American vernacular

the long version

"This book, the most comprehensive survey ever assembled, takes America's rich heritage of vernacular art out of the antiques arena and the specialty museum and into today's art world. A book that crosses over conventional art historical categories, American Vernacular presents hundreds of newly identified and never before published objects, from carnival figures to religious totems, from antique trade signs to the most spectacular examples of carved canes. The book reveals the powerful strains of imagination that have shaped the American visual landscape and continue to nourish cutting-edge artists today." "With over four hundred color photographs and insightful commentary by leading experts, American Vernacular is a thorough and engaging exploration that is essential reading for collectors, artists, and anyone interested in the instinctive creative process."--BOOK JACKET.