Living with Folk Art: Ethnic Styles from Around the World

In the current intellectual climate, where ``political correctness'' occupies an exalted position, the title of this stylish picture book could be considered a misnomer. For the featured art is hardly amateurish; it actually encompasses pre-Columbian examples from Mexico and Native America, as well as art from Papua New Guinea, West Africa, Indonesia and India. However, Barnard's ( Living with Kilims ) attitude, while a tad ingenuous, is filled with awe, and his enthusiasm for the subject is obvious. With Merrell he introduces the reader to a broad spectrum of work through a panoply of interior shots, each revealing how a homeowner has incorporated his or her collection of Moroccan rugs, Indonesian baskets, Veracruz figures and more into a domestic environment. To complement the photographs, Barnard provides relevant background information ranging from facts about floor rugs to the significance of regional sources. A charming and colorful Baedeker, this book serves as an intriguing introduction to a category of collecting just now gaining the recognition it so deserves. (Oct.)