The Canary And The Hammer

"Photographed across four years and four continents, 'The Canary and The Hammer' details our reverence for gold and its role in humanity's ruthless pursuit of progress. Through a mix of image, text and archival material, the third book by British artist Lisa Barnard provides insight into the troubled history of gold and the complex ways it intersects with the global economy. Gold is ubiquitous in modern life; the mineral is concealed at the heart of much of the technology we use and is, most fundamentally, a potent symbol of value, beauty, purity, greed and political power. The Canary and The Hammer strives to connect these disparate stories -- from the mania of the gold rush and the brutal world of modern mining, to the sexual politics of the industry and gold's often dark but indispensable role at the heart of high-tech industry. Prompted by the financial crisis of 2008 and its stark reminder of the global west's determination to accumulate wealth, Barnard sets out to question gold's continued status as economic barometer amidst new intangible forms of technological high--finance. By addressing this through photography, Barnard in turn raises the question of how her chosen medium can respond to such abstract events and concepts. The result is an ambitious project, one sketching a personal journey in which she ultimately tackles the complexity of material representation in these fragmented and troubling times."-- Publisher's website

This vintage book contains a comprehensive handbook on keeping canaries. It includes full directions for the breeding, rearing, and management of canaries and canary mules; information on cage making; formation of canary societies; exhibition canaries, their points, and how to breed and exhibit them; and all other matters connected with this fancy. This book constitutes an invaluable resource for the modern canary breeder, and it would make for an great addition to collections of related literature. The chapters include: “Cages and Cage-Making”, “Breeding and Management”, “Mule Breeding”, “Diseases”, “Moulting”, “Miscellaneous”, “The Original Canary”, “The Belgian”, etcetera. This antiquarian volume is being republished now in an affordable, modern edition - complete with a specially commissioned new introduction on aviculture.