Nato Thompson

Solid collection on the topic of socially engaged art (participatory art, relational aesthetics, social practice, etc.). The introductory essays alone are worth picking it up. They're thoughtful as well as surprisingly balanced and critical towards this approach to art-making. The remainder of the book provides a broad survey of significant works/events/projects/artists that can be loosely fit under this artistic umbrella. At times the survey portions felt a little superficial, yet it does show more give a rich glimpse of the range of this kind of work. Not a perfect book, but definitely worth reading if at all interested in the intersection of art and social action. Also- sexy design. I'm a sucker for a nice-looking/feeling book. show less

Please don't act out in the comments section of our web site about public art and/or placemaking controversies until you've taken in this book. From Creative Time. Quite a resource.

In 2007, artist Mike Nelson transformed the disused interior of the Essex Street Market on New York's Lower East Side, taking audiences on a journey through his installation “A Psychic Vacuum,” a series of reconstructed rooms and passageways filled with enigmatic props, clues and assemblies. Over the next two years, the artist meticulously recreated that journey in this superbly designed and fully illustrated artist's book.