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Art and architecture

  • Author:
    Nayeri, Farah
    Summary:

    For centuries, art censorship has been a top-down phenomenon. Today, censorship can also happen from the bottom-up, thanks to social media. But what should the people do with this new power?

  • Author:
    Brown, Wendy
    Summary:

    Based on the premise that we have 21 days before we lose our modern conveniences, Surviving the Apocalypse in the Suburbs is packed with practical solutions for becoming more self-reliant and transitioning to a lower energy lifestyle. From shelter to livestock to transportation to tools, this is the ultimate guide to simplifying your lifestyle while reducing your dependence on oil.

  • Author:
    Al, Stefan
    Summary:

    The global boom in skyscrapers-why it's happening now, how they're made, and what they do to cities and people. We are living in a new urban age and its most tangible expression is the "supertall": megastructures that are dramatically bigger, higher, and more ambitious than any in history. In Supertall, TED Resident Stefan Al-himself an experienced architect who has worked on some of the largest buildings in the world-reveals the advancements in engineering, design, and data science that have led to this worldwide boom. Using examples from the past (the Empire State Building, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower) and present (Dubai's Burj Khalifa, London's Shard, Shanghai Tower), he describes how the most remarkable skyscrapers have been designed and built. He explores the ingenious technological innovations-in cement, wind resistance, elevator design, and air-conditioning-that make the latest megastructures a reality. And he examines the risks of wealth inequality, carbon emissions, and contagion they yield while arguing for a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable built environment for everyone.

  • Author:
    Warwaruk, Larry
    Summary:

    Saskatchewan's most established writers come together with the province's brightest new voices to create a comprehensive anthology that showcases some of the finest literature in the world. Their talents are combined with works by nearly a dozen Saskatchewan visual artists, to create a definitive collection of the best Saskatchewan's writers and artists have to offer in terms of fiction, poetry, dramatic scripts, personal journalism, and art.

  • Author:
    Summary:

    Using Toronto as a case study, Subdivided asks how cities would function if decision-makers genuinely accounted for race, ethnicity, and class when confronting issues such as housing, policing, labor markets, and public space. With essays contributed by an array of city-builders, it proposes solutions for fully inclusive communities that respond to the complexities of a global city.

  • Author:
    Pater, Walter
    Summary:

    Through his highly idiosyncratic readings of some of the finest paintings, sculptures, and poems of the French and Italian Renaissance, Walter Pater in Studies in the History of the Renaissance redefined the practice of criticism as an impressionistic, almost erotic exploration of the critic's aesthetic responses. Pater's infamous "Conclusion," which forever linked him with the decadent movement, scandalized many with its insistence on making pleasure the sole motive of life, even as it charmed fellow aesthetes such as Oscar Wilde. This edition of Studies reproduces the text of the first edition of 1873. Matthew Beaumont's Introduction describes the cultural context that gave rise to the book, the reasons for its notoriety, Pater's philosophical outlook, and the arguments in his book. It explores Pater's work as an attempt to preserve the unique aesthetic of a work of art in the face of encroaching mass culture. The book also includes the later chapter on Giorgione as an Appendix, comprehensive notes that identify the many literary and artistic references, and a useful glossary of names.

  • Author:
    Barelli, John
    Summary:

    When he retired as the chief security officer of New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art, John Barelli had spent the better part of forty years responsible not only for one of the richest treasure troves on the planet, but the museum's staff, the millions of visitors, as well as American presidents, royalty, and heads of state from around the world. For the first time, John Barelli shares his experiences of the crimes that occurred on his watch, the investigations that captured thieves and recovered artwork, the lessons he learned and shared with law enforcement professionals in the United States and abroad, the accidents and near misses, and a few mysteries that were sadly never solved. He takes listeners behind the scenes, introduces curators and administrators, walks the empty corridors after hours, and shares what it's like to get the call that an ancient masterpiece has gone missing. The Metropolitan Museum covers twelve acres in the heart of Manhattan and is filled with five thousand years of work by history's great artists known and unknown: Goya, da Vinci, Rembrandt, Warhol, Pollack, Egyptian mummies, Babylonian treasures, Colonial crafts, and Greek vases. Over the years, John helped make the museum the state-of-the-art facility it is today and created a legacy in art security for decades to come. Focusing on six thefts but filled with countless stories that span the late 1970s through the twenty-first century, John opens the files on thefts, showing how museum personnel along with local and sometimes federal agents opened investigations and more often than not caught the thief. But of ultimate importance was the recovery of the artwork, including Celtic and Egyptian gold, French tapestries, Greek sculpture, and more. At the heart of this book there will always be art-those who love it and those who take it, two groups of people that are far from mutually exclusive.

  • Author:
    Wilcox, Alana, Palassio, Christina
    Summary:

    City Hall proclaimed 2006 the Year of Creativity. ‘Live With Culture’ banners flap over the city. And across the city, donors are ponying up millions for the ROM and the AGO. Culture’s never had it so good. Right? The State of the Arts explores the Toronto arts scene from every angle, applauding, assailing and arguing about art in our fair burg. The essays consider the big-ticket and the ticket-free, from the Opera House and the CNE to the subconscious art of graffiti eradication and underground hip-hop. In between, you'll find considerations art in the suburbs, how business uses art to sell condos, questions of infrastructure, an examination of Toronto on film and a history of micro press publishing. You'll read about the fine line between party and art, the trials of being a capitalist in a sea of left-wing artists, the power of the internet to create arts communities and a plea for spaces that cater to musicians and their kids. Throughout, you'll find equal doses of optimism and frustration, and a good measure of T.O. love. Taken together, the thoughts of these writers, thinkers, musicians and city-builders aim to create an honest survey of where we're at and where we can go. Includes sixteen colour pages of eye-level Toronto, and cover art by Susan Szenes. With essays by Sandra Alland, Jason Anderson, Anna Bowness, Stephen Cain, Kate Carraway, Hanna Cho, Brendan Cormier, Natalie De Vito, Liz Forsberg, Mark Fram, Marc Glassman, Katarina Gligorijevic-Collins, Brenda Goldstein, Amy Lavender Harris, Karen Hines, Sarah B. Hood, Christopher Hume, Sam Javanrouh, Dory Kornfeld, Adam Krawesky, More Or Les, John Lorinc, James MacNevin, Claudia McKoy, Brian McLachlan, Ryan McLaren, Shawn Micallef, Jill Murray, Matt O'Sullivan, Christopher Pandolfi, Michael Redhill, Dylan Reid, Damian Rogers, Stuart Ross, Lisa Rundle, Dana Samuel, Nadja Sayej, Susan Szenes, Kevin Temple, Pablo Torres, Gayla Trail, Rannie Turingan, Jason van Eyk, Adam Vaughan, RM Vaughan, Stéphanie Verge, Lisa Whittington-Hill and Carl Wilson.

  • Author:
    Summary:

    City Hall proclaimed 2006 the Year of Creativity. 'Live With Culture' banners flap over the city. And across the city, donors are ponying up millions for the ROM and the AGO. Culture's never had it so good. Right' The State of the Arts explores the Toronto arts scene from every angle, applauding, assailing and arguing about art in our fair burg. The essays consider the big-ticket and the ticket-free, from the Opera House and the CNE to the subconscious art of graffiti eradication and underground hip-hop. In between, you'll find considerations art in the suburbs, how business uses art to sell condos, questions of infrastructure, an examination of Toronto on film and a history of micro press publishing. You'll read about the fine line between party and art, the trials of being a capitalist in a sea of left-wing artists, the power of the internet to create arts communities and a plea for spaces that cater to musicians and their kids. Throughout, you'll find equal doses of optimism and frustration, and a good measure of T.O. love. Taken together, the thoughts of these writers, thinkers, musicians and city-builders aim to create an honest survey of where we're at and where we can go.

  • Author:
    Streetman, Jonathan
    Summary:

    Take better actions shots with this terrific 100-page eBook! From pro to hobbyist, from your child's first baseball game to the championship match, every photographer wants to be able to capture thrilling action shots. Now you can sharpen your photography skills with this fast-paced, In a Day for Dummies eBook that really zeros in on the specifics. See how to freeze action, add motion blur and work with the variety of conditions you'll face when shooting live action. This book: *Focuses on techniques that help you successfully capture sports and live action photographs, such as freezing action or adding motion blur *Covers getting the right gear, setting your camera for the shot, capturing the shot, editing the results and more *Includes a "Beyond the book" online component, where you can find step-by-step tutorials, videos and a bonus lesson on creating a high-dynamic range sports photo *Shows you techniques that work effectively on digital S.L.R. cameras and point-and-shoot cameras Get Sports and Action Photography In A Day For Dummies and take action!

  • Author:
    Miller, David
    Summary:

    Taking cues from progressive cities around the world, including Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Oslo, Shenzhen, and Sydney, this book is a summons to every city to make small but significant changes that can drastically reduce our carbon footprint. We cannot wait for national governments to agree on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and manage the average temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees. David Miller argues that cities are taking action on climate change because they can - and because they must. Miller makes a clear-eyed and compelling case that, if replicated at pace and scale, the actions of leading global cities point the way to creating a more sustainable planet.

  • Author:
    Jankowski, Greg
    Summary:

    Whether it’s your first venture into 3D technical drawing software or you’re switching to SolidWorks from something else, you’re probably excited about what this CAD program has to offer.   Chances are, you figure it’s going to take awhile to get the hang of it before you can begin cranking out those perfectly precise 3D designs. SolidWorks For Dummies, 2nd Edition, can help you dramatically shorten that get-acquainted period! SolidWorks For Dummies, 2nd Edition will help you get up and running quickly on the leading 3D technical drawing software. You’ll see how to set up SolidWorks to create the type of drawings your industry requires and how to take full advantage of its legendary 3D features. You’ll discover how to: * Work with virtual prototypes * Understand the user interface * Use templates and sketch, assemble, and create drawings * Automate the drawing process * Review drawings and collaborate with other team members * Define and edit sketches * Create dimensions and annotations * Print or plot your drawings * Leverage existing designs Sample files on the bonus CD-ROM show you how to apply the latest version of SolidWorks and accomplish specific tasks. Even if you’re brand-new to CAD software, SolidWorks For Dummies, 2nd Edition will have you feeling like a pro in no time. You’ll find you’ve entered a whole new dimension. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

  • Author:
    DeGunther, Rik
    Summary:

    The bestselling alternative energy reference book in North America—now in an updated edition  Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you’re looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you! This new edition gives you hands-on tips and techniques for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power—and helping the planet at the same time. Plus, you’ll get all the latest information on changes to federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and tax incentives that seek to make solar-power adoption more feasible. * Expanded coverage of the technology that underpins full-scale solar-power systems for the home * New small- and mid-sized solar products, projects, and applications * Rik DeGunther is a design engineer who started his own energy consulting firm Featuring 10 of the easiest and cheapest DIY solar projects, Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd Edition is the fun and easy way to meet your energy needs with this clean power source!

  • Author:
    Estill, Lyle
    Summary:

    "In Small is Possible, Estill chronicles the failures and victories of an ongoing movement for sustainability and local resiliency in Chatham County, located in the piedmont region of North Carolina. Estill is a legitimate source on the subject: he co-founded Piedmont Biofuels, a biodiesel co-op that went from backyard operation into an industrial plant in a few short years. The characters in Estill's world are both entertaining and endearing. Many of them show a flinty defiance, positioning themselves as courageous Daniels against the Goliaths of corporate greed and globalization. Readers interested in academic arguments for local economies can find other books on the subject, but if they want a compelling story about noble atempts to walk the talk, Small is Possible delivers. - Brian Baughan, Sustainablog "In an age of increasing globalization, it is hopeful to be reminded that there are still communities where transactions are handled in handshakes rather than receipts. Estill takes us on a loving stroll through his North Carolina neighborhood and shows us how small-scale sustainability - feeding, fueling, and financing locally - is both possible and preferable." - Book Notes, Orion Magazine One of my favorite ideas in this book is the idea of open source. Once you let go of this idea that everything must be copyrighted, everything must be owned and protected in order to make money, you become free. Open source ideas quickly foster a more open community, a more open and honest society. A gropu of people or organizaitons all start working toward a common goal rather than all working against one another. Beautiful, isn't it' Another beautiful idea is that a community needs a variety of people and businesses to thrive. And that as you begin living locally- and begin working toward a healthy community - people and businesses find their niches. And when you find your own niche within the local economy, your own happiness rises. Your sense of well-being increases when you realize your positive and necessary contribution to society. As we go further into debt and economic security throughout the world, nurturing our small, local, sustainable businesses and infrastructure will become increasingly important. I recommend this book. Reviewed by Melinda on The Blogging Bookworm In an era when incomprehensibly complex issues like Peak Oil and climate change dominate headlines, practical solutions at a local level can seem somehow inadequate. In response, Lyle Estill's Small is Possible introduces us to "hometown security," with this chronicle of a community-powered response to resource depletion in a fickle global economy. True stories, springing from the soils of Chatham County, North Carolina, offer a positive counterbalance to the bleakness of our age. This is the story of how one small southern US town found actual solutions to actual problems. Unwilling to rely on the government and wary of large corporations, these residents discovered it is possible for a community to feed itself, fuel itself, heal itself, and govern itself. This book is filled with newspaper columns, blog entries, letters, and essays that have appeared on the margins of small-town economies. Tough subjects are handled with humor and finesse. Compelling stories of successful small businesses, from the grocery co-op to the biodiesel co-op, describe a town and its people on a genuine quest for sustainability. Everyone interested in sustainability, local economy, small business, and whole foods will be inspired by the success stories in this book.

  • Author:
    Thorneycroft, Diana
    Summary:

    This is a representation of slytod, the controversial 1997 multimedia installation by Winnipeg artist Diana Thorneycroft. It features photographs from the exhibit and three critical essays about the artist's work and approach. "'slytod' refers to a tag game that my siblings and I used to play at night when we were children living on a military base in the heart of the Black Forest in Germany. Years later, I learned that 'tod' means death in German, and it is the notion of playing tag with death that permeates the installation."-Diana Thorneycroft

  • Author:
    Chrisman-Campbell, Kimberly
    Summary:

    In a sparkling social history, Skirts traces the shifting roles of women over the twentieth century through the era's most iconic and influential dresses. While the story of women's liberation has often been framed by the growing acceptance of pants over the twentieth century, the most important and influential female fashions of the era featured skirts. Suffragists and soldiers marched in skirts; the heroines of the Civil Rights Movement took a stand in skirts. As women made strides towards equality in the vote, the workforce, and the world at large, their wardrobes evolved with them. Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell's Skirts looks at the history of twentieth-century womenswear through the lens of game-changing styles like the little black dress and the Bar Suit, as well as more obscure innovations like the Taxi dress or the Pop-Over dress, which came with a matching potholder. These influential garments illuminate the times in which they were first worn-and the women who wore them-while continuing to shape contemporary fashion and even opening the door for a genderfluid future of skirts. At once an authoritative work of history and a delightfully entertaining romp through decades of fashion, Skirts charts the changing fortunes, freedoms, and aspirations of women themselves.

  • Author:
    Prochner, Isabel, Cardinal, Douglas
    Summary:

    Situating Design in Alberta makes the case that design has the potential to drive economic growth, improve quality of life, and promote sustainability in the province and across the country. Contributors bring both scholarly and practice-based perspectives and come from diverse disciplines, including architecture, interior design, industrial design, and visual communications. The collection is organized around four main topics--history, education, business, and sustainability--within which the authors explore a wide range of issues. This synergy of different design approaches lends a sense of forward momentum to the field, stimulates reflection about opportunities and challenges for both practitioners and policy makers, and provides a model for future studies in other regions. Contributors: Tim Antoniuk, Ken Bautista, Carlos Fiorentino, Maria Goncharova, Andrea Hirji, Mark Iantkow, Barry Johns, Lyubava Kroll, Courtenay McKay, Skye Oleson-Cormack, Isabel Prochner, Janice Rieger, Elizabeth Schowalter, Megan Strickfaden, Tyler Vreeling, Ron Wickman

  • Author:
    Lawrence, Robyn Griggs
    Summary:

    In 2004 The Wabi-sabi House helped popularize this ancient Japanese philosophy in North America. Far more than home dEcor, wabi-sabi is a state of mind: living modestly in the moment, stripping away the unnecessary, finding satisfaction in everyday things. Simply Imperfect is a fully revised edition of The Wabi-Sabi House - it will help you celebrate the beauty in getting by.

  • Author:
    Luiselli, Valeria
    Summary:

    Grantland Book of the Year Vol. 1 Brooklyn, A Year of Favorites, Jason Diamond Book Riot, 2014's Must-Read Books from Indie Presses "Valeria Luiselli is a writer of formidable talent, destined to be an important voice in Latin American letters. Her vision and language are precise, and the power of her intellect is in evidence on every page."-Daniel AlarcOn "I'm completely captivated by the beauty of the paragraphs, the elegance of the prose, the joy in the written word, and the literary sense of this author."-Enrique Vilas-Matas Valeria Luiselli is an evening cyclist; a literary tourist in Venice, searching for Joseph Brodsky's tomb; an excavator of her own artifacts, unpacking from a move. In essays that are as companionable as they are ambitious, she uses the city to exercise a roving, meandering intelligence, seeking out the questions embedded in our human landscapes. Valeria Luiselli was born in Mexico City in 1983 and grew up in South Africa. Her novel and essays have been translated into many languages and her work has appeared in publications including the New York Times, Granta, and McSweeney's. Some of her recent projects include a ballet performed by the New York City Ballet in Lincoln Center; a pedestrian sound installation for the Serpentine Gallery in London; and a novella in installments for workers in a juice factory in Mexico. She lives in New York City.

  • Author:
    Paglia, Camille
    Summary:

    From ancient Egypt through the nineteenth century, Sexual Personae explores the provocative connections between art and pagan ritual; between Emily Dickinson and the Marquis de Sade; between Lord Byron and Elvis Presley. It ultimately challenges the cultural assumptions of both conservatives and traditional liberals.

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