Reviews

These two books examine America's ongoing love affair with art deco. Architectural photographer Berenholtz's volume is a jewel box of photographs. The details of buildings and close-ups of sculpture and mosaics make it a lovely gift book and a good companion to more documentary volumes on the subject. In several panoramic photographs spread across gatefold pages, Berenholtz captures the telling details of landmarks such as Rockefeller Center and the Chrysler Building as well as the larger art deco landscape of the city. In Art Deco San Francisco, journalist Poletti presents the story of architect Timothy Pflueger, detailing the historical background of select work from the designer of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph building in San Francisco and the Paramount Theater in Oakland. Pflueger's creations are well illustrated by photographer Paiva. Although Poletti does not approach the subject with the eye of an architectural historian, the book is nevertheless a useful biography of an art deco architect. Both of these titles are recommended for public libraries and architecture libraries with strong California or New York collections.-Amy Trendler, Ball State Univ. Libs., Muncie, IN Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

..".Photographer Richard Berenholtz provides photographs of Manhattan's most stylish and dazzling period: the 1920s and 1930s. Carol Willis, architectural historian, writes in the introduction that the Art Deco style was characterized by geometric ornamentation and 'machine-tooled elegance and sleek lines.' ...Berenholtz captures the skyline in the glimmering orange of sunrise and kaleidoscopic lights of sunset. Many photographs are complemented by quotations from people such as capitalist Ayn Rand: 'The skyline of New York is a monument of splendor that no pyramids or palaces will ever equal or approach.'"
"Foreword" Magazine
"Now available in a compact and indubitably affordable edition, " New York Deco" is a collection of Richard Berenholtz's full-color photography showcasing some of New York's most outstanding art deco architecture. Brief text captions and the occaisonal quote enhance this stunning collection that is surely the next best thing to touring New York's grandi