Clayworks in Art Therapy: Plying the Sacred Circle

Book Description

Clay is universally recognized as a medium of creative expression, and it also has great potential for therapeutic application. These two properties of clay are celebrated together in a book that explores the history, theory and techniques of claywork in eliciting therapeutic outcomes. Vignettes and case material explain and expand the text, which interweaves an appreciation of clay in art with many practical suggestions for its use in therapy.

By according equal status to aesthetic outcomes and artistic integrity, the author offers a new and holistic approach to claywork. Practitioners and educators in the fields of therapy and art will find his book to be an essential source of information and ideas.

Customer Reviews:

Detailed Photos.......2000-10-20

Admiring the black and white photos in Sagay's book is a delight. The hair styles are exotic and complex. She describes two different techniques, cornrowing and hair threading, with enough clarity and step by step photos that it is possible for a beginner to achieve one of the styles. There are also many outragously time-consuming examples that would challenge the most proficient hair stylist to reach new heights of difficulty. Sheer, outrageous fantasy is the only way to describe some of the hair styles, but they are still fun to see. Sagay gives a fair amount of historical background to show where and when the hairstyles originated. I was fascinated to discover that some of the hairdressing ingredients used in Africa were oil, charcoal and clay. The faces of the women and girls in the book are serene, joyful and proud. I wish that the book was updated to show current styles and that some of the photos were in color.

Amazon.com

It's difficult to think of a story with a greater sense of elegant, nuanced foreboding than Jason Lutes's Berlin, Book One: City of Stones. Set in the Weimar Republic-era of German history, Lutes's story takes an unimaginably large and historically important time and observes it through the small lives of a band of sympathetic protagonists. The author spends the most time with his main characters, Kurt Severing and Marthe Müller, but the quality of Berlin is such that the reader cares emphatically about the fate of the rest of the cast: the lovelorn dyke art student, the recently separated single mother, even fleeting characters like the street policeman or the overworked newspaper editor. Even so, the shadow of the coming war cautions us not to get too attached to these people. They are imperfect, bickering, and naïve in their ideologies--just like real people. Brutality will soon follow, and the vulnerability of each of the characters haunts the pages.

Using the graphic novel form to tackle an issue like the rise of Nazi Germany is fraught with traps, not least of which are comparisons to other works, such as Maus, as well as literary criticism for minimizing such an important topic. Lutes navigates these hazards well, creating sparse black-and-white sketches that often render a mood wordlessly. Whole pages go without text, and it serves the story well. As much can be told by showing a character in a window's evening reflection, eyes inked as darkened sockets, than through retelling details of (now) familiar historical events. The story itself has a rambling and philosophical feel, focused on details that become all the more poignant for their insignificance. One segment--where Lutes shows Marthe's walk onto a newly snow-covered street--tells us everything we need to know about this character, without much actual action occurring. Lutes doesn't use moments of transcendence to make a point or add sentimentality; instead, he firmly grounds us in this time and place.

Without knowing more about the next volumes, it's impossible to say whether Lutes will use this attachment against the readers later, knocking down his characters cheaply, allowing the shortcuts demanded by the burden of history. The last pages of this book--with a disappointingly predictable resolution--hinted in that direction, but the overall tone of the book indicates that something much richer and deeper will happen along with the inevitable loss. --Jennifer Buckendorff

Book Description

Berlin: City of Stones presents the first part of Jason Lutes' captivating trilogy, set in the twilight years of Germany's Weimar Republic. Kurt Severing, a journalist, and Marthe Muller, an art student, are the central figures in a broad cast of characters intertwined with the historical events unfolding around them. City of Stones covers eight months in Berlin, from September 1928 to May Day, 1929, meticulously documenting the hopes and struggles of its inhabitants as their future is darkened by a glowing shadow.

Customer Reviews:

hoping and waiting.......2006-03-03

The Weimar presents a set of profound issues for an artist or historian to grapple with. Lutes has done a more than admirable job beginning a graphic narrative that does justice to the myriad issues the period dileneates for contemporray readers. He has a point of view, an ability to transmit nuance, complication and contradiction, some compelling characters, a drawing style that to my eye pays some homage to Masereel while taking a more realist turn and big ambitions. The problem here is that we only have 1/3 (now some new chapters have been produced) of a much larger work. It's hard to judge just how successful this project will be with only one third of the story arc completed. I for one appreciate anyone who grapples with the set of questions Lutes is engaged with here and think he's off to a fascinating start but it is kind of like judging an entire play by its first act. We can get swept up in the action in the first act, but at the first intermission we can only hold out hope the rest of the play rewards the promise we just had take a hold of us. It could be a classic or a disapointment. I eagerly await the answer to that.

not that great........2005-04-06

i've been hearing about this book for ten years, as well as rumors of its "greatness". so i finally picked it up, and perhaps am feeling let down by its inability to live up to the hype. it is quite good. very good, i'd venture. but it is in no way, shape, or form a "masterpiece" or even "great". the art itself is magnificent. but the whole story actually just seems "bored". not boring, literally bored. it's touted as this dramatic book filled with complex interworkings, and it truly is not. sorry. i wonder if i'll even bother buying the rest (if it ever comes out; Lutes seems to be the slowest artist in comics).

Social-ist history.......2004-07-07

Lutes makes history human. He shows it doesn't just happen to people - people do it themselves. 1920s Germany comes alive, and Lutes shows politics wasn't something separate, left to politicians: it was life & death to everyday people. Lutes' Communists & fascists are real, and we feel their motivations. The love affair brought a lump to my throat. City of Stones is proof that education and emotion don't have to be separate.

Finally, as a student of socialist history, I can vouch for Lutes' accuracy. The fascist street gangs with their wealthy backers, the communist cooperatives, rising anti-semitism set against revolutionary fervour - it's all there, drawn in beautiful, spare lines.

A graphic masterpiece to read over again and again.......2003-05-19

I picked up "Berlin: City of Stones" and immediately fell in love with it. The art is outstanding and the human interest is unsurpassed. Even minor characters who have but a few frames seem to have Tolstoy-novel vividness to them. For instance:

1) A traffic director whose intestinal constipation makes him see the vehicles he's directing as loathsome insects.

2) A physically vigorous fifty-ish newspaper distributor who likes making fun of the Nazis.

3). A schoolteacher who faces down her dochstoss-spouting student by telling her pupils that November, 1918, was a good month for the German people, as it was the month that brought democracy.

The book is full of these, along with major characters you'll care deeply about. The end - involving a single mother's vision of her now-estranged husband - very moving.

I can't wait for the second installment of a story of individuals in this politically ablaze city. Mr. Lutes, please hurry!

A BOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE TO THINK.......2002-12-30

This is a graphic novel for people who like to think -- a complexly connected set of stories that move together in productive, thoughtful ways. Lutes takes full advantage of his spare, generous style of drawing in the creation of this graphic novel ... once you read it, you'll be dying for the next one to come out. It's historically and psychologically rich; a tremendous addition to this growing genre.

How One Little Polar Bear Captivated The World (Knut)

Average customer rating:

How One Little Polar Bear Captivated The World (Knut)
Craig Hatkoff , Juliana Hatkoff , Isabella Hatkoff , and Dr. Gerald R. Uhlich
Manufacturer: Scholastic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel

ASIN: 0545047161

Book Description

When Knut was born, the first polar bear cub at the Berlin Zoo in more than thirty years, he was no bigger than a snowball and unable to care for himself. His mother, a rescued East German circus bear, didn't know how to take care of Knut and rejected him. Knut would have died if it weren't for Thomas Dorflein, a zookeeper who nurtured Knut, feeding him, sleeping with him, and giving him the love and attention Knut needed to thrive. But Thomas wasn't the only one who adopted Knut. The adorable little polar bear captured the world's attention, and now Knut is loved around the globe.

Jugs over Germany 1946: Mission Berlin: Part II: used only one year earlier against Nazi Germany, the Republic P-47 thunderbolt suddenly becomes a formidable ... Union.(Excerpt): An article from: Airpower

Average customer rating:

Jugs over Germany 1946: Mission Berlin: Part II: used only one year earlier against Nazi Germany, the Republic P-47 thunderbolt suddenly becomes a formidable ... Union.(Excerpt): An article from: Airpower
Jack Broughton
Manufacturer: Sentry Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Science & Technology | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Airpower, published by Sentry Books, Inc. on January 1, 2005. The length of the article is 6807 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Jugs over Germany 1946: Mission Berlin: Part II: used only one year earlier against Nazi Germany, the Republic P-47 thunderbolt suddenly becomes a formidable weapon in a new 'cold war' against the Soviet Union.(Excerpt)
Author: Jack Broughton
Publication: Airpower (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2005
Publisher: Sentry Books, Inc.
Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Page: 44(12)

Article Type: Excerpt

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Customer Reviews:

Lost Calendar - lost.......2006-03-06

I ordered 2 of these, and was told they were on back order. I never received either one. Finally in February, I was told they were not available.

Didn't receive the merchandise.......2006-02-25

I have seen the calendar online and ordered it but the order was cancelled when the supplier could not provide the produce.

In a search of many stores and online shops I found only 1 copy of the calendar between Oct 2005-Jan 2006. It was fantastic but I don't have one.

A Cliche Design - Needs better pictures.......2005-12-24

As a huge fan of Lost, I looked at this calendar at the mall and considered buying it. What I do not like about this calendar are the photos it includes for each month. The design is very unoriginal; pictures of a single character each month. I would much rather see production artwork or something that better represents and encompasses the show, for the calendar. As an example, I don't think I'd necessarily want to stare at Charlie for a whole month. Perhaps I just expected more - or too much - from this calendar, with "Lost" as amazing as it is on screen.

Other than that, a Lost calendar is a great idea, especially for a fan. However, it just so happened that this calendar wasn't in my taste. But this doesn't mean I won't be thinking about Lost every day of the year... :D

Otherwise, A perfect gift if it appeals to you.

Must-own for fans of the show!.......2005-10-24

LOST is one of my favorite tv shows, and I I jumped at the chance to own the 2006 wall calendar. Each month highlights a different character. Most (if not all) of the pictures are not new; they are the promo shots from season one. But they are still enjoyable to look at, and I can't wait to hang it on my wall!

Good calender.......2005-10-18

Big calender and nice pictures. It's good for any fan of the show and anyone who needs a calender.

Average customer rating:

A Professional Job

Increases appreciation of one of Hollywood's Greats

Against Type: The Biography of Burt Lancaster
Gary Fishgall
Manufacturer: Holiday house
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Burt Lancaster: An American Life

ASIN: 0025384651

Customer Reviews:

A Professional Job.......2003-08-08

Gary Fishgall is very good on the professional life of actors. He's written about James Stewart, Burt Lancaster, and Gregory Peck. Fishgall seems not very much interested in [physical activity] and social name-dropping, which is fine with me. He gives the bare facts of the actor's social life without the juicy and sordid detail for which many people read star biographies.

On the actor's professional life and accomplishments, Fishgall is excellent. He covers childhood and youth thoroughly as it relates to the future career. He discusses every professional job the actor ever had. You learn not only about the big successes, with which you may already be familiar, but also the small successes and the failures. Nothing relating to the professional life is left out. You learn what the subject thought about his coworkers and what they thought about him.

I have now read two of Fishgall's bios and plan to read the third. This is just the kind of information I find fascinating. If you enjoy any of Fishgall's bios, you may also enjoy Vincente Minnelli's "I Remember It Well." Minnelli's story-telling mode is very similar to Fishgall's. He dwells on his professional life and downplays the personal.

Increases appreciation of one of Hollywood's Greats.......1997-09-23

Chronicles the professional life and accomplishments of one of Hollywood's most loved stars, Burt Lancaster. I was disappointed with the lack of insight into the personal life of Lancaster, but as a biography of his professional life it was excellent. It was fascinating to read of the diametrically opposite views that co-stars and directors had for him, ranging from ardour to hate. This is an unbiased portrait of a great star

Against Type: The Biography of Burt Lancaster

Average customer rating:

Against Type: The Biography of Burt Lancaster
Gary, Illustrated by B&W Photos Fishgall
Manufacturer: Holiday house
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8XPYG

Book Description

Free-form jazz guitarist Jan Akkerman and classically trained keyboard player Thys van Leer teamed up to form Focus in their native Holland, and recorded Moving Waves; one of the 70s most original and startling LPs. The epic track "Hocus Pocus" took the Reading Festival by storm, and Focus went on to the U.S. where they scored top 10 singles and albums. Long-time associate David Randall has assembled Akkerman's journey, lavishly illustrated, from cult hero to jazz superstar.

Book Description

It's Good To Be Bad!

• Thorough step-by-step walkthrough for all 11 levels
• Combat strategies for all enemies and mini-bosses
• Detailed explanation of the 7 Dark Gift powers
• All Relics and Weapon chests located

Customer Reviews:

Get this game.......2002-10-14

One of XBOX's best only behind Halo and Max Payne in my opinion

Get this game.......2002-10-14

One of XBOX's best only behind Halo and Max Payne in my opinion

Great walkthrough for this creepy game!.......2002-08-03

Another awesome Prima strategy guide! This book provides a nearly flawless walkthrough for the entire game and, although most of it was pretty simple to figure out, the guide came in great use for those really tricky sections of the game. Also the guide provides info on every item, so you won't miss anything in the game. A must companion for the Playstation 2 game!

Blood Omen 2: Prima's Official Strategy Guide

Average customer rating:

Blood Omen 2: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
Mark Androvich
Manufacturer: Prima Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J4SXD8

Book Description

What do you get when you cross a journalist and a banker? A brewery, of course.

"A great city should have great beer. New York finally has, thanks to Brooklyn. Steve Hindy and Tom Potter provided it. Beer School explains how they did it: their mistakes as well as their triumphs. Steve writes with a journalist's skepticism-as though he has forgotten that he is reporting on himself. Tom is even less forgiving-he's a banker, after all. The inside story reads at times like a cautionary tale, but it is an account of a great and welcome achievement."
—Michael Jackson, The Beer Hunter(r)

"An accessible and insightful case study with terrific insight for aspiring entrepreneurs. And if that's not enough, it is all about beer!"
—Professor Murray Low, Executive Director, Lang Center for Entrepreneurship, Columbia Business School

"Great lessons on what every first-time entrepreneur will experience. Being down the block from the Brooklyn Brewery, I had firsthand witness to their positive impact on our community. I give Steve and Tom's book an A++!"
—Norm Brodsky, Senior Contributing Editor, Inc. magazine

"Beer School is a useful and entertaining book. In essence, this is the story of starting a beer business from scratch in New York City. The product is one readers can relate to, and the market is as tough as they get. What a fun challenge! The book can help not only those entrepreneurs who are starting a business but also those trying to grow one once it is established. Steve and Tom write with enthusiasm and insight about building their business. It is clear that they learned a lot along the way. Readers can learn from these lessons too."
—Michael Preston, Adjunct Professor, Lang Center for Entrepreneurship, Columbia Business School, and coauthor, The Road to Success: How to Manage Growth

"Although we (thankfully!) never had to deal with the Mob, being held up at gunpoint, or having our beer and equipment ripped off, we definitely identified with the challenges faced in those early days of cobbling a brewery together. The revealing story Steve and Tom tell about two partners entering a business out of passion, in an industry they knew little about, being seriously undercapitalized, with an overly naive business plan, and their ultimate success, is an inspiring tale."
—Ken Grossman, founder, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Download Description

What do you get when you cross a journalist and a banker? A brewery, of course. ""A great city should have great beer. New York finally has, thanks to Brooklyn. Steve Hindy and Tom Potter provided it. Beer School explains how they did it: their mistakes as well as their triumphs. Steve writes with a journalist's skepticism-as though he has forgotten that he is reporting on himself. Tom is even less forgiving-he's a banker, after all. The inside story reads at times like a cautionary tale, but it is an account of a great and welcome achievement."" -Michael Jackson, The Beer Hunter(r) ""An accessible and insightful case study with terrific insight for aspiring entrepreneurs. And if that's not enough, it is all about beer!"" -Professor Murray Low, Executive Director, Lang Center for Entrepreneurship, Columbia Business School ""Great lessons on what every first-time entrepreneur will experience. Being down the block from the Brooklyn Brewery, I had firsthand witness to their positive impact on our community. I give Steve and Tom's book an A++!"" -Norm Brodsky, Senior Contributing Editor, Inc. magazine ""Beer School is a useful and entertaining book. In essence, this is the story of starting a beer business from scratch in New York City. The product is one readers can relate to, and the market is as tough as they get. What a fun challenge! The book can help not only those entrepreneurs who are starting a business but also those trying to grow one once it is established. Steve and Tom write with enthusiasm and insight about building their business. It is clear that they learned a lot along the way. Readers can learn from these lessons too."" -Michael Preston, Adjunct Professor, Lang Center for Entrepreneurship, Columbia Business School, and coauthor, The Road to Success: How to Manage Growth ""Although we (thankfully!) never had to deal with the Mob, being held up at gunpoint, or having our beer and equipment ripped off, we definitely identified with the challenges faced in those early days of cobbling a brewery together. The revealing story Steve and Tom tell about two partners entering a business out of passion, in an industry they knew little about, being seriously undercapitalized, with an overly naive business plan, and their ultimate success, is an inspiring tale."" -Ken Grossman, founder, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Customer Reviews:

A well-written book that goes down as smoothly as Brooklyn Lager.......2007-08-23

I've no great interest in the brewery business, but I do enjoy well-written, instructive tales of entrepreneurship. 'Beer School' definitely falls into that category. One-time journalist and co-founder Steve Hindry can really write. No surprise there. The pleasant surprise is that ex-banker and fellow co-founder Tom Potter's chapters are just as enjoyable. Like their beer, the chapters go down smooth. The arrangement of the book makes it clear who's written what parts - the chapters are given names that start with either "Steve Tells..." or "Tom Tells...". Where Steve has written a chapter, we get Tom's viewpoint with "Tom Weighs In," and vice-versa. Sounds sort of clunky, but it's well executed by the co-authors. They clearly worked very closely in shaping a final, cohesive product. As a result, the format works well.

What drew me to the book originally was the forward by Mike Bloomberg. His endorsement is good enough for me.

A very good read.......2007-06-05

By nature, I am not a "reader"... I have a large stack of books that I've picked up over the years to pacify me while traveling. Most still have their respective airline ticket stubs safely marking the spot where I left off reading. So yes, it's a tad ironic that I'm now leaving a book review here... However, I read this cover-to-cover in two (long) evenings (that alone will tell anyone that knows me that this was a really good book!) so I'm at least qualified to comment on THIS one.

I've homebrewed for a couple of years and am in the early stages of investigating the feasibility of trying to make a living out of brewing. The story in the book really struck close to home for me... My potential partner and I work in fields that really couldn't be further from the brewing industry, much like the authors. While I know that the odds are against us, it was refreshing to read a story of someone that took a swing at it and hit a home run.

The book is by no means a step-by-step business plan for starting a brewery. It is much more a story of the trials and tribulations that faced them as they progressed from a crazy dream to a crazy success. It's a story about partnership. It's a story about taking a leap of faith. So don't purchase it expecting a step-by-step recipe for you to go out and quit your day job, but do purchase it and expect a general high-level look at starting a brewery, some good general business ideas that you may not have thought of, and a good story to tie it all together.

I found it to be a very honest, open story... The authors take turns writing chapters, and there were at least a couple of times that they were so honest that I caught myself thinking "Jeez, I'm pretty sure that the other guy's going to read this... Are you sure you wanted to say that?!" As you progress through the book though, you learn that this is just the relationship that they've built over the years... Very honest and open with one another whether it is good news or bad. I think that reading about the partnership was really one of the biggest take-aways that I got out of the book, but it certainly has more to offer than that.

In summary, I really enjoyed this book and would have no issues whatsoever giving it a very high recommendation for anyone that is considering starting ANY new business, brewery or not.

A+.......2007-02-28

I just finished Beer School and thoroughly enjoyed it. As a beer lover, and a fan of Brooklyn Brewery's products, I enjoyed learning about how the beer came to life, as well as the birth (rebirth?) of craft brewing in the United States. Mayor Bloomberg was right in the introduction, the book will make you thirsty.

As for the business aspect, I teach high school economics and intend to use some examples cited in Beer School to illustrate my lessons. If I taught on the college level, this book would be one of the required readings. It is a great example of entrepreneurship, economies of scale, marketing, start-ups, and business plans.

A fascinating story of triumph and trials..........2007-02-08

Just from a title perspective, this book was too good to pass up... Beer School: Bottling Success at the Brooklyn Brewery by Steve Hindy and Tom Potter. But even better, the book delivers the goods on a number of levels. One of the most enjoyable business book reads I've had in awhile...

Contents: Steve Tells How Choosing a Partner Is Like a Second Marriage; Steve Discusses the Importance of Building a Solid Team; Tom Talks about Creating the Business Plan - A Money-Raising Tool and More; Tom Asks, "What's the True Mission of the Business?"; Steve Discusses the Keys to Successfully Motivating Employees; Tom Tells the Story of Their Dot-Com Revolution - Fishing for Finance and Failing; Steve Talks about Building a Brewery in Brooklyn; Steve Discusses Publicity - The Press Wants You!; Steve Reveals How the Revolution Kills Its Leaders First; Tom Talks about Cashing Out and Reinventing the Business, Again; Tom Wants to Know If You Have What It Takes; Timeline; Index

Hindy was a foreign correspondent for a news agency, and Potter was an executive at a bank, but both felt as if they wanted to do something different in their lives. Their love of home-brew beer gave Hindy the idea of starting a brewery in their hometown of Brooklyn, a city rich with brewery history. Potter was less convinced about the whole project until he visited a homebrewer's convention in 1986. This was right at the start of the microbrew phenomenon, and they decided to seriously pursue their dream. The book chronicles their work from 1986 through 2005, while also distilling what they learned about entrepreneurship along the way. And since this is beer "school", each chapter ends with them giving themselves a grade on how they did in that particular area. Unlike many business books that make the principals all-knowning and omniscient, Hindy and Potter are brutally honest about what worked and what didn't, where they were skillful and where they got lucky. It's a fascinating read, both for the brewery story and for the business insights.

There aren't too many business books with stories about being robbed at gunpoint of $30000, visiting a metal fencing operation to get a fork-lift battery charger back, and getting a visit from organized crime and union leadership, intent on getting a piece of their business. Even if you dropped the business lessons, the narrative of the Brooklyn Brewery would be enough to make this a recommended read. When you add in the small business information, this becomes a must-read for anyone dreaming of starting their own business. And if you're already interested in homebrewing or microbrews, then this book will probably end up being read in a single sitting.

An excellent read on a number of levels...

Outstanding read!.......2007-01-05

Having been a Wall Street executuve during the crazy dot com days I can relate to what Steve and Tom went through. Lucky for them they started the business before the greed and craziness and were able to weather through decisions they made during that time that turned out badly.

I have helped finance dozens of start-ups and Beer school is an excellent source for those thinking of starting their own business. While non fiction it reads like a suspense novel

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books