Museums

The creator of such Marvel comic book superheroes as Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk, and The Fantastic Four -- cartoonist Stan Lee. He joined Marvel comic books at the age of 16, more than 30 years ago. A new book about Marvel Comics has just been published, "Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics." (published by Harry A. Abrams, New York).

After decades of domestic bliss, the comic strip character Blondie is venturing out into the work force. Commentator Maureen Corrigan tells us what she thinks of that development.

Photographer Annie Leibovitz. She's famous for her portraits of celebrities that capture the person behind the public image. She's photographed John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Ella Fitzgerald, Mick Jagger, Tennessee Williams and others. Her photographs have been featured in Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair. A new book of her photographs has just been published: "Annie Leibovitz Photographs 1970-1990." (Harper/Collins).

Perl's new book, "Gallery Going," is a collection of essays about the art world of the late 80s and 90s. He says that museums are succumbing to new pressures to generate income, which is affecting the kind of art curators choose to feature.

Architects Robert Venturi and Denise Soctt Brown. Venturi has just been awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize. His famous response to the modernist philosophy that "less is more," was "less is a bore," and is credited as a major turning point in modernist architecture. Venturi and Brown are the authors of several books on architecture. Current projects include a new wing of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square in London, and a new building for the Seattle Art Museum.

Independent producer Harriet Baskas takes us on a tour of the Max Factor Museum of Beauty, which gives this history of the cosmetics maker's rise.

John Richardson's new biography, "A Life of Picasso," has been hailed as the best book about the great artist. He's joined by Picasso's daughter, Paloma Picasso.

The American artist is credited with reviving the art of lithography in this country. In 1960, Wayne founded the Tamarind Workshop in Los Angeles. She's considered one of the prominent lithographers in this country. Throughout her career, she's had to contend with sexism which impugned her professional status.

Critic Maureen Corrigan tells us about the new exhibit by photographer Annie Leibovitz at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Ringgold combines painting and quilt making to create brightly colored and patterned story pictures. She lives in Harlem and teaches half the year at the University of California at San Diego. She's just completed a picture book for children, "Tar Beach," inspired by her story quilt of the same name.