Wolfgang Bloch
Bloch may not be known far from the ocean-side galleries and coastal collections that make up the surf-art scene, but this first monograph should introduce him to a broader audience. Bloch grew up surfing the beaches of Ecuador, and his somber and enigmatic canvases have never lost the influence of the waves. Departing from typical surf art, Bloch's paintings are dark, textural, and not particularly representational. In the introductory essay, Stice (English, Laguna Coll. of Art & Design) offers a brief biography and charts the trajectory of Bloch's imagery, succeeding more in placing him high among surf artists than staking a claim for him in the larger art world. Much of the book is made up of full-page, full-color images (over 125), which are beautifully reproduced but on uncoated paper. Designed by David Carson (coauthor,The End of Print), this book is a wonderful object; shifting text sizes, migratory column widths, and sporadic page numbering may enhance visual effect, but they also diminish readability. Recommended for collections with strong holdings of contemporary American artists.—Kraig Binkowski, Yale Ctr. for British Art, New Haven, CTCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.