We normally talk about books in our Bookmarks blog series – but we’ve not seen this title yet as it is yet unpublished!
Artists’ Textiles 1940-1976 by Geoff Rayner, Richard Chamberlain and Annamarie Stapleton is due out later this month – so keep your eyes peeled for a review!
I’ve seen a few different reviews printed recently of Dennis Morris’ Growing Up Black – A Chronicle of Black Britain in the 60s and 70s. The accompanying images really capture an era in London in which my parents & I must have been a part before we emigrated to Trinidad in 1973. His images portray the everyday in the lives of the African Caribbean community in London – the political, the religious, the social and the domestic.
I was also unaware until now that Morris was the creator of many of the iconic images we know and love of Bob Marley, the Sex Pistols and Public Image Limited.
His images remind me of those of the talented Daniel Meadows, whose early work we recently went to at the National Media Museum in Bradford – portraits of urban communities, families, friends and individuals.
The book’s been published this month as a limited edition of just 500 copies – the introductory price is £250, which includes a silver gelatin 10 x 12” print signed by Morris. Thereafter the price rises to £300 + P&P.
Alexander Girard book by Todd Oldham & Kiera Coffee available from Amazon UK: £93.75 & Amazon US: $126.00
I know the festive season’s only just gone, but I’m putting this Alexander Girard book on my Christmas wish list for next year!
We love the folk art inspired illustrations of Alexander Girard and have just discovered that The Alexander Girard Color [Board Book] is available to pre-order from Amazon.
In terms of style & design, the 1970s is sometimes dismissed as being a bit naff or as the decade that taste forgot.
This is very wide of the mark – its influence being both wide ranging and long lasting.
This book, 70s Style & Design, by Dominic Lutyens & Kirsty Hislop clearly demonstrates this.
The decade was remarkable for its diversity – its range of cultures & counter cultures. It began with hippies & flower power and ended with punks & new wave!
There was a “loosened up spirit of fashion & design” during this period – a strong sense of doing your own thing, experimentation, freedom and fun.
There were trends & fashions of course, but it never descended into a bland homogenisation.
It was a very eclectic decade in terms of style & design – psychedelia & flower power spilled over from the 1960s, then there was the strong influence of Art Deco and Art Nouveau, nostalgic Victoriana, the folksy/back to nature style – and later on a harder edged industrial look.
It has been referred to as a decade of ‘the self’ – whether that be individuals looking towards & analyzing their inner self – or an outward expression through personal appearance or living & work spaces. This resulted in a real blossoming of creativity.
The book highlights the influence of various music scenes, movements such as gay rights & women’s lib, the importance of an increasing awareness of the environment, the political & economic factors prevalent at the time, the increasing & diverse student population, the new DIY ethos in both fashion & interiors, a craft renaissance – and the impact of shops such as Habitat, Mr Freedom, Biba and Granny Takes a Trip.
Divided into four chapters, From Pop to Postmodernism, Belle Epoque, Supernature and Avant Garde, the book tackles these subjects in great detail and does a remarkable job in drawing all these strands together.
The text is informative, articulate & well researched – the accompanying photographs capturing all the spirit of this fabulous decade.
The 70s isn’t a particularly well documented era in terms of style & design – this book helps redress the balance.
As well as having their own dedicated website, the authors write the Flashin’ on the 70s blog which features even more 70s (and 70s inspired) gorgeousness!
As usual, the book is available both direct from the publisher and through our H is for Home UK & US Amazon aStores
[Many thanks to Thames & Hudson for this review copy]
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