Forms of Tradition in Contemporary Spain

Forms of Tradition in Contemporary Spain is a groundbreaking study of contemporary Spanish folk art and traditional artists. It charts the varied routes artists have found to evade these pitfalls while pursuing their art. Through case studies of four considerably different kinds of artists-a traditional potter, a couple who create huge papier-mache figures for festival processions and dancing, a group of masked, costumed "devils" who enliven traditional street theatre with modern pyrotechnics, and an idiosyncratic builder of one of the most spectacular art environments known worldwide-this book broadens the existing understanding of traditional arts by creating a more realistic and expansive interpretation of tradition and the influences upon each creative act. Featuring 142 color photographs and 9 black-and-white illustrations, this work is a major contribution to the field of art history as well as a celebration of the artists it profiles. The artists were chosen because each is emblematic of a particular tradition and each represents a distinct relationship with a given community. In addition to analyzing and describing the art and artists featured in the book, Jo Farb Hernandez uses these case studies to achieve a broader range of understanding. Breaking down old divisions in art history, she presents information which has not received much attention in the U.S. and provides access to work that was previously available only in Spanish or Catalan.