Transforming the crown : African, Asian & Caribbean artists in Britain, 1966-1996 /

There are multiple components to this very fine exhibition catalog, written from a North American perspective by the African Diaspora Institute, New York City. Eight scholarly essays first provide a theoretical context for the challenges faced by the minority "black" diaspora artists in Britain, i.e., artists of African, Asian, and Caribbean descent. Discussed are issues of national culture, marginalization versus centrality for nondominant people, sociological identity, gender-defined roles, the history of the Caribbean Artists Movement, black women photographers in Britain, and the emergence of the Black Arts movement in 1980s Britain. These commentaries are highly stimulating and naturally of great interest for African American studies as well. The rest of this attractive book is devoted to the exhibition proper: the highly original but little-known works of 54 nonwhite British artists, reproduced in full color. Outline biographies follow, illustrated with memorable portrait photographs of each artist. The fascinating 17-page "Selected Chronology" follows, covering the turbulent sociopolitical racial issues and events of 1946-96 in Britain and the US. This section is not to be overlooked, since it can be read separately from the context of the exhibition, to great advantage. Checklist; essential bibliography. Strongly recommended. General readers; graduates; faculty. M. Hamel-Schwulst; Towson University