Altars and Icons: Sacred Spaces in Everyday Life

by Jean Mcmann (Editor)

Don't we all crave a refuge from daily life, a haven of tranquility, regardless of our creed? Altars and Icons draws together 40 eclectic personal shrines in the first photographic celebration of its kind. Here are altars -- formal and casual, secular and religious, heartfelt and whimsical -- created to evoke contemplation, inspire creativity, amuse, encourage, or honor the memory of a loved one. Amalia and Carlos Vasquez celebrate the Day of the Dead in a bright-hued altar of roses. Harrod Blank makes his car an emotional sounding board, adding a new element (bottle cap, figurine, birthday cake) each time he feels the urge to express himself. Eleanor Coppola offers a sunny spot for family memories, while in other homes a kitchen table commemorates Kwanza and a living room altar showers praise on a beloved cow. Including interviews with the people who fashion these remarkable shrines, as well as plenty of how-to tips, Altars and Icons is inspiration for creating your own sacred place.

Genres: Art, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion

124 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1998

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a facinating look at how everyone creates little 'shrines' or 'altars' that aren't necessarily religous in nature... Do you have a row of jars on the window sill? A set of pictures from your wedding? For everyone it is different, some have religous tones, some have memories attached and some just feel right and the person wouldn't consider them Altars or Shrines at all! This book examines an array of such things, with each person explaining the meaning of the small (or large!) collection or display. It is a lovely peek into many minds and what is often an overlooked aspect of human nature. The need to create sacred or personal space.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a lovely little book. It can easily be read in a single sitting, which I did the first time, but I have kept it on my bedside table for years as something comforting to look at that always brings me happiness and often inspiration. Each altar is briefly described by the person who created it and there is an accompanying color photograph of each one. I like looking for the details in the ones that are more visually complicated.

My mother gave me this book. She and I had both been making arrangements for years and neither of us really had a name for them. They were more than displays of knickknacks or photographs or candles. We really felt that there was something that we were expressing behind them, but it was more of a subconscious feeling. Reading this book brought it into focus. It didn't occur to us to use the word altar, because we had always thought of that word in a religious capacity only. Now it makes sense to us to use it.

Some of the altars in this book are definitely religious and some are based on cultural traditions. Most of them are related to memories and love and some are simply groupings of items that just seem to "go together" but in an idiosyncratic way that has real meaning to the creator beyond just aesthetics.

It's a slender book - give it a try if you're interested in the concept or just because you're interested in how people live their lives and express what's important to them. You might recognize something that you're doing already or be inspired to create an altar of your own.

[Caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little tome. Thought it would make good before-bed light reading, but it actually made me a little sad in a lot of places. It's got a more somber tone than I was expecting; the opening chapter is themed around honoring the dead. The pictures were nicely done, but I couldn't make out enough detail to really get a lot out of the photo and description. Overall, not something I would go out of my way to pick up again, but it was pleasant enough if you like a little inspiration for your own personal shrine.

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific book. Photos of each altar, and what is practically an artist statement to go along with one - each person explaining why they put together this collection of items and how the items/placement/ensemble is significant for them. Lots of variety among the people, their stories, and their reasoning. For some there is deep thought and personal meaning or tradition, for others it is more of a happenstance collection of tchotchkes that has built up in one place.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a lovely gift from a friend & a beautiful book.