A FISH THAT'S A BOX

by M.M. Esterman ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1990

Subtitled ""Folk Art from the National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution,"" this engaging sample of the creative and whimsical melding of form and function is being published in conjunction with an exhibit at the museum. Crisp color photos of constructions--ones sure to appeal to kids who also enjoy building imaginative objects with surprising materials--are captioned with intriguing anecdotes about their genesis and the relatively unknown artists. From quasi-useful items (a chair that looks like a banjo; a table that's also an airplane) to commercial or political messages (an argon monkey; a Gerald Ford totem pole) and delightful fantasies (a bottle-cap lion; a three-headed monster made from a painted root), these 35 artifacts (almost all from this century) are tributes to human ingenuity, The brief, second-person text is a bit condescending, but offers some fine, provocative comments. Excellent inspirational material for young artists and their teachers.

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1990

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Great Ocean

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1990

Categories: CHILDREN'S