Visual Art and the Urban Evolution of the New South

"a valuable account of an important aspect of southern urban culture."—Register of the Kentucky Historical Society

"A most succinct encapsulation of Louisville's arts and cultural history. Much as the Ohio River caresses this city, the author's discussion of the evolution of culture, arts and a fascinating philanthropic history is intertwined perfectly. The Louisville chapter is a literary treasure and gift for our city by the river."—David L. Buchta, director and state curator, Kentucky Division of Historic Properties

"Visual Art and the Urban Evolution of the New South is referenced like a doctoral dissertation, but reads like the page-turner novel. This book is nothing short of fabulous, and a must-read for the artist, architect, collector, historian or anyone interested in the contribution of the arts to the development of the New South."—Jay Rayburn, Florida State University

"Deborah Pollack has produced a thought-provoking and vibrant study on the aesthetic life of six southern cities. As informed by urban development and an evolving visual culture, Pollack expands our understanding of the New South through the periods of Reconstruction, the Gilded Age, and early Modernism. Regional identity and iconography are positioned among interconnected themes of transatlantic influence, race, gender, patronage, and aestheticism in this meaningful contribution to existing scholarship in the history of the South."—Nancy Siegel, professor of art history, Towson University

"In her path breaking study, Visual Art and the Urban Evolution of the New South, Deborah Pollack has provided readers with innovative, compelling arguments, amid a carefully-crafted narrative, for the critical role of the visual arts in the development of six important Southern cities in the eighty-five years following the catastrophic Civil War."—Paul George, professor of history, Miami Dade College

"Deborah Pollack's groundbreaking well-documented study of urban development and art in the South emphasizes race and gender as crucial elements."—Judith H. Bonner, senior curator and curator of art, The Historic New Orleans Collection

"This is a major readable and scholarly contribution to understanding the arts...."—C. W. Westfall, University of Notre Dame, Choice: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries, August 2015