Meet Cindy Sherman: Artist, Photographer, Chameleon

by Sandra Jordan, Jan Greenberg

Overview

How does someone become a ground-breaking artist?
Does it start when you're very little and discover that you like to play dress up? Does it happen when you're ten years old and someone gives you a Polaroid camera for Christmas? Maybe it begins in college, when you're finally on your own to discover the world as you see it for the first time.

Looking at the life of legendary photographer Cindy Sherman, Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan have created an unconventional biography, that much like Cindy Sherman's famous photographs, has something a little more meaningful under the surface. Infusing the narrative with Sherman's photographs, as well as children's first impressions of the photographs, this is a biography that goes beyond birth, middle age, and later life. It's a look at how we look at art.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250199065
Publisher:	Roaring Brook Press
Publication date:	11/07/2017
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
File size:	30 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	7 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan are the authors of many distinguished books about art, including Action Jackson (a Sibert Honor book), Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring which earned five starred reviews, a Sibert Honor, and the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children, and The Mad Potter which was a Sibert Honor book. They also have received the 2013 Children's Book Guild of Washington D.C. Award for their body of work. Ms. Greenberg lives in St. Louis, Missouri. Ms. Jordan lives in New York, New York.

Sandra Jordan is one of America’s most prominent writers about art and artists for young readers. Sandra Jordan lives in New York, New York.

Her art-related books co-written with Jan Greenberg include Action Jackson (a Sibert Honor Book), as well as books on Van Gogh, Frank O. Gehry, Andy Warhol, and Chuck Close.

Jan Greenberg is one of America’s most prominent writers about art and artists for young readers. Jan Greenberg lives in St. Louis. Her art-related books co-written with Sandra Jordan include Action Jackson (a Sibert Honor Book), as well as books on Van Gogh, Frank O. Gehry, Andy Warhol, and Chuck Close.

Editorial Reviews

★ 10/02/2017
Greenberg and Jordan profile photographer Cindy Sherman in an intimate biography that traces a path that began with an ordinary childhood in Long Island, N.Y., where she “love playing dress-up and pretending to be someone else,” and led her to become a celebrated and at times controversial artist. Sherman’s reflections feature prominently as the authors follow her career. A Kodak Brownie camera was her introduction to photography at age 10, she served as her own model in college photography courses, and she moved to New York City after she received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. “I decided to use the camera as a means of exploring my experiences as a woman,” says Sherman. Subsequent chapters highlight photography series inspired by centerfolds, fairy tales, clowns, society figures, and aging film stars, reproductions of which are accompanied by comments from the authors and a group of children. An engrossing examination of how, for decades, Sherman has trained a lens on herself and society at large. Ages 7–12. Agent: Laurie Liss, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"This masterfully executed biography of a fascinating working artist, written in a tone ideal for its target audience, will be invaluable for libraries hoping to enliven their arts collections."—Booklist, starred review

"This fascinating investigation of a significant U.S. artist will prompt endless discussions on art history, photography, pop culture, gender roles, and even selfies. A title not to be missed."—School Library Journal, starred review

"An excellent, eye-opening exploration perfectly pitched to its audience."—Kirkus, starred review

"An engrossing examination."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"In this era of Snapchat and Instagram selfies, Sherman’s explorations of identity and perception are perhaps more resonant now than ever, and Greenberg and Jordan distill the ideas lucidly for young readers."—Horn Book, starred Review

From the Publisher

★ 09/01/2017
Gr 4–8—The duo's latest collaboration centers on a contemporary artist so enigmatic that it's no surprise the authors begin by asking readers, "Who is Cindy Sherman?" The work opens with Sherman's childhood and early career in New York City before launching into chapters organized around milestone projects/installations (Chapter 4 covers Rear Screen Projections 1980–1981, Fairy Tales 1985, and more). Sherman's iconic photos are reproduced with clarity and quality, with most laid out over a page or half page. The authors break down the myriad personas present in the artist's body of work and challenge students to consider the relationship between interpretation and meaning and how much weight to give to an artist's intent (or lack of) when viewing and analyzing art. Egalitarian statements such as "Art is for everyone at every age" lend the book a welcoming tone, and the authors often address readers directly ("Do clothes and hairstyles make us what we are?") and include quotes from real kids that oftentimes demonstrate the subjective nature of art interpretation. An ending "Production Notes" spread takes this to the next level and guides readers through Sherman's Untitled #571, 2016, directing their attention to color, texture, line, shape, and focus. VERDICT This fascinating investigation of a significant U.S. artist will prompt endless discussions on art history, photography, pop culture, gender roles, and even selfies. A title not to be missed.—Della Farrell, School Library Journal

School Library Journal

★ 2017-08-02
An introduction to the work of artist Cindy Sherman, illustrated with dozens of her photographs. Sherman has been photographing herself in makeup and costumes since the 1960s, often reflecting on the societal roles of women. This beautifully designed account moves from her childhood through art school to her career as an artist, with sections on her various series, titled by year, such as Fairy Tales 1985 and Clowns 2003-2004. The final chapter, which discusses her 2012 retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, highlights her success and influence in the art world. Greenberg and Jordan, who have honed their skills in many previous art books for young people, engage their audience from beginning to end. Their conversational text prompts readers to think, using questions ("Can we find beauty in ugliness?") and friendly commands ("Imagine Cindy alone in her studio"). Well-chosen quotes from Sherman help explain her art and process, while colored boxes set off quotes from children and teens in which they respond to specific photographs. These quotes and the authors' own interpretations offer ways to understand Sherman's sometimes-controversial art. An introductory note invites readers to enter Sherman's world and "discover your own stories"; the book brilliantly gives them the tools to do so. An excellent, eye-opening exploration perfectly pitched to its audience. (bibliography, notes, list of artworks) (Biography. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews