GENNADY SPIRIN’S CREATION

Spirin continues his recent exploration of biblical themes with this attractive interpretation of the creation story. The volume’s striking cover shows the earth in concentric layers of animals and plants, surrounding Adam and Eve at the center. Spirin’s immediately recognizable watercolor illustrations are full of intricate details and delicate patterned elements, with each illustration formatted as a half circle or arched shape suggesting a stained-glass window. Throughout the work Spirin uses the unifying design element of small angel faces surrounded by multiple sets of patterned wings, with a different pair of angels on each page. Similar wings are seen in several illustrations of God, interpreted by Spirin as a mysterious and changing figure with human characteristics. God is depicted at first as an angelic spirit and then as a human figure with a rather scary face of white light and a long, white beard. There is no indication in the text or jacket flap copy that the creation story is from the beginning of the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament, simply that it comes from the Bible. (artist’s note, publisher’s note) (Religion. 4-8)