The December issue of POETS AND ARTISTS is somewhat of an anomaly for this progressive magazine. Instead of the usual combination of art and poetry, interviews and reviews of people and works, this issue is devoted to 'The Rebirth of Realism'. There are artist profiles rich with fine art and accompanied by a few comments by the artists, but no critiques accompany them. The range of Realism is rather wide but successfully covers the realm of people and objects without pausing for landscape (perhaps that is a section reserved for a later devoted issue).
Artists include Jacques Brodin whose views of realism are focused on details, Dennis Peterson's superb depictions of the streets of New York City, Glennray Tutor's colorful toys, Pamela Michelle Johnson's lickable foods, four different artists who create head portraits - Ruben Belloso, Jenny Dubnau, Hubert de Lartigue and Craig Wylie - and the full body underwater portraits of Francois Chartiers. Sculptures of the fiberglass form are shared in the works of Sam Jinks whose image graces the cover of this issue. Each of the artists displayed have solid technique and assurance of their mastery of this difficult genre of art.
Poetry is included in this Photorealism issue, but while the poems are generally excellent they don't appear to share the theme of this journal. Small quibble, as the poets represented here are of the usual excellent quality of those selected by publisher/editor Didi Menendez. This is a fine issue that continues to show the growth of Poets & Artists as an important journal of the arts of today. Grady Harp