Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The American truck is rich in visual, cultural and economic associations. Over the last decade, the image of the truck has featured prominently in the work of artist John Himmelfarb (born 1946). "Trucks: Recent Works" documents the artist's visual exploration of the vehicle's intrinsic cultural significance. Utilizing a lighthearted and varied approach, Himmelfarb takes the isolated image of the truck in many directions, working in media encompassing sculpture, paintings, lithography, etching, silkscreen prints and drawings. In Himmelfarb's own words, "These works are not about trucks but about us, our histories, skills, coping mechanisms, ambitions and character." Occupying a visual idiom between the timeworn and the timeless, the works collected in this volume infuse the American truck with life and character, transforming it into a provocative artistic motif.
Synopsis
First documentation of this universally American vehicle by award-winning artist John Himmelfarb Of interest to both automobile collectors and American art collectors John Himmelfarb's work hangs in prominent American and international collections including The Museum of Modern Art, New York, The Art Institute of Chicago, and The British Museum of Art, London This book explores the iconic American vehicle - the truck - through the sculpture, paintings, prints, and drawings of Chicago-based artist John Himmelfarb. Trucks: Recent Works by John Himmelfarb is a decade-long visual exploration of different types of trucks and their place in everyday life. Himmelfarb adeptly shifts between mediums, style, and message in his works. The common truck under the hands of Himmelfarb becomes provocative, with each piece exuding its own personality. Himmelfarb's work traverses seamlessly through painting in acrylic, lithography, etching, silkscreen, and drawing in ink or pencil. His brushwork and drawing style are animated and playful, prompting the viewer to look at the everyday truck, and other hardworking vehicles, with a different perspective. In 2007, as a result of a three-month residency with the John Michael Kohler Arts Center Arts/Industry program, the artist established his first foray into sculpture and industrial design, and this presentation is the first documentation of Himmelfarb's new work in three dimensions. As author Janet L. Farber eloquently says in her introductory essay, "Like sleuths, those following its path an artist's career] look for clues of continuity, relishing works that tell us a little about their past while anticipating future directions. Fortunately, John Himmelfarb has hopped on a truck for the most recent part of his personal odyssey and left tire tracks behind."
Synopsis
The iconic American pick up truck depicted through the sculpture, painting, and printwork of American artist John Himmelfarb.