Tolerance: The Art of Chris Mars

Tolerance: The Art of Chris Mars
by Chris Mars

Tolerance: The Art of Chris Mars
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Book Summary Information

Author: Chris Mars
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2008-05-01
ISBN: 0867196947
Number of pages: 176
Publisher: Last Gasp/La Luz de Jesus
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Book Reviews of Tolerance: The Art of Chris Mars

Book Review: Stunning!
Summary: 5 Stars

I've been a fan of Chris Mars the musician (his "old life") since the early 90s. I own all four of his post-Replacements solo CDs, and I still regularly listen to "Horseshoes and Hand Grenades" and "75% Less Fat." (The song "No More Mud" on the latter release even served as my gateway to "Cat's Cradle" and to Kurt Vonnegut in general.) But I have always especially admired the striking cover art on these CDs, drawn--for I believe much of his early work was with pastels--by Chris himself.

So even though I am usually only a casual patron of the visual arts, I was quite excited to learn that Chris had abandoned music to take up painting full time. Over the past decade, I've made a habit of visiting his website every year or two to admire his latest work. His superficially grotesque but highly sympathetic images of society's outcasts and his abiding empathy for the mentally ill are deeply moving to me. I cannot say it any better than Peter Spooner (in the editorial reviews above): "moral in the highest sense of the word."

I've long wished I could afford to purchase one of Chris's amazing paintings. (But which one?!) And since the increasing recognition of his work over the past decade has outstripped any parallel growth in my earning power, this becomes less likely every year. So imagine my delight when I learned upon my latest visit that he had released an entire BOOK reproducing over 150 of his recent works! I ordered it immediately, and in the few days since I've spent several hours in rapt contemplation of the stunning images within.

Most of his pieces are delightfully complex. In virtually every one I've studied so far I notice a multitude of details that simply aren't apparent online. I'm no expert, but his work seems technically superb to me: he has a strong sense of color and especially of lighting--some of the images just glow. And his recent work has become more overtly political while managing to remain deeply human.

I realize that such a personal review might not be very helpful to anyone still on the fence about buying this book, but I am extremely grateful that Chris decided to release his work in this form. (Thanks, Chris!) I'm glad to see his art getting the recognition I think it deserves, but I am even happier that, through this book, many more people can have the opportunity to experience it first hand. It's an important body of work for sure, but it's also truly beautiful.

Summary of Tolerance: The Art of Chris Mars

Tolerance, the long-awaited debut by American artist Chris Mars, features 159 of Mars' technically brilliant and emotionally stirring paintings as well as numerous essays by Mars regarding the nexus and symbolism of individual works, offering rare and candid insight into the mind of the artist and the imagined minds of the troubled and triumphant souls who populate his canvases.

A darling of the Low Brow and Outsider art movements, Mars' work has been featured in numerous museums and is held in numerous public collections.

Tolerance is printed in accordance with the artist's social conscience. Says Mars: "It's a `green' book. Published using vegetable-based inks, on recycled, bleach-free paper. It was not made by slaves, the printing costs do not sponsor State tyranny, no child's hands will have sewn the binding. It's green and it's fair-trade. It took a while to make that happen. I think I'm as proud of that as I am of the work inside it."

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