Our towns and cities are saturated with the imagery of commerce and advertising, but alongside it a new creative phenomenon is demanding our attention: art, on the street, available for everyone to see. Banksy, Blek le Rat, Os Gêmeos and JR are just some of the major practitioners whose works are showcased in this book. From huge murals to exquisite miniature art that can easily be missed, the examples here are powerful expressions of what it is to be a modern human living in an urban land...

Urban art - the decoration of public spaces - combines street art and graffiti and is an international creative practice. Many urban artists address issues such as human rights, the environment and lifestyle choices by challenging and confronting established thinking. Some artists feature heroes or icons in their work, others use illusions to lure the viewer into examining the art and trying to figure out what is real and what is not. Others still pay homage to less wellknown people who ha...

The case for getting back on our feetThe humble act of putting one foot in front of the other transcends age, geography, culture, and class, and is one of the most economical and environmentally responsible modes of transit. Yet with our modern fixation on speed, this healthy pedestrian activity has been largely left behind.At a personal and professional crossroads, writer, editor, and obsessive walker Dan Rubinstein travelled throughout the U.S., ...

For each of the 101 topics, a question from that topic is provided along with a model answer to that question. The questions are typical of those asked in part 1 of the IELTS speaking module and the model answers are suitable responses, though candidates are advised to modify the model answers and add to them as appropriate.

For the first time in the history of the planet, more than half the population - 3.3 billion people - are now living in cities. Two hundred years ago only 3 per cent of the world's population were urbanites, a figure that had remained fairly stable (give or take the occasional plague) for about 1000 years. By 2030, 60 per cent of us will be urban dwellers.City is the ultimate handbook for the archetypal city and contains main sections on 'History', 'Customs and Language', ...

For many, the idea of prefab housing may bring to mind trailers and other less desirable images of home life. But this idea couldn't be more wrong! Rather, the newest trends in prefab have emerged as a great way for a design- (and cost-) conscious generation to achieve the dream of home ownership. Today, prefab houses are manufactured to the highest standards of construction and aesthetics. And with the internet, these houses can be ordered from all over the world--affording people everywh...

"Jaw-dropping . . . a feast for the eyes that will appeal to a wide spectrum of readers, from professional paper cutters to casual observers of the art." — Adult Books 4 Teens ( School Library Journal)There's a renaissance underway in the art form of cut paper, with an explosion of raw talent and an abundance of amazing work produced in the medium in recent years. This gorgeous volume features work from twenty-six contemporary international artists...

From the mythical artefacts of the ancient world to saucy seaside postcards, The Antiques Magpie explores the wonderful world of antiques and collectables.With Antiques Roadshow regular Marc Allum as your guide, go in search of stolen masterpieces, explore the first museums, learn the secrets of the forgers and brush up on your auction technique.Meet the garden gnome insured for £1 million, track down Napoleon's toothbrush, find out how to spot a corpse in a Victorian photogr...

A complete celebration of Britain’s favourite architectural show.Grand Designs is broadcast in over 130 countries and regularly gleans 5 million viewers in the UK. Its success, says Kevin, is due to 'good old-fashioned story telling; of joy and sorrow, torment and triumph, expressed tangibly in the making of a building'.To celebrate fourteen glorious years of film-making, 100 editions of Grand Designs Magazine, 100 separate programmes and ten years of hosting the Stirling P...

Our gadgets, appliances, and cars are sleeker and more elegant than they’ve ever been; in our free time, we trawl the internet for pictures of flawless minimalist interiors; and even the great industrialist of our time—Steve Jobs—is admired more for his visual savvy than his technological inventiveness. And yet with Instagram and Pinterest at our fingers and great design more available—and more affordable—than ever, we’ve had no guidebook to this ever-fascinating field. Though it’s an ines...

From the delicate cherry blossom tree to a fearsome falcon, tattoos are testament to the everlasting connection between man and art.Presenting the very best in tattoo art, this inspirational sourcebook is a great starting point for anyone wanting to acquire a tattoo who is unsure of the creative possibilities. Filled with stunning photographic images, it showcases the talent of top artists from around the world.This extensive gallery is arranged into imagin...

IntroductionArt Deco derived from France in 1908 to 1939. The trend took off in the 1920’s and quickly flourished throughout many parts of the world. The Great Depression resulted in the style to tail off as people were looking for something new. The style began to wane further with the onset of the Second World War as people cared less for luxury and glamour as they had more important things to worry about during the war like basic needs for survival like food and shelter. There a...