Utopia Parkway: The Life and Work of Joseph Cornell
Category: Books,Literature & Fiction,History & Criticism
Utopia Parkway: The Life and Work of Joseph Cornell Details
Review “Deborah Solomon’s admirable biography illuminates the life of the man without diminishing the mystery of his art.” —New York Magazine“A principal virtue of this biography . . . is that it challenges in a very authoritative way the received idea of Cornell as merely the timorous recluse, the marginal artist of Utopia Parkway.” —James R. Mellow, New York Times Book Review"As perfectly composed, richly nuanced and quietly surprising as one of Cornell's boxes." —Donna Seaman, Chicago Tribune"Deborah Solomon's clear-eyed and sympathetic narrative does for [Cornell's] life what he, as an artist, did for his penny world...It is a book about Cornell I would not dare to have hoped for in our mean and deconstructionist age." —Arthur C. Danto, Art Critic, The Nation“Fascinating reading . . . Skillfully weaving together fact, anecdote, and conjecture, Solomon brings Cornell’s place in the art world and his legacy to artists of the younger generation into sharp focus.” —Allison Kemmerer, Boston Book Review Read more About the Author Deborah Solomon is a nationally acclaimed art critic, journalist, and biographer. She writes primarily for the New York Times, and her weekly column, “Questions For,” ran in the New York Times Magazine from 2003 to 2011. Her art reviews appear regularly on WNYC Radio. Solomon was educated at Cornell University and received a master’s degree from the Columbia University School of Journalism. She lives in New York City with her family. Read more See all Editorial Reviews
Reviews
After seeing Mr. Cornell's boxes for years in many different museums I was extremely satisfied and gratified to read Ms. Solomon's biography of this genius. Bravo Ms. Solomon, I came away from this table totally fulfilled. I saw a Cornell exhibit at the Hirshhorn a few years ago. Mr. Cornell's boxes were exhibited about three feet off of the ground. I didn't know why until i read Ms. Solomon's great book. Thank-you.
