COLLAGE

A book that begins by tracing collage to Dada, identified as deliberately meaningless, and then exemplifies the technique in a commemorative plate of George Washington and a lacy memento of a wedding, has strayed from art to advertising. Taken as what they are--pre-fabricated samplers, maybe the examples are attractive if unimaginative, and the directions for cutting and pasting are precise. Nothing is said about principles of design or the nature of materials, which is what collage is all about, but then this isn't about collage. Enough: kids who'd like to make a poster without drawing, who need to make a project for hygiene (with food labels) or for homemaking (with fabric samples) will find practical ideas and instructions.