American Self-Taught.

Frank Maresca and Roger Ricco. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993. Illus., 298 pp., hardcover.

The profession of art education is rooted deeply in the belief that art teachers play a key role in developing art skills and facilitating significant art expression. This book suggests the creations of the untrained artist cannot be separated by quality, impact or formal beauty from the mainstream of artistic achievement. With our library shelves often filled with books about artists and art styles that we are familiar and comfortable with, we might want to test our belief system, and expand our acceptance, tolerance and enjoyment of art level by finding room on our shelves for this interesting publication. Featuring 260 paintings and drawings by 100 self-taught artists, some celebrated (Horace Pippen, John Kane), some newly discovered, this book testifies to an art world based on dreams, wishes, fears and inner longings. Works reminiscent of kindergarten easel paintings and the German Expressionists exist side by side with displaying private symbolic languages, each complemented by a brief biography of the artist. An intriguing foreword by playwright/collector Lanford Wilson introduces a chapter of information and comment by the authors, where distinctions between folk art, naive, outsider, primitive, isolate and self-taught style references are discussed. If your interest lies in the art of the untrained gifted, and if you enjoy viewing artwork ranging from childlike to startling, this book will be a valued addition to your library.