Red Grooms

Red Grooms BY ARTHUR C. DANTO, TIMOTHY HYMAN, AND MARCO LIVINGSTONE (RIZZOLI, $65)

Long known for his joyful, cartoon-like depictions, mostly of his adopted New York City, this Tennessee native nonetheless holds fast to his roots. Telling tales is a common denominator of Red Grooms's art. "Who but he would have used the...term 'ruckus' for the work that might be regarded as his masterpiece, Ruckus Manhattan..." asks Arthur C. Danto. Who, indeed, but a born-and-bred Southerner familiar with ruckuses of the first order.

There are no moonlight and magnolia depictions in this 240-page tribute. Rather, the 200 full-color and 25 black-and-white renderings showcase Red's urban domain, with only a few Southern references. Still, it only takes a New York minute to discern the optimistic humor of a Southern boy. NANCY DORMAN-HICKSON

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Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jul 2004
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