Encyclopedia of American Folk Art / Edition 1

by Gerard C. Wertkin

Overview

For a full list of entries, contributors, and more, visit the Encyclopedia of American Folk Art web site.

This is the first comprehensive, scholarly study of a most fascinating aspect of American history and culture. Generously illustrated with both black and white and full-color photos, this A-Z encyclopedia covers every aspect of American folk art, encompassing not only painting, but also sculpture, basketry, ceramics, quilts, furniture, toys, beadwork, and more, including both famous and lesser-known genres.
Containing more than 600 articles, this unique reference considers individual artists, schools, artistic, ethnic, and religious traditions, and heroes who have inspired folk art. An incomparable resource for general readers, students, and specialists, it will become essential for anyone researching American art, culture, and social history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415929868
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/17/2003
Pages:	611
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr. Gerard C. Wertkin is Director of the American Folk Art Museum in New York. He is the Co-author of Light of the Spirit: Portraits of Southern Outsider Artists and The Jewish Heritage in American Folk Art.

Table of Contents

In addition to profiles of painters, sculptors, carvers, and lithographers, with details on their principal works and where they can be viewed, entries include: Artist Schools * Basketry * Beadwork * Ceramics * Ethnic and Religious Traditions of Folk Art * Flasks * Museums and other institutions holding collections of folk art * Painted Furniture and other Artifacts* * Quilts * Rugs * Shop Signs * Stoneware * Tavern * Toys * Weathervanes * and much more.

Editorial Reviews

"A welcome addition to an area of art that is becoming increasingly important to American artistic culture. Highly recommended. Academic and public libraries and individuals interested in American folk art." — Choice
"This unique and highly useful reference tool is essential for all art libraries. It is not only crammed with information but also easy to use, fun to browse through, and totally up to the minute... Full color inserts and 100 black-and-white photos enhance an already admirable work. Highly recommended." — Library Journal (starred review)
"The best guide available on American folk art." — Library Journal (starred review)
"Useful to collectors, students, scholars, and experts. It is an excellent value for the cost and a recommended purchase for academic and large public libraries." — Booklist/RBB
"The index to this volume, one of its strongest points, is indespensible... Recommended for academic and public libraries." — Reference & User Services Quarterly
"grounded in expertise and serious scholarship... Helpful introduction sets the tone blending historical perspective with interesting commentary... The articles are uniformly well researched and written in a clear and informative style... A must purchase for any library, academic or public, with an interest in collecting in this area." — Against the Grain
"A representative but detailed sample of American folk art spanning three centuries... Four generous sections of excellent color plates represent a varied selection of folk arts." — Art Book News Annual
"Some notable entries, perhaps because they are exceptional in the scope, that treat often underappreciated material in the folk art canon appear... This reference will be especially useful for documenting artists' biographies, genres, and institutional profiles... It is well indexed to help users." — American Reference Books Annual

From the Publisher

This unique and highly useful reference tool, published in association with the American Folk Art Museum and edited by the museum's director, is essential for all art libraries. It is not only crammed with information but also easy to use, fun to browse through, and totally up to the minute. Look here, for example, for thumbnail sketches about contemporary folk artist Mr. Imagination and for the recently "discovered" Henry Darger. Laid out in dictionary format, the 600-plus entries provide information on individual artists as well as such topics as African American quilts, circus posters, Jewish folk art, early 20th-century New Mexico retablos, sailors' valentines (shell art), weathervanes, and more. Each entry is written by an authority in his or her field and includes historical, biographical, and sometimes sociological information. Included too are bibliographies and cross references to related topics in the book. Cross-referencing is also a great feature of the comprehensive index. For example, a listing for "Bottle Cap Art" leads the reader to artists working in that medium, and "Fraktur" cites numerous other entries, including "Cross-Legged Angel Artist." The eight 16-page full-color inserts and 100 black-and-white photos enhance an already admirable work. Highly recommended.-Margarete Gross, Chicago P.L. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal