Making and Being

Reviewed by Joshua Hart, Associate Professor, Studio Foundation, Massachusetts College of Art and Design on 12/15/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This text offers a holistic approach to a studio arts practice. What might be taken for granted in the development of any project (materials, time, space, support, non-physical resources) are taken here as aspects of the work of developing the capacities to make at all. Comprehensiveness is part of the subject area specialty of the authors. Additionally, citations run throughout where they build upon the ideas and work of others, so further research is encouraged and supported.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The modes of thought introduced and elaborated in Making and Being are consistently backed up by research. When concrete examples are given, as in the introductory chapters which are given over to guest essayists, the work reads as anecdotal, but illuminated.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This text is certainly of its moment. I would look forward to a revisit by the authors, or their collaborative, some years on. When sincere reflection is taken as a subject, as it is here, one anticipates continuing.
I am a Studio Foundation teacher, guiding first-year college students into their own studio practices. This book, taken as a whole, expands my pedagogical footing.
It would also serve well as a text in an Art Education program, and provides ample examples of activities and approaches to take with a class of makers.

Clarity rating: 5

This text takes great care in not assuming that jargon is widely accessible or understood, and takes pains to define terms and ideas even after several appearances in the text. This care lends a clarity even to fragments or excerpts. Very little is assumed, and much is given.

Consistency rating: 5

Like block upon block.

Modularity rating: 4

This text offers a holistic approach to a making practice. Sectioning out parts for group work would benefit greatly from being familiar with the entire text. It is designed in modules or segments, but they interdepend.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

I especially benefit from the diagramming and re-listing of major concepts and subject headings.

Interface rating: 4

Please bear in mind that I am reviewing, specifically, after having read the pdf version. It took my actively imagined page rotation to build consistency sometimes, especially when the printing switches between vertical and horizontal formats. I imagine that in print certain issues with facing pages would be easier navigated than I experienced on a screen.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Clear and concise.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Justice, and studio-centered human-scale care, is evident page after page.

Reviewed by Yong Huang, Assistant Professor, Bowling Green State University on 5/5/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The book is clearly structured and articulated and easy to follow.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

It is relatively unbiased, informative, and instrumental.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

It is up-to-date, relevant to contemporary practice and education, also projects suggestions for the future.

Clarity rating: 5

The structure and sequence is very clear. The terminolgy used is well explained.

Consistency rating: 5

The book is consistent in terms of terminology and framework, easy to follow.

Modularity rating: 5

The text can be read in sections and modules to fit in a related course well.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The topics in the text are logical, clearly articulated and developed.

Interface rating: 5

This is a well documented and clearly organized book.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

I did not check the grammatical errors so closely but it read well.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Many materials introduced in this book are culturally diverse.

Comments

Overall a meaningful and insightful subject! Can be very helpful for contemporary studio art teaching.