The Life and Times of Moses Jacob Ezekiel: American Sculptor, Arcadian Knight tells the remarkable story of Moses Ezekiel and his rise to international fame as an artist in late nineteenth-century Italy. Sephardic Jew, homosexual, Confederate soldier, Southern apologist, opponent of slavery, patriot, expatriate, mystic, Victorian, dandy, good Samaritan, humanist, royalist, romantic, reactionary, republican, monist, dualist, theosophist, freemason, champion of religious freedom, proto-Zionist, and proverbial Court Jew, Moses Ezekiel was a riddle of a man, a puzzle of seemingly irreconcilable parts. Knighted by three European monarchs, courted by the rich and famous, Moses Ezekiel lived the life of an aristocrat with rarely a penny to his name. Making his home in the capacious ruins of the Baths of Diocletian in Rome, he quickly distinguished himself as the consummate artist and host, winning international fame for his work and consorting with many of the lions and luminaries of the fin-de-siecle world, including Giuseppe Garibaldi, Queen Margherita, Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, Sarah Bernhardt, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Eleonora Duse, Annie Besant, Clara Schumann, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Alphonse Daudet, Mark Twain, Emile Zola, Robert E. Lee, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and Isaac Mayer Wise. In a city besieged with eccentrics, he, a Southern Jewish homosexual sculptor, was outstanding, an enigma to those who knew him, a man at once stubbornly original and deeply emblematic of his times. According to Stanley Chyet in his introduction to Ezekiel's memoirs, "The contemporary European struggle between liberalism and reaction, between modernity and feudalism, between the democratic and the hierarchical is rather amply refracted in Ezekiel's account of his life in Rome." Indeed so many of the contentious cultural, political, artistic, and scientific struggles of the age converged in the figure of this adroit and prepossessing Jew.

Space is a formative factor in the production of sculpture. Phenomenological thought interprets sculptural work in relation to the immersive experience of the viewer, situating it within its environment. But what possibilities lie beyond this unitary position? What is the political potential of a sculptural object? How can its spatial relations and movements be reconfigured beyond its immediate environment? Spatial Politics of the Sculptural investigates the concept of space and its role in the production of the sculptural form from a multidimensional perspective. Engaging with the work of Krauss, Fried, Merleau-Pony, Deleuze and Guattari, and using case studies of urban development in Paris, New York and Seoul it reinterprets and dislocates the sculptural form in terms of the political dynamism of space proposing a new methodology for reading, producing and expanding sculptural practice. Drawing on David Harvey's theory of capital, it scrutinizes the idea of the spatial in the process of urbanization. It examines the interrelationship between capital flow and accumulation, and explores the production and destruction of space in relation to the creation of three-dimensional works of art. In doing so, it expands the idea of the sculptural object in relation to the urban environment.

Out of a long and rich tradition of pottery making among the Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest there has grown a new and exciting form. In 1964, Helen Cordero of Cochiti created a clay image of her grandfather, Santiago Quintana, with five children clinging to him. With this piece the storyteller was born. Almost at once storytellers caught the attention of the public. Beginning at Cochiti and continuing in the other pueblos, the storyteller became a favorite form of pottery. Now the form is even beginning to be used by others outside of the pueblos. The storytellers have come to include not only male figures, but females, turtles, frogs, and coyotes. In this new book, the reader will find the most extensive collection of storytellers ever gathered in print. Over 400 pieces by nearly 150 artists are shown in full color, and organized by pueblo. In addition to storytellers, nativities and other figurative pottery are represented.

The extraordinary sculptures of Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon The first half of Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon's (1934-2005) career was devoted to posters, illustrations, and television animations that brought him international acclaim for their diversity and virtuosity; his illustrations appeared in magazines including The New Yorker, Fortune, and Esquire. In the 1990s, he pivoted to sculpture, focusing on statuary and working with both direct carving and modeling, which he then translated to bronze or stone. This is the first publication to explore the entirety of Folon's sculptural work. Drawing inspiration from the Cyclades, the Etruscans, from African masks and Indian totems, Folon's sculptures are characterized by their frontality and corporality. Distributed for Mercatorfonds Exhibition Schedule: Villers-la-Ville, Brussels (October 24, 2020-February 21, 2021)

Teddy bears have wonderful effects on people. Even the most hard-nosed pragmatist is moved to cuddle these bundles of fluff. With her great eye for character and her elegant simplicity of carving, Kelley Stadelman captures the spirit of the teddy bear in this step-by-step guide to carving. With color photographs illustrating each phase, from laying out the blank to painting and antiquing the finished product, the carver will enjoy transforming a block of wood into a lovable bear. One project, the "Teddy Bear Boy," is carved completely for the book. In addition there are patterns for other bears, with a gallery to show the finished creations. This is a great book for carvers of all ages.

Ron Ransom's latest carving guide will walk you through the creation of wonderful and whimsical holiday characters to entertain all year long. Full color photographs, easy-to-understand instructions, and detailed patterns make this book simple enough for beginners, yet challenging for experienced carvers looking for new ideas. A color gallery of all the finished pieces provides readers with close up detail of the finished products. The projects shown in this book, designed using simple hand tools, include a "flying" witch and a headless figure with pumpkin for Halloween, a leprechaun to bring out the Irish in all of us, and a wise old Father Time to celebrate New Year's Eve. Simple but precise patterns for all of these projects, as well as instructions on how to paint and antique them are provided. Ron also gives carvers tips on improvising on these projects to stimulate your creativity and keep you supplied with fresh ideas.

The Woodland Craft Handbook is an inspirational yet practical guide to traditional crafts, woodland coppice products and forest permaculture. Step into the shoes of woodsman Ben Law as he explores this diverse collection of crafts made from materials sourced directly from the woods. Brooms, rakes, pegs, spoons, chairs, baskets, fencing and walking sticks - the items are one-off and unique -- hewn and shaped by hand, infused with a simple, rustic beauty. With fascinating information on the history and traditions of the crafts, coppice management, tree species and the tools and devices used, we learn about all aspects of the low-impact woodland way of life. Much as the traditional techniques associated with the woods were passed down through families, this book aims to help secure their relevance and adapt them for future generations.

Debbie Barr carves on the wild side, guiding readers through all the steps necessary to create miniature animals from basswood, butternut, or walnut scraps left over from larger works. Debbie guides her readers through the carving process with clear instructions, sound advice, and over 200 color illustrations. Once the animal carving is finished, instructions are given for painting the figure as well. A photographic gallery rounds out the presentation, displaying additional woodland animals sure to inspire every carver. This book will prove challenging for beginners and a joy to the more advanced carvers.

The production of bronze vessels in ancient China spans a period of eighteen centuries - from the Shang dynasty, c.17th century BC, to the Han dynasty, 3rd century AD. Cast in large numbers, they were used for ritual ceremonies and in burial. Illustrated throughout from bronzes in the Ashmolean's collection, this book does not attempt a comprehensive history of bronze casting in China, but is intended to serve as an introduction to what is a complex but fascinating subject.

For the cigar aficionado, a proper humidor is absolutely essential for the safe storage of favorite cigars. Dick Sing offers his design for an eye-catching cylindrical humidor to the discriminating craftsman and connoisseur. In this book, he provides detailed instructions on the design, turning, and finishing of this distinctive humidor. Helpful hints and practical advice useful to woodturners of all levels are provided. The instructions are accompanied by over 180 color photographs, illustrating each step. Details are presented not only on the construction of the humidor, but also on the proper lining materials and equipment necessary to maintain the optimal humidity level within the confines of the humidor. A photo gallery at the end of the book provides additional inspiration.

Each year many well-used and well-loved Christmas trees are discarded at the end of the holiday season and are too quickly forgotten. By carving next year's Christmas ornaments from the trunk and limbs of this tree, you can save some very special memories for you and your family! Using parts of the trunk, you can carve elves, Santas, angels and more. Incorporating the branches sticking out from the trunk, you can carve angels blowing heavenly trumpets, elves with long noses, and good-natured Santas with drooping hats. In this book, Al and Trinka Chapman will show you how to cut your tree into usable parts, sketch out various figures that fit well into your wooden segments, cut, carve, and sand your figure, and finish it with paint and hanging hooks. They have provided step-by-step instructions for two projects - a Santa, which was carved entirely with hand tools, and a herald angel blowing a trumpet, which was carved using power tools.