What do you think?
Rate this book
What Really Makes America Great
America IS great and all the things that make it REALLY great are unique to each and every one of us and deserve to be celebrated. What Really Makes America Great is a collection of artwork honoring all aspects of America from myriad artists in the Creative Action Network.
Creative Action Network founder and CEO Max Slavkin says this art series was inspired by a widespread interest in creating art to challenge the current political climate. Throughout the first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency, 100 artists came together to illustrate the things that already make America great. The project has continued beyond those initial 100 days and 100 artists.
Each spread of the book contains an artist’s statement on the left and artwork on the right side. The art touches on several issues and topics, including religious freedom, immigration, energy solutions, plurality—and even bourbon. It features a foreword by Steven Heller, an American art director, journalist, critic, author, and editor who specializes in topics related to graphic design.
Creative Action Network founder and CEO Max Slavkin says this art series was inspired by a widespread interest in creating art to challenge the current political climate. Throughout the first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency, 100 artists came together to illustrate the things that already make America great. The project has continued beyond those initial 100 days and 100 artists.
Each spread of the book contains an artist’s statement on the left and artwork on the right side. The art touches on several issues and topics, including religious freedom, immigration, energy solutions, plurality—and even bourbon. It features a foreword by Steven Heller, an American art director, journalist, critic, author, and editor who specializes in topics related to graphic design.
- GenresNonfictionArt
176 pages, Hardcover
Published October 23, 2018
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Creative Action Network
3 books9 followersA global community of artists and designers making art with purpose.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 9, 2018
Creative Action Network put out the call for posters depicting What Makes America Great and received a wide variety of artwork in response. I love that these works are from such a range of artists. Though most seem to be created via digital means, there are a few created with other artistic mediums. The answers to the posed question and the styles of the artists vary widely however, making for an interesting and thought-provoking collection.
Thank you to Netgalley, Creative Action Network and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley, Creative Action Network and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to review this book. All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.
November 30, 2018
A BEAUTIFUL book of posters curated by the Creative Action Network collected from 100 different artists over the first 100 days of the Trump administration. The messages are both powerful and inspiring and speak to the most basic tenants of what has always and will continue to make America great. I so appreciate turning the campaign slogan on its head to prove that there is more progress to be made, but we don't need to go backwards- our history is full of greatness and our achievements of equality and acceptance continue to make it true. Our diversity is beautiful.
September 15, 2018
WHAT REALLY MAKES AMERICA GREAT is a collection of posters Creative Action Network's artists created to answer the question "What really makes America great?"' It s not only visually stunning but also thought provoking, and the answers to the question vary dramatically. I was moved by many of them. Even just viewing them all together reminds you how varied our answer to that question may be.
There is a section at the very end with brief contributing artist bios, as well as information on Creative Action Network. Definitely recommend!
There is a section at the very end with brief contributing artist bios, as well as information on Creative Action Network. Definitely recommend!
September 17, 2018
Gorgeous and inspiring book! Perfect gift!
September 9, 2018
Truly beautiful and full of positivity. I wish I had the entire collection to hang in my classroom!
September 27, 2018
What Really Makes America Great by Creative Action Network Foreword by Steven Heller art director author and editor, introduction by Aaron Perry-Zucker and Mark Slavkin Co-Founders of Creative Action Network is an amazing visual book with 100 posters ready for you.
Born for replying with creativity at the motto of the current administration and President, artists, creatives, painters, seriously tried all their best for thinking at a question that after all is simple but difficult at the same time: why the USA is a great place? There were seeds planted along the way, starting from the founders but also from all that citizens who, during the centuries, asked for more rights and freedoms.
We all know that this country has been per centuries a land of possibilities but sometimes it is also true that people forget the potentialities of a place, the richness of a country, not just in economical terms but in its own beauty and specificities; and so these artists, through stunning paintings, will remark you this: the belief that anything is possible, agriculture, innovation, but also immigration, Journalism, Hollywood, Freedom of the press, kindness, religious freedom, public lands for a total of 100 voices, 100 posters, 100 visions of the USA.
This one is the creative, sometimes angry answer to this conservative administration. With a touch of polemic, remarking the results reached by the USA during these past centuries; the USA remains a land and a dream for so many people in the world.
I loved in particular a beautiful, pacific, poetic painting of the USA seeing as a land of flowers.
The visual book will be released this October 23 but you can start to pre-order it.
I thank Netgalley for this eBook.
Anna Maria Polidori
Born for replying with creativity at the motto of the current administration and President, artists, creatives, painters, seriously tried all their best for thinking at a question that after all is simple but difficult at the same time: why the USA is a great place? There were seeds planted along the way, starting from the founders but also from all that citizens who, during the centuries, asked for more rights and freedoms.
We all know that this country has been per centuries a land of possibilities but sometimes it is also true that people forget the potentialities of a place, the richness of a country, not just in economical terms but in its own beauty and specificities; and so these artists, through stunning paintings, will remark you this: the belief that anything is possible, agriculture, innovation, but also immigration, Journalism, Hollywood, Freedom of the press, kindness, religious freedom, public lands for a total of 100 voices, 100 posters, 100 visions of the USA.
This one is the creative, sometimes angry answer to this conservative administration. With a touch of polemic, remarking the results reached by the USA during these past centuries; the USA remains a land and a dream for so many people in the world.
I loved in particular a beautiful, pacific, poetic painting of the USA seeing as a land of flowers.
The visual book will be released this October 23 but you can start to pre-order it.
I thank Netgalley for this eBook.
Anna Maria Polidori
September 24, 2018
What Really Makes America Great is an important timepiece. It doesn't just illustrate the traditional views of what America represents-- it is accentuated by the power and feelings we are experiencing today-- now, in this tumultuous political climate.
The large collection of images are expressed from simple to complex design, monotone to brilliant color and modern to classical poster styles. Many contributing contemporary artists have come together and united a powerful and profound voice of the heart of America.
Several that really stood out (spoke) to me were Everyone Welcome by Crystal Sacca and Freedom of Choice by Jason Roache Sacca's replaces the stars of the flag with delicate daubs of skin tone representing immigration through our vast diversity; while Roache's powerful use of hand gestures represent (for me) power, peace and defiance-- described here as peace, protest and resistance. Also, Beth Kerschen's Landmarks truly captures the diverse landscape of American culture in its vastly different appearances throughout the country.
I found Adam Doyle's The Belief That Anything Is Possible both full of hope and magical.
Art with a purpose is the mission of the Creative Action Network. Here, they've assembled an exhibition that is a brilliant display, an exhaustive collection that truly is America. America was great, is great and will always be great as long as all people's voices are heard across the land.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The large collection of images are expressed from simple to complex design, monotone to brilliant color and modern to classical poster styles. Many contributing contemporary artists have come together and united a powerful and profound voice of the heart of America.
Several that really stood out (spoke) to me were Everyone Welcome by Crystal Sacca and Freedom of Choice by Jason Roache Sacca's replaces the stars of the flag with delicate daubs of skin tone representing immigration through our vast diversity; while Roache's powerful use of hand gestures represent (for me) power, peace and defiance-- described here as peace, protest and resistance. Also, Beth Kerschen's Landmarks truly captures the diverse landscape of American culture in its vastly different appearances throughout the country.
I found Adam Doyle's The Belief That Anything Is Possible both full of hope and magical.
Art with a purpose is the mission of the Creative Action Network. Here, they've assembled an exhibition that is a brilliant display, an exhaustive collection that truly is America. America was great, is great and will always be great as long as all people's voices are heard across the land.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2018
What Really Makes America Great from the Creative Action Network is an eye-opening collection of posters around the these of what really makes America great.
Perhaps the greatest strength of this volume is the variety of both styles and responses. The responses, thematically, could be from people almost all across the social and political spectrum. From progressive ideas to things as straightforward as farming. In other words, these things that have made America great long before a nameless naysayer claimed America wasn't great work as a rich tapestry, not as a bunch of isolated threads. Taken together we have a strong diverse country that is, or at least strives to be, great. It is when these are separated out then set against one another that there is a breakdown, as in the current illegitimate regime.
Unless the idea of some people focusing on different strengths than what you focus on bothers you, I would recommend this to everyone. If you think only what you believe makes America great is what matters, well, you'll enjoy this as much as you enjoy watching different people enjoying life, you won't.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
Perhaps the greatest strength of this volume is the variety of both styles and responses. The responses, thematically, could be from people almost all across the social and political spectrum. From progressive ideas to things as straightforward as farming. In other words, these things that have made America great long before a nameless naysayer claimed America wasn't great work as a rich tapestry, not as a bunch of isolated threads. Taken together we have a strong diverse country that is, or at least strives to be, great. It is when these are separated out then set against one another that there is a breakdown, as in the current illegitimate regime.
Unless the idea of some people focusing on different strengths than what you focus on bothers you, I would recommend this to everyone. If you think only what you believe makes America great is what matters, well, you'll enjoy this as much as you enjoy watching different people enjoying life, you won't.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
September 21, 2018
Wow! This book made me smile and gave me the warm fuzzies.
I understand this book. I understand the need for individuals to express themselves in the wake of Trump becoming president. So I understand why this book was needed.
I love the premise and the inception of the book. Why did no one stop to ask, to consider for a moment, what does make America great? Why didn't anyone really stop to ask that during the campaign? Or maybe they did, and simply weren't heard. Either way...
This book contains some INCREDIBLE pieces of art. The art makes you think, and what the artists have to say about their work makes you think, and even the topics they chose to create their art about makes you think.
America has had its ups and downs, like many countries, but this book will hopefully serve to remind you of some of the little things and big things that can continue to make it a special place.
Also, this would make an awesome coffee table book!
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I understand this book. I understand the need for individuals to express themselves in the wake of Trump becoming president. So I understand why this book was needed.
I love the premise and the inception of the book. Why did no one stop to ask, to consider for a moment, what does make America great? Why didn't anyone really stop to ask that during the campaign? Or maybe they did, and simply weren't heard. Either way...
This book contains some INCREDIBLE pieces of art. The art makes you think, and what the artists have to say about their work makes you think, and even the topics they chose to create their art about makes you think.
America has had its ups and downs, like many countries, but this book will hopefully serve to remind you of some of the little things and big things that can continue to make it a special place.
Also, this would make an awesome coffee table book!
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2018
This is a glorious book. Reading it reminded me, “It’s great to live here!” The book is a testament to all that we can relish, delight in, be proud of—freedom of speech, immigration, kindness. But also reminders—to me anyway—of things like agriculture and national parks. More to be grateful for. And then there were the surprises. Like baseball. :)
Sure, we can improve. But this is a gorgeously illustrated reminder that we are great. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.
I received a copy in exchange for a honest review.
Sure, we can improve. But this is a gorgeously illustrated reminder that we are great. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.
I received a copy in exchange for a honest review.
August 23, 2020
I want you I get a coffee table just so I can have this book in it!
Gorgeous variety of images, visual kaleidoscope of people’s experiences and love for America expressed in a multitude of medians.
I have at least 15 favorites that I want to be the backgrounds on my computer.
The art in this book may seem aggressive or political to some but that is the point, it is expressions of angst, fear, hope, desire for justice.... and so much more in today’s increasingly claustrophobic political climate.
Gorgeous variety of images, visual kaleidoscope of people’s experiences and love for America expressed in a multitude of medians.
I have at least 15 favorites that I want to be the backgrounds on my computer.
The art in this book may seem aggressive or political to some but that is the point, it is expressions of angst, fear, hope, desire for justice.... and so much more in today’s increasingly claustrophobic political climate.
October 23, 2018
Great book! Very timely view of the current political climate through the eyes of a community of artists. Great gift too!
Want to read
April 25, 2021Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
May 25, 2023
Enjoyed the posters and the stories behind them.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews