Book Review: Close Landscape Design and Art in Scotland by Allan Pollok-Morris
I want to share a book with you that is currently enjoying prize real estate on my coffee table. The book, Close Landscape Design and Land Art in Scotland, was photographed by Allan Pollok-Morris who recently closed up an exhibition of his work at the Chicago Botanic Gardens, but will be on exhibit again in Washington DC in 2011.
Allan sent me the book, and I promised a review (up or down). (*BTW – this is happening a lot lately and I am working on what my personal policy will be towards this type of thing….I prize integrity and will never say I like something just because I got something for free, but on the flip side, I am not sure I am prepared to say negative things about people whose work I don’t appreciate. So bear with me, only positive reviews for the moment, and for those things sent for which I don’t have nice things to say…. I will follow my mother’s advice and not say anything at all….)
So, with that said, this review is up.
Close – A Book by Allan Pollock-Morris
To be direct – this is a beautiful book that could be used to plan a garden tour of Scotland. Scottish people will undoubtedly view it with sentimental longing and the rest of us will be inspired by beautiful art.
The project features images of gardens and landscapes created by some of the best in the modern landscape design world and includes Andy Goldsworthy, Charles Jencks, Alec Finlay, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Anish Kapoor, Peter Liversidge, Antony Gormley, Marc Quinn, Bridget Baines, Eelco Hooftman, Nigel Sampey, Andy Sturgeon, Arabella Lennox-Boyd, Jinny Blom, Penelope Hobhouse, Gerald Laing and Xa Tollemache. Many of these people have also contributed to the text accompanying Allan’s images.
If you are looking for a lovely gift for a garden design enthusiast, I would certainly recommend this.
Allan will be exhibiting this work at United States Botanic Garden on Capitol Hill from the 22nd of January to the 5th of June and you can follow him and his work at his facebook page. (perhaps it will make a stop elsewhere in the US later in the year?)