grafted onto ecclesiastical buildings a
sense of power and repose - with modern overtones.
The Art of Skiing: Vintage Posters From the Golden Age of Winter Sport
by Jenny De Gex reveals an avalanche
of vintage posters of graceful skiers, skaters, and bobsledders
in action. These colorful advertisements from the 1890s to the
1950s evoke the romance of winter holidays on the slopes of
Norway, Austria, France, the Canadian Rockies, and New England.
The collection, which includes about 800 posters, was assembled
by Mason Beekly and is now housed at the Mammoth Ski Museum in
Mammoth Lake, Calif.
The Maya: Histories and Treasures of Ancient Civilizations by
Charles Gallenkamp, Flora S. Clancy, and Regina Elise Johnson
expands a reader's appreciation of this ancient people. The
elegance of carved stone and chiseled deities, together with the
refined architecture of the tombs and temples, shows a
sophisticated sensibility. Detailed photographs capture the
texture of the stonework, while each era in Mayan history is
thoroughly explored in the text. In contemplating the
timelessness of Mayan art, it is impossible not to wonder: What
did these people know that has been lost to us?
Gucci by Gucci
by Sarah Mower
This marks the 85th anniversary of the
fabled design house. The book is a luxurious, massive grab bag
of old fashion ads, runway shots and gorgeous men and women in
various stages of dress and undress. It includes last year's
Oscars, with George Clooney in his Gucci tux.
Edie: Girl on Fire
by David Weisman and Melissa Painter
This fascinating volume documents the
short life of Edie Sedgwick, Andy Warhol ''It'' girl. She was
beautiful and surprisingly intelligent, and if the accompanying
CD audio interview is any indication, she was also usually
stoned.
The Art of Bond: From Storyboard to
Screen: The Creative Process Behind the James Bond Phenomenon
by Laurent Bouzereau
This evocative collection of nostalgic art
from the James Bond films is accompanied by fascinating
interviews with the actors and crew -- except Sean Connery, who
can really hold a grudge -- from Dr. No to the new Casino Royale,
all expertly compiled.
The Jazz Image: Masters of Jazz
Photography
by Lee Tanner/Nat Hentoff
This black and white visual anthology chronicles musicians, from
Satchmo to Bill Evans and Miles Davis, with an emphasis on the
1950s-1970s. Photographers include William Claxton, Gjon Mili
and Dennis Stock. You can practically taste the cigarette smoke.
Elvis at 21: New York to Memphis
by Alfred Wertheimer
This stunning volume is devoted to the
author's work documenting the early days of Presley's fame. Some
of the shots are familiar -- Presley necking with a girl in a
hotel corridor -- but there are lots of unfamiliar poses of
Presley.
WALT DISNEY: The Triumph of the American Imagination Neal Gabler
If
Walt Disney had just invented Mickey Mouse, it would have been
enough; if he had just created Snow White, or Bambi, or any of
the many other family-friendly films for which the Disney name
has become synonymous, it would have been enough; or if he had
designed and constructed his theme parks, it would have been
enough.
But Disney did it all...
more
