Phenomenal: California Light, Space, Surface

This book is an essential document for understanding the work of artists who in Southern California initiated the artworks called "Light and Space". Although such artists as James Turrell and Robert Irwin used nearly-invisible and non-intrusive means to achieve their work, the results are literally PHENOMENAL. This means that we experience what we are experiencing more than we are reacting to an artwork. There are nuances of perception that are invoked, rather than the interpretation of an iconic object. This represents an innovation that is of great consequence, and parallels what was accomplished by the late impressionists such as Seurat and Monet. The format of these art experiences is a controlled environment that is activated by light; these are difficult to reproduce in photographs, so a book such as this one is a compromise - more so than the reproduction of other artworks (Rothko, Turner, etc.). However, the convenience of a book and its ably written text describes the works well and constitutes a contribution to our understanding. Eugene Kupper, Professor Emeritus UCLA

The best book on the subject since Peter Plagens' "Sunshine Muse " in the 60's when the movement was nascent and the group more cohesive. The members have gone their own ways but their explorations followed many of the original tenets.

It's not phenomenal as a book but fine! Binding and print is good, the typeset is rather small and the book's size ok.

Which is saying a lot.These works are extremely hard to photograph, but the insightful essays and the well crafted photos were strongly evocative of the experience of being in the same room as the art.

This book is fine. It has very professional photos with good quality images. And a lot of information. I recommend it.

not as many photos as we expected, overall still a good and interesting book.

I am surprised that nowhere is it mentioned that this is a catalog from an art exhibit: PHENOMENAL: CALIFORNIA LIGHT, SPACE, SURFACE at the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, which was Part of PACIFIC STANDARD TIME: ART IN L.A. 1945—1980: a collaboration of over 60 museums all around Southern California from October 2011 to March 2012 focusing on Los Angeles's impact on the art world, organized by the Getty Foundation. While not a real coffee table book, this is a wonderful study of the Light and Space movement. The exhibition PHENOMENAL at the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art was absolutely amazing.

There aren't that many books on the Light & Space art movement. I think that's because it's primarily a California thing and the art world is very NY and Europe focused. You might be familiar with works by Helen Pashgian, James Turrell, and Bruce Nauman but there were dozens of other artists also exploring geometric abstraction and the use of light and shadow. This book is a good history of the movement, I've enjoyed reading the essays. This book isn't full of "artspeak", it's written in plain English for somebody interested in modern art but no art degree required.

Un aperçu extraordinaire des artistes du mouvement light and space de Los Angeles. Un régal sans fin.

Je recommanderai ce livre à tous les lecteurs intéressés par le "Light & Space" mouvement. Les essais y sont de haut niveau et les illustrations superbes.