Signs of the Apocalypse or Rapture

"Signs of the Apocalypse or Rapture" is a curatorial survey of a pivotal moment in contemporary art. This timely volume features a comprehensive selection of writings and essays on the notion of end times, including interviews from a special episode of "Chicago Public Radio's Worldview" devoted to the topic; a gallery of diverse and engaging visual imagery (with contributions from over sixty artists, including such well-respected contemporary figures as Bill Viola, Julie Mehretu, Ed Ruscha, Richard Misrach, Fred Tomaselli, Nina Bovasso, and others, each of whom contributes a single image featured on a two-page spread) and two audio CDs - featuring eighteen sound artists, including Sonic Youth - with accompanying liner notes and an introduction from the editors.Cleverly expanding on the duality of the title's possibilities - hopeful beacons for the future or the indication that things are amiss - the book offers a provocative take on the contemporary trend towards apocalyptic and rapturous art, thought, and sound. A collector's item for anyone drawn to the hybridized world of visual and critical culture, "Signs of the Apocalypse or Rapture" is a cutting-edge look at art in practice.