nytimes best art and architecture books of 2009

the new york times critics have released their annual "best of" list for art and architecture books published in 2009 (just in time for the holidays...). as the times critics themselves put it, art and architecture books are always a good investment because "they may cost a bundle, but they are built to last, often gorgeous and almost always edifying, designed to be revisited, for pleasure and instruction, over the years." at minimum i must have the following two:

'younger than jesus: artist directory' a kind of Yellow Pages for the under-33 art world published on the occasion of the New Museum’s first Triennial. With some 500 artists, it’s staggeringly comprehensive; yet, published on newsprint with bare-bones entries, it’s self-consciously ephemeral. 

'legacy: the preservation of th wilderness in new york city parks: a collection of photos by Joel Meyerowitz, debunks the notion that New York is a city of concrete and asphalt anchored by the singular splendor of Central Park. Instead, we are confronted with a sprawling metropolis that is constantly being encroached upon by nature, from forgotten wetlands in Queens to wild turkeys strolling through Battery Park City and an abandoned power station choked with weeds on North Border Island in the East River. It’s the foundation for the “green city” Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg regularly preaches about, and it’s already here.

here's the rest of the list and some other highlight photos for jump-on encouragement

Posted by Madame Lamb on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 6:26 AM