Pedro E. Guerrero: A Photographer's Journey with Frank Lloyd Wright, Alexander Calder, and Louise Nevelson
Category: Books,Arts & Photography,Photography & Video
Pedro E. Guerrero: A Photographer's Journey with Frank Lloyd Wright, Alexander Calder, and Louise Nevelson Details
From Publishers Weekly A careful hybrid of art monograph and anecdotal autobiography, this compilation places the recollections of Guerrero, who was Frank Lloyd Wright's on-call photographer for 20 years, in direct relation to his body of work. As a result, the book largely documents the lives and works of three prominent personalities of art and architecture—Frank Lloyd Wright, Alexander Calder and Louise Nevelson. Guerrero's work occupies an odd zone, more compositionally purposeful than documentary photography but without the ideology or invention that suggests an ambition toward high art, like many architectural photographers of his generation. Guerrero shows deep devotion to his subjects, but his respect sometimes comes across as adulation. Many photographs look as if they were composed for the subject's approval rather than to record a spontaneous moment. As a portraitist, he never seems to catch his subject off-guard. A seasoned storyteller with a keen appreciation for the punch line, Guerrero relates anecdotes of his encounters with celebrities with a youthful excitement and conversational ease. The stories work best when paired directly with photographs and the lengthy captions are often the most engaging. The chapters about Guerrero's childhood and family that open and close the book are inspirational, but feel out of place among the outsize personalities of Wright, Calder and Nevelson. (Mar.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Read more Review Surreal Eden hews to the (quixotic and personal), documenting the eccentric vision quest of Edward James and the 'secret city' he built. -- Bookforum, Feb/Mar 2007In recounting the tales about his own experiences. Guerrero reveals as much about himself as about the artists he came to know so well. -- Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation News, Feb. 2007The pictures are striking in a new memoir by Pedro E. Guerrero, the photographer known for chronicling the life and work of Frank Lloyd Wright. But it is the story of Mr. Guerrero's life, told in his own modest words, that is richer and more urgent, particularly when he writes about serving as the sole dove on a draft board during the Vietnam War, which cost him a lucrative 20-year carreer at House & Garden. -- New York Times, March 22, 2007This poignant work includes more than 190 of Guerrero's own photographs, documenting a most significant life. -- Arrive, March/April 2007Through 190 black-and-white photographs, this book documents his life and journey. It also provides an intimate look into the lives of those he photographed and came to know personally: Frank Lloyd Wright and sculptors Alexander Calder and Louise Nevelson. As the collection shows, Guerrero was a master at capturing the nuances of his subjects. His images are executed with technical skill and reveal the character of larger-than-life figures who are less known for their personalities than the work they left behind. And therein lies the true value of this book. -- Library Journal, March 15, 2007 Read more About the Author Pedro Guerrero's photographs have appeared in numerous publications worldwide, including the New York Times Magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Architectural Record, Travel and Leisure, and House and Garden. He has contributed photographs to many books and has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the world. He lives in Florence, Arizona. Read more
Reviews
I became aware of Pedro Guerrero as a result of my interest in architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright in particular. I am also a fan of Calder and Nevelson so this combination is a real treat. It is especially interesting to hear Mr. Guerrero articulate his relationships with these three very different personalities and to learn of his early formative years that led to his career in photography. He is not only a very good photographer but also a good writer and a person who seems very down to earth and of great character. I highly recommend this book.
