Karin from Germany wrote > What do you people think of the book? I thought it was Joni the painter who was to > be celebrated by it but now I think the book was made for Joni the musican- > fans with all the lyrics in it and the pictures in the frames. Since I am an > art historian and art teacher I might be too serious on this, but tell me > what do you think???? Hi Karin and welcome to the JMDL Joni's insistence on printing photos of her paintings showing the frames (on posters, in the Mendel catalogue) has drawn criticism before from other people familiar with the conventions of art publication. I think it is another example of how Joni regards her works (both painting and music) as completely under her control and removed from what critics may define as a particular "school": i.e. this is how she chose to frame them, and if the frame is considered integral to the completeness of the painting, then that is how it will be shown, regardless of the format. Regarding the mix of lyrics and art in the Mendel catalogue, there can be no doubt that much of Joni's inspiration for her painting comes from her lyrics, since so many of the painting were done to grace album covers. The cover painting for the Both Sides Now cd is a combination of the lyrics of A Case Of You and the concept of Both Sides Now. Even though Joni has said "I sing my sorrow but I paint my joy" there is an undeniable link between the words and the images. Nice to talk to you Ranger Rick
