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CHOICE Review

Handsomely showing off the handmade work of 279 US artists, this book is based on an exhibit at the American Craft Museum, which gave an overview of craft in the 1980s. The artists, many of whom are internationally known, work in a variety of materials: clay, wood, woven forms, paper, metal, glass, plastic, and fiber. In his essay, Smith (the curator of the American Craft Museum) defines the term ``craft'' in the context of a society that relies on technological achievement. He refers to the diversity of the artists, their philosophy, and what influenced them. Lucie-Smith's essay deals with historical roots and contemporary perspectives. The majority of the book consists of outstanding photographs of the artists' work. Most of the images are in full color and they are large (some are double-page size)-thus, a viewer can study designs and techniques. A checklist of the exhibition lists the material used and the size of each artist's work. There is a wonderful ``Chronology of American Craft''-a list of major craft exhibitions, 18511986-plus biographies of the artists and a bibliography. Recommended for craftspeople working in the contemporary style, craft students and educators at all levels, and for graphic and industrial designers.-V.M. Juergensen, Mohawk Valley Community College