Culture Is Everywhere

Marilyn Monroe statuettes, Venus salt-and-pepper shakers, plastic Jesuses, and brides and grooms rescued from the tops of wedding cakes: useless kitsch or important cultural artifacts? The answer depends on your tastes and tendencies. But readers of both camps will find much to ponder in this celebration of the highlights (and low-lights) from the Museum of Corn-temporary Art. A collaboration between Victor Margolin, one of the most important design historians working today, and Patty Carroll, a photographer of pop culture, this book helps illuminate and challenge the distinctions between high and low art that have troubled museums throughout history. Drawn from Margolin's own substantial collection acquired from souvenir shops, flea markets, and antique stores from around the world, these nearly two hundred common and rare objects are grouped into sections that correspond to his private "museum": souvenirs, decorative art, folk art, commercial art, useful art, icons, and fashion. Each section is introduced by an informative text, and the objects are compellingly displayed with extensive captions. Provocative, ingeniously designed, and fun to peruse, this unusual "exhibition catalog" is a refreshing addition to any art lover's library, as well as to the continuing debate over what constitutes art.