Art & ecology now

Brown (arts writer; formerly, Arts Council England) surveys and illustrates 90 eco-art projects by as many artists. His brief introductory essay provides a background on nature and the environment as recurring themes in art history. Six chapters--"Re/View," "Re/Form," "Re/Search," "Re/Use," "Re/Create," and "Re/Act"--structure a panorama of global creative responses to current environmental concerns. (The chapter titles recall the rule of "three R's" for sustainable, waste-free living: reduce, reuse, recycle.) Brown explains his themes and describes sculpture, photographs, videos, installations, performances, interventions, and intermedia art in accessible prose. Artists' statements provide clear explanations, which range from lyrical musings on humankind's place in the natural world to activist declarations. Artists' websites also appear in the bibliography. Two difficulties stand out. Particularly frustrating are the short captions that exclude materials or format from the artists' projects. Additionally, the table of contents lacks names of artists, making it hard to associate individuals with Brown's themes. Still, art students and others curious about creative possibilities in the important, contemporary field of eco-art will obtain a broad overview that complements a growing number of books on this theme. --Ann Schoenfeld, Pratt Institute

Contemporary art specialist Brown's book challenges our vision of the connectivity and blurring of the lines between art and life. In the introduction, the author looks at the themes of expression of nature in and with the world of art movements and our involvement with ecology and the environment. Six chapters take readers on a journey from how we see our natural surroundings with devastation and destruction to drawing inspiration from the universe; from our engagement with and understanding of creation to how we recklessly disturb the environment; and from searching for the solutions to environmental problems to attempting transformation and change for the better. An international host of 86 individuals, including design teams, groups, consortia, and organizations offer a visual feast of both horror and hope. Among the most intriguing entries are Andrej Zdravic's "Riverglass," Luke Jerram's "Aeolus," Brandon Ballengee's "Collapse," Alejandro Duran's "Washed Up," Tattfoo Tan's "S.O.S. Mobile Gardens," the Canary Project's "Increase Your Albedo," and the Australia-based group Artist as Family's "Food Forest." The only disappointing aspect of this work is that many of the illustrative photos are quite small and difficult to view. -VERDICT Wonderful for all types of libraries, as well as researchers and individuals with a strong interest in art and ecology and the changing environment.-Stephen Allan Patrick, -Jonesborough, TN (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.