Place, Art and Self by Yi-Fu Tuan

This is a though-provoking little book by geographer Yi-Fu Tuan, published 2004.  Tuan also wrote Topophilia, another book combining geography and art.  He asks what do place, art, and self have in common and goes on to explain some connecting facets such as nurture, how the self is sustained by place and the arts and how the arts are actually virtual places.  The reader is constantly propelled in this book by a barrage of questions.  Tuan argues that rootedness is not neccessary to a firm sense of self, and can actually cause a deadening of spirit. He advocates a balance of mobility and stability for place and art to work their magic.  It is a very short book and concludes with photographic work and artist statements of four artists: Tom Young, John Willis, Tammy Mercure and Jocelyn Nevel.