"Beyond bringing before the public the work of this important and uncommonly independent artist, this book will have an impact on the larger discourse on contemporary art. Its three essays are diverse in their purpose and thrust and provide a complex picture of Downes's art, its intellectual foundations, and its place in relation to the work of some of his most discussed and celebrated contemporaries. The book will be widely read by painters, critics, theorists, and art historians, as well as anyone interested in the social implications of our use and misuse of the environment."--Robert Berlind, Purchase College, State University of New York
"This book will force us to change our thinking about the art of the last thirty years. It truly illuminates Rackstraw Downes and makes us understand just how important he is and has been--a truly outstanding artist of the top rank."--William Agee, Hunter College, author of "Sam Francis, Paintings 1947-1990"
