The Singing Crane Garden in northwest Beijing has a history dense with classical artistic vision; educational experimentation; political struggle; and tragic suffering. Built by the Manchu prince Mianyu in the mid-nineteenth century; the garden was intended to serve as a refuge from the clutter of daily life near the Forbidden City. In 1860; during the Anglo-French war in China; the garden was destroyed. One hundred years later; in the 1960s; the garden served as the "ox pens;" where dissident university professors were imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution. Peaceful Western involvement began in 1986; when ground was broken for the Arthur Sackler Museum of Art and Archaeology. Completed in 1993; the museum and the Jillian Sackler Sculpture Garden stand on the same grounds today.In Place and Memory in the Singing Crane Garden; Vera Schwarcz gives voice to this richly layered corner of Chinas cultural landscape. Drawing upon a range of sources from poetry to painting; Schwarcz retells the gardens complex history in her own poetic and personal voice. In her exploration of cultural survival; trauma; memory; and place; she reveals how the garden becomes a vehicle for reflection about history and language.Encyclopedic in conception and artistic in execution; Place and Memory in the Singing Crane Garden is a powerful work that shows how memory and ruins can revive the spirit of individuals and cultures alike.
#2415774 in eBooks 2014-10-20 2014-10-20File Name: B00PCTMLJW
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great lessons on creating freehand landscapesBy ProjectmattThis book provides great insight on creating landscape perspective. Offers breakdowns of several perspective types with various vanishing points and horizon line relations. I recommend this to any artist looking to learn how to create freehand landscapes.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I liked this book very much.By J. OHaraVery well written for whatever reason you need to draw. Step by step instructions that slowly take you through the skills you will need.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A great book to own!By solo gatoI have to admit; going into Vanishing Point; I had no clue perspective drawing could be so complex and fun! Reading it and following through some of the explanations has been great so far. The material is explained simple enough to follow for beginners and pros alike. My only gripe is the poor drawings within the text. The drawings are borderline bad and the inking appears to be done with a felt tip pen! This is barely worth mentioning but some may be surprised at the lack of eye candy within. The cover is by far the best drawing in the entire book. Again; this does not take away from this great book and shouldnt deter anyone from buying it if they really want to learn the ins and outs of perspective drawing. It is a PERSPECTIVE book after all and not a pin up book. I cant imagine that there could be more to perspective drawing than what is covered in this book. Im very happy to own it!
