SmithsonianRessenyes

Essays on American art

Endurance Record unbroken - Smithsonian mag Oct. 1997 p. 95
June 4, 1935 to July 1 - 653 hours and 34 minutes
1929 Curtiss Robin J-1 Deluxe (first attempt: w/ 165 hp Wright Whirlwind)
“Algene & Frederick Key “Ole Miss”
The Flying Key Brothers and Their Flight To Remember by Stephen Owen

I wish I had this book growing up. Full color images, lots of interesting information in bite size portions. It covers information beyond basic plants and animals such as detailed invertebrates, mycelium, and entomology.

Reference

this document is the script to accompany a video produced by the Smithsonian Institution

Mayores de 12 años

A collection of absolutely stunning nature photographs.

This is one of those books that they call a coffee table book. I used to think that meant it would be lying out on your coffee table to browse through, especially when visitors came by. In this case, it's because it weighs as much as a coffee table, so keep that in mind when you're thinking of reading it in bed at night. For what it's worth, there's a much lighter eBook version that works remarkably well, given that all the great pictures are much smaller. Having said all that, is this book worth the effort? This book is essentially the collected pieces on the American Civil War from the many different branches of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. It's as if the Smithsonian decided to create a brand new museum and populate it with the abundance of Civil War related artifacts from its other museums. If you're someone that merely goes to museums once in a while to see something new and interesting, this will serve well by just looking at the pictures in the book. But this book goes beyond that with text narratives that give context without letting succinctness become superficiality. Is this a good "History of the Civil War"? No, not really. You need Shelby Foote, James McPherson, or at least a few civil war battle books under your belt for that. What this book does do is give great texture and depth to those comprehensive history volumes, filling in big details with many interesting little ones. The thought of viewing something in 3D came to mind. The Civil War just comes more to life with this book. If you have an avid Civil War buff amongst your friends or relatives, this is the book for them.

Read. To fragmented. Doesn't really provide much insight

Smithsonian Civil War: Inside the National Collection by The Smithsonian Institute
368 pages

★★★★

This is a table-top book of the United States Civil War presented by the Smithsonian Institute in honor of the 150 year anniversary of the war (abouts – next year will be the 150 year anniversary of the end of the war). Within the book are photos of artifacts along with the story and description of said artifacts.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a big book so I could only read it at certain times as I had no urge to lug this one around town for appointments and such. The photos are great, some of the artifacts are well known and often seen at the museum (Lincoln’s top hat for instance) while others were obscure and usually in storage. It took a lot of people and a lot of time to make this book. The writing, while short, is interesting and I feel I learned a little something about the war, surprising given my college degree (History with a focus on US history). If you’re a history geek like me, I think you will enjoy it. Be warned, it comes with a fairly hefty price tag given its size and high quality photos and paper – I suggest checking it out from your library if possible.

Over five hundred objects from thirteen Smithsonian museums and archives are expertly written about by forty-nine contributing authors to describe the American Civil War from beginning to end. Photos of the objects, beautifully and logically exhibited throughout the 368-page book, provide a focus for 150 narratives by the authors. Narratives are limited to one page or less and serve as enhancements for the photos to really tell the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed being able to spend time with each narrative and carefully study the associated objects. So, for me at least, this book is not a “page turner.” I wanted to take my time to study and learn. The book is perfect for such an experience. More than once I used the index to look up a person, place, or thing to go back and review a topic or the depicted object.

Readers should be aware that this is a large book. Its dimensions are 9.8 x 1.2 x 11.3 inches, and it weighs over four pounds. I needed to be able to rest the book in a way that would not harm the pages, especially as I turned them, yet enabled me to comfortably read over an extended period.

This is a five star book in every way.

Interesting book on needlework in the Smithsonian. Printed in 1979 the book has few color pictures but more than was usual for book printed into the 1970's.

Filled with artwork, illustration and color photographs of Sun and light. In spite of the title, of course, there is no "fire" in the Sun-- it is thermonuclear. An inspiration and reference for greenhousing, farming, history of science, cosmos, biodynamics, light of Art, and Sunpower.

Understand: "The benefits of sunlight are being eclipsed by mankind's denudation of the tropical forests--a vast reservoir and a planetary trust. It must become the business of governments, environmentalists, and commercial interests of the world over to bring such practices to an early halt". [141]

We have about 4 billion years before its Red Dwarf expansion. Not a moment to lose.

Contributors include: S. Dillon Ripley, Evan Hadingham, Owen Gingerich, Tom D. Crouch, William C. Livingston, George Field, Kenneth L. Franklin and David Morrison.

Nice photos and captions, makes me want to go spend a few days doing Smithsonian things!

This was a preview from the SPL . . . definitely on Z's wish list for home purchase.

B1054 a-b

This book is informational because it is poems about different paintings in the Smithsonian Institute. The art in this book is famous paintings. The content includes poems about historical paintings that are in The Smithsonian. There are about paintings, sculptures, drawings and photographs. The reading level is fourth or fifth grade. The curricular connection is art history.

really wonderfully detail rich pictures of the garments from the Style & Status exhibition

This is very useful for anyone going to Washington D.C. who wants to hit some of the Smithsonian. It outlines each museum and their most important pieces in the collections.

Lending

mostly unknown work. but also very good work. some pages blank.½

2015 (July / August)

58 min

8218