Meet Cindy Sherman: Artist, Photographer, Chameleon

Gr 4–8—The duo's latest collaboration centers on a contemporary artist so enigmatic that it's no surprise the authors begin by asking readers, "Who is Cindy Sherman?" The work opens with Sherman's childhood and early career in New York City before launching into chapters organized around milestone projects/installations (Chapter 4 covers Rear Screen Projections 1980–1981, Fairy Tales 1985, and more). Sherman's iconic photos are reproduced with clarity and quality, with most laid out over a page or half page. The authors break down the myriad personas present in the artist's body of work and challenge students to consider the relationship between interpretation and meaning and how much weight to give to an artist's intent (or lack of) when viewing and analyzing art. Egalitarian statements such as "Art is for everyone at every age" lend the book a welcoming tone, and the authors often address readers directly ("Do clothes and hairstyles make us what we are?") and include quotes from real kids that oftentimes demonstrate the subjective nature of art interpretation. An ending "Production Notes" spread takes this to the next level and guides readers through Sherman's Untitled #571, 2016, directing their attention to color, texture, line, shape, and focus.