This very handsome, intelligently written, and well-organized book, published in coordination with an important ``Mid Career'' exhibition of the artist's sculpture at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, is the first major monograph on the work of this English ``Conceptual'' sculptor. Since the mid 1960s, Long has documented his experiences in nature, from the wild landscapes of Dartmoor to those of Tibet, with photographs and drawings. His sculptures-rocks, stones, or wood, arranged in circular or rectangular shapes and resting on gallery floors-contain and evoke the poetry of his experiences in the countryside. Fuchs has written seven short essays on themes or aspects of Long's works; and these essays are flanked by handsome groupings of photographs of related works. The staccato rhythm of the book creates its own poetry, and takes the reader on an intellectual and visual journey that is entirely sympathetic to the artist's work. Statements by the artist, a listing of his works, bibliography, and index of the works complete this specialized but highly successful book.-M.E. Shapiro, The Saint Louis Art Museum
Booklist Review
Richard Long has taken the English passion for walking and made it the basis of his artwork. He walks in Dartmoor, or in the Andes or Himalayas, in Death Valley, in the Australian outback, in Lapland, and in many other, basically wild places. He alters the landscape very subtly and impermanently, and he photographs the results. Such are his outdoor works. His gallery pieces are made of natural objects that he does not change sticks, stones, mud but arranges in the same forms he employs in altering nature. His ``indoor pieces'' are written lists of the things he saw or did on a walk. The forms of the natural alterations, the gallery pieces, even the written works, are the classic geometric modernist line, circle, and square. The photos are exquisite, the forms are poignantly precise, and the word pieces achieve a kind of hyper-imagistic poetry. Fuchs' carefully written and argued text discusses it all fascinatingly. List of exhibitions, index of works. RO. 709'.24 Long, Richard
| Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.
BookPublisher: London ; New York : Thames and Hudson ; Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, 1986Description: 237 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 27 cm. + hbk.ISBN: 0500234671.Subject(s): Long, Richard, 1945- -- Exhibitions | Earthworks (Art)