Prose poems, talks, conversations and more from the leading postwar sculptor Spanning her lengthy career, this compendium of Polish sculptor Magdalena Abakanowicz's (1930-2017) writings is the first to bring together her prose poems, her lectures, correspondence with other artists and interviews (including a previously unpublished interview with art historian Barbara Rose).

This book addresses one of the most troubling questions of contemporary art theory and practice: Who is contemporary art for? Although the divide between contemporary art and the public has long been acknowledged, this is the first time that artists, critics, and the public have come together to debate the problem and to make artmaking, criticism, and public reaction part of the same process. Like the exhibitions, discussions, and seminars held at "The Castle" during the summer 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, this book is based on the premise that contemporary artists and the general public have something to say to each other. By positing the space of "conversation" as one in which artworks can be experienced as creative sites open to multilayered interpretations by changing audiences, the book provides an antidote to the modernist connoisseurial silence that has long been used to define quality. The book is divided into three sections. The first contains essays by project curator Mary Jane Jacob, critic and coeditor Michael Brenson, and cultural critic Homi K. Bhabha. Their essays describe fresh approaches to contemporary art and its audiences at a time of increased access through technology and decreased government funding. The second section contains essays by the six artists/collaborative teams involved in the project. Their works, aimed at public participation, included installation-performances, collaborations with Atlanta communities, cross-country tours, and the creation and presentation of food as a means to stimulate conversation and construct community. The artists are: artway of thinking (Italy), Ery Camara (Senegal/Mexico), Mauricio Dias and Walter Riedweg (Brazil/Switzerland), Regina Frank (Germany), IRWIN (Slovenia), and Maurice O'Connell (Ireland).The final section contains seven essays by the critics, curators, educators, administrators, and artists who led the "Conversations on Culture" at The Castle. The essays are by Jacquelynn Baas, Michael Brenson, Lisa Graziose Corrin, Amina Dickerson and Tricia Ward, Steven Durland, Susan Krane, and Susan Vogel.

Publisher Description

"Magdalena Abakanowicz was born to aristocratic parents in 1930 and raised on their country estate. She came of age against the tumultuous background of World War II and its aftermath. Today she is revered for her uncompromising, individualistic vision developed in her native Poland under the hostile eyes of the repressive Communist regime that was in power for most of her adult life. She has personally witnessed the worst of humanity's instinct for destructive behavior and has made art that unflinchingly presents the human condition. She had, by the 1960s, gained the beginning of an international reputation as a sculptor in soft materials with the creation of monumental environments called Abakans." "She changed sculpture from "object to look at" into "space to experience". Monumental, powerful compositions in bronze or stone, iron or concrete have been created for specific locations and are permanently installed as environments accessible to people." "Magdalena Abakanowicz also draws and paints, has choreographed dances performed by Japanese and Polish youngsters, and has designed Arboreal Architecture - buildings as "vertical gardens" - to be used as part of an extension to the principal axis in the city of Paris." "She has been determined from the very beginning to build her own vision of reality. She has never followed trends, all her creations being dictated by her imagination."--BOOK JACKET.

The Edinburgh Festival of those days was a much more accessible village... The ground rules were well enough understood. Everything about it was containable. The Fringe was the seed bed for talent and ran happily in step with its established elders and betters. They both knew their place. But then something equally remarkable was about to take place in the New Town of the city I knew and loved... The same year, Roddy Martine is born. In 1963 when, at the age of sixteen, he interviewed Sir Yehudi Menuhin and David Frost for an Edinburgh Festival magazine he edited and the following year, met Marlene Dietrich. Both Richard and Roddy have unique perspectives on the most remarkable international festival of the arts the world has ever known. They have witnessed its evolution over the years and are passionate believers in the power of creativity within everyone. In this fascinating book, Richard – the 2013 UK recipient of the Citizen of Europe medal – explores the original world vision of Sir John Falconer and Rudolph Bing and, with Roddy, recalls the highs and lows of The Edinburgh International Festival, The Fringe, Art, Book, Jazz and Television Festivals, and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Now in its eighth decade, can the Edinburgh Festival survive? Where do we go from here?

Magdalena Abakanowicz (1930-2017) was a Polish artist who revolutionised the use of woven forms in art. This book reveals her impact on environmental sculpture, as well as her deeply personal interests in natural phenomena and global cultures

Scotland's greatest gift to the world has been itself, its culture, its creativity, the extraordinary ability of its people to integrate and celebrate what truly matters in global terms, friendship and decency. Add in our greatest export, Scotch whisky; our iconic clan and family tartans; our golf courses and musical traditions, and you have an identity that is instantly recognisable and internationally respected and loved. Wear a kilt in Manhattan or Paris and you make friends for life. Art, culture and history circulate the lives of Richard Demarco and Roddy Martine. This compelling sequel to Demarco's Edinburgh battles for the soul of Scotland, tracing its roots from ancient pilgrimage routes to modern-day artistic endeavours. Richard Demarco's personal odyssey, from his encounter with Terry Newman and Southampton College of Art to his profound connections with the Polish art world, forms the cornerstone of this narrative. As he reflects on the essence of the Edinburgh Festival, he unveils a vision where Scotland's cultural legacy transcends geographical boundaries, embracing the world. Martine's meticulously crafted essays encapsulate Scotland's artistic landscape. through insightful reflections on Demarco's journey, you are invited to ponder profound questions about identity, heritage and the transformative power of art. A testament to the enduring spirit of creativity and the timeless quest for meaning that defines Scotland's cultural heritage, this book serves as a poignant reminder of the country's evolution into a global beacon of culture and enlightenment.