| New York's Golden Age of Bridges Contributor(s): Holzer, Harold (Foreword by) |
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ISBN: 0823240657 ISBN-13: 9780823240654 Publisher: Fordham University Press OUR PRICE: $41.40 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: November 2011 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Art | American - General - Art | History - Contemporary (1945- ) - Architecture | History - Modern (late 19th Century To 1945) |
| Dewey: 759.13 |
| LCCN: 2011015521 |
| Physical Information: 0.8" H x 12.1" W x 9.1" (2.05 lbs) 140 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Bridges to me are a connection, not just joining two landmasses, but an emotional state, one that acts as an invisible thread binding the past and future. --Antonio Masi In New York's Golden Age of Bridges, artist Antonio Masi teams up with writer and New York City historian Joan Marans Dim to offer a multidimensional exploration of New York City's nine major bridges, their artistic and cultural underpinnings, and their impact worldwide. The tale of New York City's bridges begins in 1883, when the Brooklyn Bridge rose majestically over the East River, signaling the start of America's "Golden Age" of bridge building. The Williamsburg followed in 1903, the Queensboro (renamed the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge) and the Manhattan in 1909, the George Washington in 1931, the Triborough (renamed the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge) in 1936, the Bronx-Whitestone in 1939, the Throgs Neck in 1961, and the Verrazano-Narrows in 1964. Each of these classic bridges has its own story, and the book's paintings show the majesty and artistry, while the essays fill in the fascinating details of its social, cultural, economic, political, and environmental history. America's great bridges, built almost entirely by immigrant engineers, architects, and laborers, have come to symbolize not only labor and ingenuity but also bravery and sacrifice. The building of each bridge took a human toll. The Brooklyn Bridge's designer and chief engineer, John A. Roebling, himself died in the service of bridge building. But beyond those stories is another narrative--one that encompasses the dreams and ambitions of a city, and eventually a nation. At this moment in Asia and Europe many modern large-scale, long-span suspension bridges are being built. They are the progeny of New York City's Golden Age bridges. This book comes along at the perfect moment to place these great public projects into their historical and artistic contexts, to inform and delight artists, engineers, historians, architects, and city planners. In addition to the historical and artistic perspectives, New York's Golden Age of Bridges explores the inestimable connections that bridges foster, and reveals the extraordinary impact of the nine Golden Age bridges on the city, the nation, and the world. |
Contributor Bio(s): Holzer, Harold: - Harold Holzer is Roger Hertog Fellow at the New-York Historical Society and one of the nation's leading authorities on Lincoln and the political culture of the Civil War era. He is chairman of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation and has written, co-written, or edited forty-seven books, most recently Lincoln and the Power of the Press.Masi, Antonio: - Antonio Masi is a world-class and award-winning artist often honored for his depictions of bridges; his magnificent paintings are exclusively featured in the book New York's Golden Age of Bridges. Masi is also president of the American Watercolor Society. His artistry has been featured in Artist's Magazine, PBS-Sunday Arts, NBCToday, Newsday, and many other venues. He also participated in the New York Times's video City Living: A Tale of Two Bridges. A sought-after artistic master and scholar, he travels the world as a teacher, demonstrator, and lecturer.Dim, Joan Marans: - Joan Marans Dim is a historian, novelist, and essayist. Her published work includes the novel Recollections of a Rotten Kid. She also co-wrote two histories--the saga of New York University, Miracle on Washington Square, and, most recently, New York's Golden Age of Bridges. Her essays and op-eds have appeared in the New York Times, the New York Daily News, Barron's, Investor's Business Daily, The Huffington Post, and many other publications. She also participated in the New York Times's video City Living: A Tale of Two Bridges. Critics, citing the scope and depth of her work, describe her prose as laced with impressive depth, a droll wit, and an elegant narrative. |