<div>Though photographers Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams were contemporaries and longtime friends, most of their work portrays contrasting subject matter. Lange's artistic photodocumentation set a new aesthetic standard for social commentary; Adams lit up nature's wonders with an unfailing eye and preeminent technical skill. That they joined together to photograph Mormons in Utah in the early 1950s for Life magazine may come as a surprise. In a Rugged Land examines the history and content of the two photographers' forgotten collaboration Three Mormon Towns. Looking at Adams's and Lange's photographs, extant letters, and personal memories, the book provides a window into an important moment in their careers and seeks to understand why a project that once held such promise ended in disillusionment and is now little more than a footnote in their illustrative biographies. Swensen's in-depth research and interpretation help&nbsp;make sense of what they did and place&nbsp;them alongside others who were also exploring the particular qualities of the Mormon village at that time.&nbsp; Winner of the Joan Paterson Kerr Book Award for best illustrated book on the history of the American West from the Western History Association. Winner of the Best Book Award from the Utah State Historical Society. Winner of the 15 Bytes Book Award for Art Book. Honorable mention&nbsp;for Best Book from the Mormon History Association. <a href="https://www.upr.org/post/rugged-land-james-swensen-mondays-access-utah">Interview with Tom Williams at Access Utah</a></div>

In a Rugged Land: Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, and the Three Mormon Towns Collaboration, 1953–1954

Arts & Photography

Swensen, James

Photography & Video

University of Utah Press

Chatwin is proud to release the first major survey of the life and work of Utah artist Gaell Lindstrom (1919-2009). Lindstrom was an artist whose search for inspiration took him from portraying the people and places of his native Utah and the American West to Mexico, Guatemala, Italy, Morocco, and China. Deeply grounded in region and faith, Lindstrom's work testifies to his dedication to craft, which was the foundation for his long and influential career as an art professor. The 130 illustrations, including 100 color plates, showcase Lindstrom's mastery of form and texture, and his ability to capture the stillness of the moment in landscapes and urbanscapes. The texts are by Dr. James Swensen of Brigham Young University, and the artist's son, Dr. Braden Lindstrom of Dixie State University. They examine the arc of Lindstrom's work as a painter and photographer, his relationships with other Utah artists, his artistic influences, teaching philosophy, travels and study abroad (particularly in China and with Chinese artists), and family life and background.

The Art of Gaell Lindstrom: Utah and Beyond in Watercolor and Other Media

Lindstrom, Braden

History & Criticism

Chatwin Books

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Books by Swensen, James