Houdini was quick to grasp the concept of entertainer as brand, where fame was an aim in itself. When others stole his act, he published a book of his handcuff secrets and quickly moved on to more extravagant escapes. He arranged many escapes with local merchants in the towns he visited on tour, one of the first examples of mass tie-in marketing, and set up challenges with newspapers.He created his own magazine; became the president of Martinka & Co., Americas oldest magic tricks company; served nine successive terms as president of the Society of American Magicians; created his own unique escapes including the Chinese Water Torture and the Milk Can Escape; launched his own film career in serials and features; and even became the first man to fly in an airplane in Australia! His widespread debunking of fraudulent spiritualist gave him yet another outlet to promote his own fame while pursuing a righteous crusade.Houdini pioneered almost every marketing concept of the 20th century, but didnt live beyond the 20th centurys first quarter, dying on 31 October 1926 in controversial circumstances. This new study by Brian J Robb, timed for the centenary of his death, explores his unique life and position as both escapologist and marketing extraordinaire.

Virginia Vernon was responsible for the welfare of ENSA performers around the world during the Second World War. Her fluent French, a result of studying in Paris as a teenager, and her understanding of theatre after a successful career on Broadway made her an ideal candidate, so in 1939, the 46-year-old was recruited to bring morale-boosting entertainment to British troops in France. She soon discovered that "welfare" was a catch-all for many activities; much more than simply arranging accommodation for artistes and meeting performers on arrival. Battling grief after the loss of her husband, contending with male chauvinism in the Army, and travelling through the most inhospitable places, along the way Madam V won the support and admiration of royalty, the military, and the stars of stage and screen, gaining a fearsome reputation for achieving the impossible. This new study tells the story of her wartime journey, from Arras in 1939 to V.E. Day in Rangoon.

This monograph is the first comprehensive study of Italian artist Mariuccia Secol (*1929), who redefined the boundaries of feminist art through powerful textile and sculptural works. Her practice evolved from abstract painting in the 1950s and 1960s to innovative fabric assemblages, installations with everyday materials, ceramics, and collages. Thematically, her works revolve around issues such as the subordinate role of women, domestic violence, and social exclusion. Using embroidery, fabric deconstructions, and household objects, Secol created textile artworks that symbolize wounds and resilience and intensively address the political and social problems of our time. Mariuccia Secol was born in Castellanza (northern Italy) in 1929 and lives and works in Daverio near Milan. After completing her artistic training, she began exhibiting her work extensively and, in 1974, co-founded the feminist artist group Gruppo Feminist Immagine di Varese, with which she exhibited at the 1978 Venice Biennale. Today, her works are recognised worldwide and shown at important feminist art exhibitions, such as The Unexpected Subject: 1978 Art and Feminism in Italy at the FM Centre for Contemporary Art in Milan and Cooking, Cleaning, Caring: Care Work in the Arts Since 1960 at the Josef Albers Museum Quadrat in Bottrop.

This monograph is the first comprehensive study of Italian artist Mariuccia Secol (*1929), who redefined the boundaries of feminist art through powerful textile and sculptural works. Her practice evolved from abstract painting in the 1950s and 1960s to innovative fabric assemblages, installations with everyday materials, ceramics, and collages. Thematically, her works revolve around issues such as the subordinate role of women, domestic violence, and social exclusion. Using embroidery, fabric deconstructions, and household objects, Secol created textile artworks that symbolize wounds and resilience and intensively address the political and social problems of our time. Mariuccia Secol was born in Castellanza (northern Italy) in 1929 and lives and works in Daverio near Milan. After completing her artistic training, she began exhibiting her work extensively and, in 1974, co-founded the feminist artist group Gruppo Feminist Immagine di Varese, with which she exhibited at the 1978 Venice Biennale. Today, her works are recognised worldwide and shown at important feminist art exhibitions, such as The Unexpected Subject: 1978 Art and Feminism in Italy at the FM Centre for Contemporary Art in Milan and Cooking, Cleaning, Caring: Care Work in the Arts Since 1960 at the Josef Albers Museum Quadrat in Bottrop.

LEARN A DYNAMIC APPROACH TO PORTRAITURE THAT BRINGS DEPTH AND ENERGY TO YOUR PAINTINGSPortrait Painting explains how to portray people in oils and acrylics by looking beyond likeness to light, shadow, colour and form. Instead of copying, youll learn to see abstract shapes, experiment with colour and create portraits that feel alive, expressive and meaningful.

Discover the art and science behind one of the most beautiful, durable and acoustically sensitive finishes ever developed. French Polishing & Varnishing String Instruments is a comprehensive, expert-led manual for applying spirit varnish and French polish ideal for classical guitars, violins and other fine stringed instruments. Whether youre a luthier, restorer or hands-on enthusiast, this practical guide takes you through every aspect of the process, from raw materials to final burnish delivering a finish that looks stunning, protects the instrument and enhances its tonal character.

GEL PRINTING is packed with practical instruction and exciting ideas to get everyone started with this new and very accessible monoprinting technique. With very little equipment (and no press) needed, it explains how simple prints can be made quickly and easily, and shows how more in-depth and advanced techniques can also be explored. Some 26 exercises cover making prints with stencils, natural materials, mark making and image resist, as well as using art materials and combining layers and techniques. This beautiful book will serve as your companion as you learn and enjoy making versatile and vibrant prints with just a gel plate, roller, ink and paper.

National treasure and television pioneer Anneka Rice has had an action-packed career jumping out of helicopters, racing against the clock on Challenge Anneka and inspiring millions with her boundless energy and much-loved jumpsuits. But the daring spirit on screen was forged in a very different kind of challenge.In this candid memoir, Anneka opens up for the first time about the crucible of her unusual childhood, revealing how the crippling loneliness she felt as a child and the teenage years she spent bringing up her baby sister sparked the fierce resilience that would later define her.With her trademark warmth and wit, she shares the vibrant, transformative possibilities that emerged from her arrival, aged nineteen, in Hong Kong on a one-way ticket, knowing no one, and describes the epiphanous moment in a refugee camp in Kowloon that taught her to imagine a life far beyond the one she had left behind.Full of heart, humour and hard-won wisdom, this is an astonishing story of adventure and survival, of personal battles and public triumphs. Its a manual on how to reinvent yourself, throw caution to the wind and take the path full of jeopardy. Its mad, bad and dangerous and should come with a warning: dont try this at home.

Step into a whimsical world of imagination, color, and natural wonder with Painting the Secrets of the Forest with Watercolors, a comprehensive and inspiring watercolor workbook for artists of all levels who want to bring forest-inspired scenes to life. Begin your journey with a solid foundation in watercolor essentials: from understanding materials and tools to mastering techniques like color blending, layering, brush control, pigment manipulation, and more. Youll also learn about color theory and how to apply that to your paintings! Once youve built your technical skills, discover how to find and collect inspiration from nature. Learn how to keep a creative journal filled with sketches, pressed leaves, or notes from your walks, and transform that inspiration into original artwork. Also included are guided exercises to show you how to observe colors in the wild and match them with your palette, while step-by-step practice paintings help you paint realistic and imaginative flowers, plants, insects, and more. Each tutorial includes detailed instructions, a color guide, and tips for customizing your painting. After just a few small practice paintings, youll gain the confidence and inspiration to start creating your own original art!

Antique furniture restoration is more than a technical pursuit its a conversation with history. Each piece tells a story fashioned by time, craftsmanship and countless hands. This book invites conservators and woodworkers, amateur or professional, into the nuanced world of furniture conservation, where technique is shaped by an understanding of history, materials and the use for generations to come. Whether youre restoring a treasured family heirloom or a museum-quality piece, this book will help you approach your work with clarity, sensitivity and a respect for the past.

Conheça a trajetória de Chappell Roan, a artista que conquistou a cena da música alternativa com atitude, criatividade e liberdade. Vinda de uma pequena cidade, ela transformou suas experiências e su

This beautiful book explains how to capture the joy of nature in the versatility of linocut. From a simple idea or sketch, it guides you through the process of planning designs, carving and then successfully printing your work. Projects with detailed step-by-step instructions further demonstrate the process with one-colour and jigsaw prints, before advancing to reduction and multi-block prints. All are shown with the most endearing images that capture the enchanting characteristics of our much-loved British birds and wildlife.

This practical book demystifies the fascinating process of enamelling and encourages you to explore various techniques and to develop your own personal style of work. With clear detailed instruction, it explains the full process of how tiny grains of glass fuse together to form a shiny smooth surface. It goes on to introduce advanced techniques where enamels can be built up in layers, precious metal foils added and wires used to outline intricate designs. This book, written by a leading enameller and teacher, is an encouraging companion for all novices and skilled jewellers interested in learning this astoundingly-beautiful technique.

Glaze Inspirations is a rich, visual exploration of ceramic surface possibilities. Written by Louisa Taylor, with stunning photography by Simon Punter, the book offers an innovative and inspiring approach to glaze development. Packed with over 800 illustrated glaze examples, it presents a curated selection of appealing colourways and distinctive effects, each paired with striking photographic references. Whether youre seeking technical direction or fresh ideas, Glaze Inspirations provides a focused and imaginative approach to surface and form helping you advance your practice with confidence.

As sensações de cada poema estão se embaralhando, tornando cada percepção algo diferente

Entre registros antigos, fotografias raras e narrativas que atravessam gerações, Reminiscências de Serrinha reconstrói a trajetória de Leobino Cardoso Ribeiro (1881–1947) e, por meio dela, revela a p

Descubra 100 conceptos clave y pautas interdisciplinarias imprescindibles para utilizar el color con éxito. Profusamente ilustrado y de fácil consulta, vincula explicaciones claras de cada tema y ejemplos visuales aplicados a la teoria y la practica. Ya sea en una campaña de branding, un centro sanitario, el embalaje de un producto o la interfaz de una aplicacion informatica, el color que vemos es la materializacion de un gran numero de conceptos y practicas que se unen desde multiples disciplinas para aumentar el atractivo, influir en la percepcion y mejorar la comodidad de uso. Incluye conceptos y ejemplos, con los que podra aprender a tomar decisiones de color mas cimentadas y eficaces. Un punto de referencia fundamental para diseñadores, artistas, arquitectos y estudiantes que deseen ampliar y mejorar su conocimiento y experiencia del color.

"Cosquín es Cosquín", se repite como un mantra entre artistas y soñadores. Gisell Torino, cantora, difusora y testigo privilegiada, se sumerge en la historia viva del Festival Nacional de Folklore para contar lo que los archivos no dicen: las voces, las emociones, las pequeñas grandes historias que construyeron la leyenda. Con un tono cercano, apasionado y profundamente humano, esta biografia no autorizada recorre 65 años de un evento que trascendio generaciones y fronteras. Mas que un libro, es un viaje al alma del folklore argentino, una reivindicacion de quienes hicieron del canto una forma de vida y de rebeldia. Porque Cosquin no solo esta en Cordoba. Esta en cada rincon donde un bombo, una guitarra o una copla mantienen encendida la llama del pueblo.

A Bíblia chama Davi de um homem segundo o coração de Deus, mas sua vida foi uma montanha-russa de fé corajosa e falhas catastróficas. Ele não era perfeito; ele era autêntico. Em uma cultura que exige

Leeds, 1980. Amid the violence and decay, the city was home to an extraordinarily vibrant post-punk scene. Out of that swamp crawled the Sisters of Mercy. Over the next five years, they would rise from local heroes to leading alternative band, before blowing apart on the verge of major rock stardom.Their path was strewn with brilliant singles, astonishing EPs, exceptional album tracks and legendary live shows. Two classic line-ups were created and destroyed: Andrew Eldritch on vocals, Craig Adams on bass, Gary Marx and Ben Gunn later replaced by Wayne Hussey on guitars, and a drum machine called Doktor Avalanche.Hussey and Adams styled themselves as the Evil Children and played hard both on and off the stage; neither Gunn nor Marx were natural rock n roll animals, but the latter performed with such abandon that it was hard to believe he also wrote the Sisters most delicate and beautiful music. Eldritch was the most peculiar and compelling of them all, a singular and mesmerising amalgam of T. S. Eliot and David Bowie who staked a powerful claim to be the greatest rock star of his generation. Drawing on dozens of interviews with band members and key figures in the Sisters journey, Paint My Name in Black and Gold is the most complete account yet of how against the odds and all reasonable expectation these young men came to make transcendent and life-changing music.