Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 9-12. He was the quintessential crazy artist: a radical, contentious Spanish painter who put his dreams on canvas; an unashamed self-promoter who also wrote books, worked with Hollywood directors, and rubbed elbows with the likes of the Beatles. Ross treats readers to an episodic, roughly chronological glimpse of the eccentric artist and his work, especially his association with surrealism. This isn't a close-up view. Ross keeps a somewhat disappointing distance from his intriguing subject, and the biographical facts are constantly interrupted by boxed insets (often quite interesting) with information about Dali's fellow artists and their turbulent relationships and the times during which they painted. There are also projects to help reinforce the ideas adopted by the surrealists. The reproductions are good but too few for a book such as this, and although Ross' text descriptions of the art are very clear and visual, they really can't replace a look at the real thing. Still, readers are sure to come away with a sense of both the man and the art that will make them want to investigate further. --Ray Olson Copyright 2003 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Salvador Dali and the Surrealists: Their Lives and Ideas by Michael Elsohn Ross explores the life and artistic development of Salvador Dali and the people and events that influenced the surrealists. Various activities encourage kids to experiment with surrealist art by making inkblots, solar prints similar to Man Ray's, and "exquisite corpse" drawings, in which a group of artists each add something to a single drawing. Includes reproductions of famous paintings by Dali , Magritte, Oppenheim and others, historical photos, glossary and a list of museums and Web sites featuring surrealist works. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-This visually stunning work enhances the body of material on the artist and his contemporaries. Eminently readable, the crisply written text is detailed and thorough, including pronunciations of many place and personal names. Dal!'s life is presented familiarly, drawing in many details of life as an artist during that period in Europe and the relationships among the surrealists. No actual dialogue is included, but conclusions are drawn about Dali's thoughts from historical evidence. Sidebars cover other artists (Miro Eluard, Picasso), styles (Cubism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art), and elements of history (the Spanish Civil War, Fascism and Franco, Communism). The attractive layout includes numerous excellent-quality reproductions of the work of Dali and many of the other artists mentioned in the text, and period photographs. Of particular interest here are the 21 activities that will engage budding artists and encourage them to think and to look at familiar objects in a different way. Requiring no unusual supplies, they might be used by classroom teachers as well. There are rich potentials for jumps from here to history and the "'20s in Europe" art era. A valuable addition to any collection.-Cris Riedel, Ellis B. Hyde Elementary School, Dansville, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
(Middle School, High School) This respectful and thorough coffee-table-book-cum-biography of the legendary artist examines Dali's impressionist beginnings and flirtation with cubism before his conversion to surrealism; also discussed are his forays into the worlds of film, fashion, home furnishings, and literature. Ross rakes no muck, but he does describe the man behind the famous moustache: his family rifts, curious marriage, pro-Franco politics, cringe-inducing opportunism and publicity stunts, and falling-out with the artists (Andre Breton, Pablo Picasso) who had once been his champions and friends. Scattered throughout the book are beautifully reproduced color images of Dali's work and that of his contemporaries; it's disappointing that there aren't more photos of Dal+ through the years or more images that correspond with Ross's admirably succinct and lucid interpretations of the great surrea list's often flummoxing work. Interspersed throughout are quotes, some hilariously self-aggrandizing, by Dali; sidebars devoted to artists, cultural icons, historical events, and social movements of his time (Marcel Duchamp, Freud, the Spanish Civil War, communism); and suggested activities that employ Dali's techniques and sensibility, including ""Free Association Fun,"" ""Splotch Art,"" ""Host a Dream Ball,"" ""Daliesque Fashion Collage,"" and, best of all, ""Hair Art."" A glossary, list of resources, and index are appended. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
