Reminders of Invisible Light: The Art of Beth Ames Swartz

Swartz follows the teachings of Carl Jung to incorporate the lessons of diverse belief systems in her life and art. This magnificent volume surveys forty years of an art that is spiritually grounded and rich with visual splendour.

The publisher's admirable commitment to quality publications on contemporary women artists continues with this catalog of an exhibition of 40 years of Swartz's work, on display in Phoenix and at Cornell University this spring and summer. Swartz (b. 1936) has lived and worked in the Arizona desert since the 1960s. From early delicate abstract landscapes to the glittering gold-leaf panels of her recent Shen Qi series, Swartz's work draws on world religions and arcane mysticism to explore highly personal links between art and healing in paper and mixed-media. The catalog features two essays and an interview with the artist, a chronology and a substantial bibliography. Texts chart Swartz's journeys of discovery and renewal as manifest in such arresting works as A Moving Point of Balance (1980s) and A Story for the Eleventh Hour (1990s). While the symbolism of Swartz's work can be obscure, it is evident here that they are radiant with light and expression. Recommended for in-depth collections with a contemporary bent. Russell T. Clement, Northwestern Univ. Lib., Evanston, IL
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