33 ARTISTS IN 3 ACTS

What has art become in the twenty-first century? What’s it for? What’s an artist? When do the ideals of self-expression and the necessities of self-promotion cross paths? With energy and enthusiasm narrator Tavia Gilbert fills the roles of both critic and confidante while narrating this detailed and personalized look at the lives of 33 artists who live and work in the globe-trotting contemporary art world of gallery openings, patrons, biennales, and money. Plenty of money. Gilbert’s delivery perfectly reflects the author’s dual reaction of admiration and ambivalence toward the art installations and the artists who create the works (sometimes with the help of dozens of assistants) for what has become a multibillion dollar worldwide industry. B.P. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2014]