Book Descriptions
for An Artist's America by Michael Albert
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Artist Michael Albert describes his artistic vision and the development of his unique style, which draws on elements of pop culture, in an intriguing volume. Albert is best know for his collages, and this showcase reveals how his work has grown increasingly complex in both theme and execution. His creation of works from consumer packaging, for example, reveals how iconographic images such as a Cheerios box, the Trix bunny, Cap’n Crunch, and a Campbell’s soup can (an intentional homage to Andy Warhol) are recognizable even when rearranged. Other works created from letters and words cut from packaging offer up a plethora of proverbs and clichés—the Gettysburg Address and the Pledge of Allegiance, among others. Albert’s artwork is bright, eye-catching, and accessible for older children and teens. Offering an intriguing perspective on America and consumer culture, Albert concludes with an overview of workshops he does with children, and information on how readers can make their own collage. (Age 8 and older)
CCBC Choices 2009. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2009. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
Meet Michael Albert, modern pop artist. In an effort to combine his art style with his recycling philosophy, he has created a signature line of artwork in which his materials are derived from consumer packaging, old photographs, and discarded cardboard. The results are brilliant collages in the spirit of Andy Warhol’s famous Campbell’s Soup. Through his own interpretation of historical and epic events, such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address, Michael Albert shares his vision of American popular culture. Here is an artist’s America! An Artist's America is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.