Product Description
"An essential guide to the art and architecture of ancient Central America."—Colonial Latin American Historical ReviewMary Ellen Miller evocatively surveys the artistic achievements of the high pre-Columbian civilizations—Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Toltec, Aztecas well as those of their less well-known contemporaries. Their pyramids and palaces, jades and brightly colored paintings emerge from these pages as vividly as when they first astonished Cortes's men in 1519.

The fourth edition of this standard work includes exciting new discoveries, from Palenque, Mexico, where architecture and sculpture reveal a dramatic eighth century, to San Bartolo, Guatemala, where Maya paintings have riveted an international audience. Continuing hieroglyphic decipherments provide fresh insights. The revised edition of the Art of Mesoamerica is the ideal companion for art historians, students, and travelers alike. 220 illustrations, 136 in color ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

As Advertised
Item was delivered quicker than stated and was in excellent condition.Quick and painless, will do business again.

The Art of Mesoamerica (World of Art)
I liked to book, it was a lot to read, but informational. It was sent in great care and in good condition. I would order from then. The service was prompt as could be.

An Excellent Survey of Mesoamerican Art and Culture
Note: You're "helpful" votes are appreciated. One Mormon reader likes to automatically give my reviews negative votes because of my negative reviews of books on the Book of Mormon.Oh, well, and Thanks.

Miller's book is a must for anyone interested in the cultures of ancient Mexico and Central America (mesoamerica). It is full of quality photos of the artifacts and ruins. Miller points out many errors.

One picture, for example, shows an Olmec figure holding a child on its lap. "Mexican peasants who found this large greenstone sculpture near las Limas, Veracruze, believed it to be a madonna and child. In fact, it represents a youth holding an Olmec rain deity in his lap."

As for the theories that became popular in the 19th century, Miller dismisses them with the observation that "these claims are made by those unwilling to accept the modern Mesoamerican peasant as the descendant of creators of high culture. Although the question of contact remains unanswered in all its details, by and large it will be assumed here that ideas, inventions, and civilizations arose independently in the New World."

This is another way of pointing out the glaring racism of those who demand an Old World origin of Native American culture.

The claims of the Book of Mormon that there were great Hebrew-Christian civilizations in ancient America are without basis in reality. It is one thing the argue that contact influenced a given culture, but it is an entirely different thing to argue that any civilization in the New World was derived from the Old World.

In thumbing Miller's book, the reader is confronted with the pagan reality of ancient mesoamerica, where the rain gods ruled and human sacrifice was practiced by the Olmecs, the Maya, and the Aztecs. No amount of clever manipulation of the facts by Mormon authors will change this fact.

The Art of Mesmoamerica
A very British take on this history of the Mesoamerican life. It's very detailed with great illustrations and photographs to correlate with the text. Although not impossible a careful reading of the text is necessary to fully understand what is being conveyed.
... Read more

Product Description
This essential guide to the art and architecture of ancient Mesoamerica succinctly and evocatively summarizes the artistic achievements of the high pre-Columbian civilizations—Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Tolec, Aztec—as well as those of their less well-known contemporaries. The pyramids and palaces, jades and brightly colored paintings emerge from these pages as vividly as when they first astonished Cortés's men in 1519. There was a surprising unity in Mesoamerican culture from Mexico to Honduras and from 1500 BC to the Spanish Conquest. Among many features shared were a 260-day ritual calendar and a preoccupation with gods representing natural forces. Current research also emphasizes the great importance of rites of kingship, including warfare and blood sacrifice. In this third edition, Mary Miller opens up new windows on the ancient past with fresh readings of works of art, all the while offering careful archaeological interpretations. Recent hieroglyphic decipherments provide insights into ancient art, spelling out long-distance connections between the Maya and their neighbors. Updated throughout, with special attention to evidence for dating, the new Art of Mesoamerica is the ideal companion for students and travelers. 193 illustrations, 44 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

ready for the trashcan
This book is in terrible condition.It does not rate any star or even partial star.

IT REEKS OF TOBACCO!

And there was something sticky spilled all over the back cover which disgusted me to touch. I had to immediately wash it with alcohol hand cleaner to be able to open it.It is dog eared and has large amounts of underlining, some in pen and some in yellow marker.I don't want it in my house!I don't think I can stand having it in my hands to read it.

The invoice included with it is for another book [Torts (Law in a Flash Cards) by Emanuel, Steven L] and for another buyer, Elizabeth Zager in Holly Springs NC.I suppose the person purchasing this item now has my name and address.I don't like this.

Somebody really goofed up here and I AM NOT HAPPY.

This book in NO WAY qualifies as GENTLY USED.It is a mess.

I have been taken.I want my money back.

Sincerely,
Celeste Turcotte

Waste of time
The content of this book is so dry I'm amazed it didn't light up in my hands.Unless you already have an intimate knowledge of the subject this book does little to educate you.It presents few facts, only one "likely" scenario after another.In fact I count 46 "likely" scenarios in the first three chapters alone.I am "likely" to burn this book after the class that requires it is over.If you are taking a class that requires this book, drop it. Unless you are a pretentious art history major that would love to debate the finer points of the late formative style of Maya artistry, stay away from this book.

Successfull challenge
This book has deeply increased my motivation for learning more of the complex precolombian culture, and to visit again the Museo Nacional Antropologica, Mexico. I would recommend to read first David Carrasco " Religions of Mesoamerica ".

This is very Interesting
Excelent book, great author and great information.
Olmecs,Maya and Aztecs are studing by Mary Eller.

Worthwhile but dense
A solid, useful one-volume survey of Mesoamerican art.Miller is a notedexpert in the field, and she does a commendable job of presenting a largeamount of information in a short space without resorting to superficiality. The text is clear and the photographs are both copious and well-chosen,with numerous color plates adding to the enjoyment.

Almost of necessity,however, the writing style tends to be fairly dense.Those looking for areadable "History of Mesoamerica" should probably go elsewhere. Nonetheless, most readers will find this book rewarding -- after which theywill want to turn to more specific and detailed volumes by Linda Schele andMichael Coe, among others. ... Read more

Product Description
This reference and instructional manual contains adetailed, thoroughly analyzed, well-supported comparison of the fourPacific Northwest First Nations art styles. There are 800 clear,detailed illustrations accompanied by straightforward copy.

Topics include design formline, ovoids, U shapes, S shapes, heads,body parts, and design formation, as well as a step-by-step How toDraw section. 8 1/2" by 11", black and white, durable soft cover,224 pages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great book!
An excellent source for learning how to accurately recreate Northwest Coastal art, how to create original works that are faithful to the style, or just to develop an educated appreciation for the art form.Wonderful book.

Not what it could have been
This is an excellent tutorial in some respects.The instructions are step-by-step, and it is packed with illustrations.However, there is little attempt to address the theme behind the art, to establish the "rules of the form" as, say, Aidan Meehan's books have done for Celtic Art.Bill Holm's classic "Northwest Coast Indian Art: An Analysis of Form" remains the best bet in this field if you are interested in creating original designs in this style.If however, you just want to copy preformed designs and get a feel for the modern trends in this style, this is a good introductory choice.And I do mean modern trends.The other glaring insufficiency in this book is its lack of a classic feel.Many of the designs are not strictly traditional, and though some see this as a sign of vitality, I see it as a blemish on a grand tradition.

If "doing" without understanding is enough...
37 pages of curriculum instruction, 3 pages of history/meanings, 11 pages to teach you how to draw two ovoids one within the other...

Nice instructors manual and handout source for a kids workshop, but the lack of _meaning_ and information density is very low.

I felt like more than half of the book is missing, perhaps volume 2 has more meaningful discusion.

All in all, not a bad book, but not what I was hoping for, if you want an intense course on the mechanics of drawing NWNA, then this is it.If you are teaching children, this is a good resource too.

good beginnings.
This book is an excellent opening into NW Coastal art. It does not address the meanings or legends but mainly how designs are created and build up of elements. Lots of illustrations. Its an excellent reference for the carver or artist wanting to work with the designs (note: no carving techniques etc are discussed; just design but that is enough)

Full of information = full of courage
I bought this book during an Alaskan cruise.By the time we reached our 3rd stop, Ketchikan, we were comfortably literate in North Coast Indian art.(Not experts!)I impressed a carver by being able to identify the animals in the totem pole he was carving.Being able to identify the animals gave our trip a richness we would not have had.
But even better, this wonderful volume, full of instructions, gave me the courage to try to draw something and I am NOT an artist.However, we now have a family totem: a North Coast Indian art version of our Norwich terrier.This book was worth every penny.I can't wait until the volume 2 comes out. ... Read more

Product Description
This wide-ranging survey has established itself as the best single-volume introduction to Andean art and architecture. Now fully revised, it describes the strikingly varied artistic achievements of the Chavín, Paracas, Moche, Chimú, and Inca cultures, among others. Their impressive cities, tall pyramids, shining goldwork, and intricate textiles constitute one of the greatest artistic traditions in history.

For the second edition, Rebecca Stone-Miller has added new material covering the earliest mummification in the world at Chinchorros, wonderful new Moche murals and architectural reconstructions, the latest finds from the Chachapoyas culture, and a greater emphasis on shamanism. Throughout, Stone-Miller demonstrates how the Andean peoples adapted and refined their aesthetic response to an extremely inhospitable environment. 185 illustrations, 35 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

As Advertised
Item was delivered quicker than stated and was in excellent condition.Quick and easy, would do business again!

Insightful look at ancient Andean art
By examining ancient and more recent precontact Andean visual art, Stone-Miller provides an extraordinary insight into Andean culture, philosophy, and world views. In the 2002 revised version, she is able to include recent archaeological discoveries that push Andean civilizations and art further back in time. The book looks at architecture, gourd art, textiles, carving, jewelry and metalsmithing, and ceramics - the techniques of manufacture, trade, symbolism, religious and cultural significance, and aesthetics. She also examines major cultures throughout precontact Andean history and clearly explains how they influenced each other.

Incredible window into Pre-contact Andean world
Illustrations, analysis - all incredible. A wonderful first book for people curious about the indigenous Andean world

Balanced and Astute
This book stands out, among many others, for the quality of insight that Rebecca Stone-Miller brings to her study of Andean art. Not content with simple typology and iconography, her account is illuminated by the cultural constants - "duality,reciprocity, hierarchy, and embeddedness in nature" (p. 218) that she finds in the underlying Andean cultures. Art history, in these terms, becomes an exploration of meaning, both of the art that is produced and of the culture that produces it. It's rare to find so much insight in an introductory book; I highly recommend it.

Another strength of the book is the nicely-judged balance of attention that the author pays to the multitude of cultures (including the Chavin, Nasca, Moche, Wari, Tiwanaku, Chimu, and Inca, to name just some) that weave together into the Andean tapestry. The author also provides balanced coverage of all the arts -- metalwork, tapestry, featherwork, stone working, and architecture, in addition to the ever-popular ceramics (pottery).

With so much ground to cover, there are relatively few individual ceramic examples in the book; this unfortunately gives a too-restricted an idea of the range of form, beauty, and variety of Pre-Columbian pottery from South America. I recommend a book such as "Ceramics of Ancient Peru," by Christopher B. Donnan, as a supplement to Rebecca Stone-Miller's study.

A small number of errors have made it through the second edition. For example, the distance from Quito to Santiago is quoted as 3400 miles, rather than the correct 3400 kilometers. A bothersome number of specialized terms were left out of the index. A glossary would have been helpful, and one wishes that more of the photos had been printed in color rather than black and white.

In summary, "Art of the Andes" is a balanced and insightful survey that should appeal to a wide variety of readers. It's the kind of book that doesn't just sit on the shelf after one reading, but gets picked up again, thumbed through, and read more than once.

Excellent historical overview of native Andean art.
This is an excellent overview of native Andean artform the earliest perod through Chavin, Paracas, Nasca, Moche, Tiwanaku, Wari, to Incan. Covers architecture, textiles ,pottery and metallic arts. Looks at the main themes of religious and secular art in these various mediums. Text is accompanied by many black and white photographs, drawings and plans. Some photographs are in colour.

I found this work most interesting for the way it brings out the Andean worldview through the artistic artifacts remaining of those cultures. The work is also reasonably priced and up to date. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
Introducing a rich historical and religious context, Gautama V. Vajracharya offers an original, nuanced study of the iconography of Indian miniature paintings. Providing an extended analysis of 129 art works catalogued in this book, he explicates the gradual development and interrelationship of two styles of Indic miniature painting from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries: one commissioned by the Muslim Mughal rulers and the other by Hindu Rajput princes. He shows that belief systems reflected in ancient Indian art continued to be expressed, whether consciously or not, in later Indian miniature paintings and in other artistic forms well into the nineteenth century. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the first in-depth study of kalarippayattu - one of India's traditional martial and medical arts dating from at least the 12th century AD. Based on twenty years of research and practice in Kerala, this study traces how kalarippayattu is a mode of cultural practice through which bodies, knowledges, powers, agency, selves, and identities are constantly repositioned. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fascinating Look at an Indian Martial Art
This book, by a western academic who spent extensive periods of time studying Kalarippayattu in India, provides an interesting, detailed ethnographic survey of this little known martial art. Kalari is a complete art in the sense that it includes conditioning exercises, empty hand forms, a variety of weapons (staff, spear, daggers, and swords, including an amazing long flexible sword), holistic health practices such as massage, and spiritual practices. The art is based on Ayurvedic principles, and includes (like Chinese martial arts) a system of vital points (called marma) which can be used for either healing or causing harm. The author gives extensive information about the history, rituals, and social aspects of this South Indian art. The book is not a how-to, instructional manual, but a scholarly study with extensive footnotes. However, it is packed with lots of cool pictures. Highly recommended!

It is a book worth reading
The book deals with the little known martial art of south India called Kalari which is believed to be the oldest of all martial arts.The author has done an excellent job. ... Read more

Product Description
This lavishly illustrated volume offers a stunning new view of Yosemite's visual history by presenting two hundred works of art together with provocative essays that explore the rich intersections between art and nature in this incomparable Sierra Nevada wilderness. Integrating the work of Native peoples, it provides the first inclusive view of the artists who helped create an icon of the American wilderness by featuring painting, photography, basketry, and other artworks from both well-known and little-studied artists from the nineteenth century to the present. Yosemite: Art of an American Icon pursues several evocative themes, including the relationship between environment and aesthetics in Yosemite; the various ways in which artists have shaped how we see and use the park; and the dynamic intersections between art, nature, and commerce that have played out during its history. In addition to offering a wide-ranging view of Yosemite's art over the past two centuries, the volume provides intriguing insights into the complexities and contradictions inherent in its enduring image as both an unspoiled natural wonder and a must-see spot for sightseers.
With Essays by Amy Scott, William Deverell, Kate Nearpass Ogden, Gary F. Kurutz, Brian Bibby, Jennifer A. Watts, and Jonathan Spaulding
Copub: Museum of the American West ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Certain Yosemite Native American people are misidentified. Not Miwoks, but Paiute.
The problem that many Yosemite, Bridgeport, Bishop and Mono Lake Paiutes have with this book is that many of the Yosemite Indians are misidentified tribally. Before the book was published some of our Paiute historians contacted the Autry and Amy Scott with documentation concerning the ancestry of important Mono Lake Paiute people. We adivsed the Autry and gave them the Charlie family's 1928 California Indian Applications. Instead of identifying them correctly they went with Craig Bates book Tradition and Innovation as the source of the Indian ancestry in the Yosemite area. The problem with using Craig D. Bates book, Tradition and Innovation, is that it is full of errors. The book, in the Yosemite American Indian biography section, has Young Charlie as a son of a "Yosemite Miwok chief". In know as a fact this is incorrect. I know many of the Charlies and they are NOT Yosemite Miwoks, but full blooded Paiutes. We Paiutes who are descendant of the Charlie family would like to know where is the original source that states that Young Charlie was a the son of a Yosemite Miwok chief. Every piece of documentation, probates, land sales and 1928 California Indian Applications of the whole family the Charlies are documented as full blooded Mono Lake Paiutes. Daisy Mallory was a full blooded Yosemite Mono Lake Paiute, yet her baskets are not identified on page 109. The George Wharton photo of woman sitting with a gambling tray, page 95, is not identified. She is a Paiute. Helen Coats grandmother is not Lucy Telles, her mother Hazel, was an orphan adopted by Lucy Telles. Where and when was it identified that was a "Miwok family" by Martin Mason Hazeltine on page 93. Who identified it and when was ever noted that this grouping was a Miwok family? No one should ever use Tradition and Innovation as reference material for any type of genealogy of the Yosemite Indians because many of the Yosemite Indians in that book have incorrect tribal identification or they are implied. All of Young Charlie's and his families tribal governmental documentation states they were Mono Lake Paiutes and NOT Miwoks. We have done an extensive family research and there is no evidence that before the non-profit Southern Seirra Miwuks went federal recognition there is any proof that Young Charlie was a ever a son of a Miwok chief. Edwin Charles is not from the same family as the Charlies.

Excellent Look at American Icon
This a an excellent compilation of the history and beauty of Yosemite and it's art. Amy Scott is a bright voice in the art world. I highly recommend it.
... Read more

Product Description
While most Indian cookbooks feature the cuisine of Northern India, here is an introduction to the flavourful, and predominantly vegetarian, dishes of Southern India, particularly the Madras region. Over 100 recipes for tempting appetisers, chutneys, rice dishes, vegetables and stews -- flavoured with onions, tomatoes, garlic, and delicate spices in varying combinations -- have been adapted for the western kitchen. Clear instructions along with an introduction to Indian spices ensure that even novice cooks can produce delicious, authentic meals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Useful
South Indian cooking is quite different from North Indian cooking. The spices are different and, although not entirely vegetarian, there is much less use of meat.

The book has a refreshingly practical approach in a market that seems increasingly dominated by foody-porn. There are no glossy, full page photographic spreads. Instead, you'll find a simple collection of recipes and hints and real-world advice on preparing the staples of South Indian cusine, idlis, dohsa, sambar, various appetizers, bahjis, rice dishes, and a few meat dishes. The instructions are clear. A nice feature of these recipes is that they mostly tend to use different combinations of the same dozen or so staple ingredients, easily found in an Indian grocery.

I have enjoyed everything I've prepared from this book. I would recommend it to anyone, like me, who enjoys South Indian food and is looking for a practical introduction.

Too much tomato sauce
Actually, there are a lot of good recipes here.My husband is from Tamil Nadu and I am always trying to find recipes for some of the dishes I've had at his family home in a Tanjore, especially the delicious vegetable dishes that restaurants never offer.I find that many of these recipes come out very well if I alter them a bit.I use chopped fresh tomatos instead of the ubiquitous tomato sauce, which really drowns the other flavors in the dishes.She also puts tomato sauce where I don't expect a tomato flavor - is this a Chettinad thing?I still haven't found the recipe book I crave: one that tells how to prepare those veggie dishes as my in-laws do!(I get some from them, but the differences in language and kitchen technology makes it hard).

My Reference For South Indian Cooking
I highly recommend this book, which to my mind is a good book on South Indian cooking. Unlike a lot of my other cooking books that sit on the shelf after first use, I have gone back to Alamelu's "Art Of South Indian Cooking," many times, both as a source of reference and to try new dishes. The recipes described are easy to follow, quick to make and delicious. A sure BUY if you like South Indian cooking.

My Reference For South Indian Cooking
I highly recommend this book, which to my mind is a good book on South Indian cooking. Unlike a lot of my other cooking books that sit on the shelf after first use, I have gone back to Alamelu's "Art Of South Indian Cooking," many times, both as a source of reference and to try new dishes. The recipes described are easy to follow, quick to make and delicious. A sure BUY if you like South Indian cooking!

Delectable and Fun!
This book presents a variety of authentic and delicious South Indian recipies in a clear and accessible way, especially to novice cooks like me. My favorite dishes are "Bell Pepper and Tomato Rice", "Eggplant Masala Curry" and the yogurt salads. I have prepared and served these items to the wild acclaim of my friends and family. The vegetarian dishes presented in this book are wonderful with traditional "American" items such as grilled shrimp or chicken.However, vegetarian dishes this mouth-watering and filling may render meat entrees surplusage.This book is my most used cookbook! ... Read more

Product Description
While covering prehistory, "North American Indian Artifacts" also addresses contemporary art and artwork, presenting updated items, prices, and new photos to this wildly popular field. 140 color and 1,900 b&w photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Essential guide to No. American Indian artifacts,culture
This is the 6th edition on North American Indian culture and artifacts by a true expert.It contains thousands of photos, mostly black and white, with some in full color.Lots of data on dozens of topics from arrowheadsto pottery, baskets, beadwork, clothing, toys, weavings and jewelry.Itincludes a handy directory of dealers in Indian materials, arranged bystate.Most items shown include their approximate value.A worthwhileaddition to the library of everyone interested in North American Indianculture.Not just a picture-price guide, but a valuable reference. ... Read more

Product Description
As the Great Depression touched every corner of America, the New Deal promoted indigenous arts and crafts as a means of bootstrapping Native American peoples. But New Deal administrators' romanticization of indigenous artists predisposed them to favor pre-industrial forms rather than art that responded to contemporary markets.

In A New Deal for Native Art Jennifer McLerran reveals how positioning the native artist as a pre-modern Other served the goals of New Deal programs—and how this sometimes worked at cross-purposes with promoting native self-sufficiency. She describes federal policies of the 1930s and early 1940s that sought to generate an upscale market for Native American arts and crafts. And by unraveling the complex ways in which commodification was negotiated and the roles that producers, consumers, and New Deal administrators played in that process, she sheds new light on native art’s commodity status and the artist’s position as colonial subject.

In this first book to address the ways in which New Deal Indian policy specifically advanced commodification and colonization, McLerran reviews its multi-pronged effort to improve the market for Indian art through the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, arts and crafts cooperatives, murals, museum exhibits, and Civilian Conservation Corps projects. Presenting nationwide case studies that demonstrate transcultural dynamics of production and reception, she argues for viewing Indian art as a commodity, as part of the national economy, and as part of national political trends and reform efforts.

McLerran marks the contributions of key individuals, from John Collier and Rene d’Harnoncourt to Navajo artist Gerald Nailor, whose mural in the Navajo Nation Council House conveyed distinctly different messages to outsiders and tribal members. Featuring dozens of illustrations, A New Deal for Native Art offers a new look at the complexities of folk art “revivals” as it opens a new window on the Indian New Deal. ... Read more

Product Description
The Splendid Heritage catalog of American Indian artifacts represents the commitment of American collectors to share the beauty and significance of hundreds of ethnographic treasures with a worldwide audience. Originally exhibited as the Akicita Collection at the Southwest Museum and as Splendid Heritage at the Wheelwright and Eiteljorg Museums, the expanded collection of artifacts will be on display for a year at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts beginning in February 2009.

This catalog became a reality through the thoughtful, collaborative efforts of John and Marva Warnock and several collectors of rare and unusual artifacts, the majority of which were produced by Plains and Eastern Woodlands cultures. Their passionate respect and attention to detail is reflected in descriptions and provenance for every artifact, presented in magnificent full-page color images and accompanied by essays from internationally recognized scholars and curators. The contributors celebrate the artifacts not merely for their singular qualities as fine art, but also for their significance in the religious and political lives of their original owners. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Splendid Heritage review
I frequently buy books on Indian arts and crafts.This one was very different from others I have and unexpectedly beautiful and interesting.

native american history by tribe through their art and craftsmanship
From the minute you open the book, your reminded of its' quality. The raised cover, the binding, and excellent paper.This is one of the best compulations of indian arts with narritve, and the visuals of each tribes vivid designs and colors using all sorts of mediums to accent their histories.What is said about using everything, wasting nothing is finely represented in this visual wonderland.This book, which in itself a work of art is very hard to put down.I strongly urge American history buffs, art lovers, and wanderors through indian lore to get this one. This is a "Five Star book" ... Read more

Product Description
The seminal collection of paintings from Howard Terpning, the undisputed master painter of the Plains Indians, and history by award-winning Elmer Kelton. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

This is not western dime novel art
As an observer of western culture, old and new, I found Mr. Terpening's work intellectually and emotionally moving.As a south Texas child of the 40's, I grew up on cowboy and (sometimes) Indian movies and, therefore, developed certain notions as to the civilized nature of the Native American.Much later, I married a "white" that was born and raised on an Indian reservation in Montana.My perception changed.Later still, I read a number of novels centered on Native Americans and their struggles to meld their familial heritage with modern reality.I particularly enjoyed Tony Hillerman's stories (I like mysteries and this was a good match)and also Elmer Kelton with yet a different view of Native Americans.I guess my point is that, though my perspective may be somewhat shallow, Terpening's raw depictions of Indians living their lives everyday shocked me.I had not fully appreciated the near stone-age technology these people were pitting against the best European Civilization could bring to bear.Terpening's ruthless yet delicate depiction of emotion as evidenced in his subjects' faces and posture, be it fear, determination, wonder, skepticism, hate, or elation took me totally unprepared to accept and empathize with what was clearly going on in the work.His accuracy as to detail has been documented by others more knowledgeable than me as remarkably correct.I was starkly reminded of the similarity of our Native Americans and the Australian Aborigines.Every time I revisit this book, I find myself studying yet another pictorial factoid of Indian life not noticed before.
As an artist, I find Mr. Terpening's work exciting and fully worthy of the praise heaped upon it by, again, those more knowledgeable than myself.The art work is wonderfully reproduced and well worth the investment.

Terpning Western Art
This is an excellent book.Howard Terpning is very exact in his art - as to the costumes of the time, etc.
It is a "good read".I knew his parents, so this makes it even more interesting to me.It is a book that you can pick up and enjoy at different times and also one you have a hard time in putting down.

Beautifully Painted and Narrated
Howard Terpning's narrative paintings are superb, It is facinating to learn about the trials as well as culture, traditions and rituals of the Native American indians, All Americans have much to learn about the loss of freedoms... their history is much our own, learn your history, real history not what public schools are spoon feeding our youth.

Beautiful book
This book is a work of art in itself.Not only are there beautiful pictures, but the narrative that goes with each picture is very well written and informative.You learn that Terpning is as much a historian as he is an artist.When he depicts a person from a particular tribe, he paints the correct clothing and hair style for that tribe.I also learned that various tribes had different facial structures.

A greatest master from 20th century
Howard Terpning is the one of the if not the best artist in this century.His spectacular artistic style is definitly far more superior to any other famous artists out there.The way he uses his colors and the wayhe applies brush strokes is unbelievable.When you read this book written byElmer Kelton you will travel back in time and enjoy beautiful paintingsdone by a master.Such a great book,as a proffesional artist I recommendthis every artist,art enthusiast and Indian art lovers,hurry up before itbecomes out of print. ... Read more

Product Description
Art of the Northwest Coast is a comprehensive survey of the Native arts of the Pacific Northwest Coast, from Puget Sound to Alaska and from prehistoric times to the present. Incorporating the region’s social history with the observations of anthropologists, historians of art, and Native peoples, this groundbreaking volume examines how the upheavals of European contact affected the development of a powerful traditional art. By exploring the distinct origins of each of the area’s linguistic groups and their histories, mythologies, and art forms, art historian Aldona Jonaitis reveals how a complex web of factors informed these groups’ varied responses to the changes and challenges brought about by contact with Europeans.

The post-contact period has often been considered a time of decline for Native artistic traditions and techniques, but Jonaitis convincingly argues against this assumption. The traditions were not lost, she asserts, but rather were expressed in different ways. Forms such as tourist art – made expressly for sale rather than for community use – were for some the only outlets available in the trying, repressive years when Natives were deprived of their land, rights, and essential cultural expressions. While art made for community use was often judged "inferior" in quality to nineteenth-century creations, it still expressed the strong aesthetics of a surviving Native culture.

Since the 1960s, Native artistic activity has flourished and is increasingly recognized as fine art rather than anthropological artifact. Repatriation of Native works of art from museums, a strong market for collectors and dealers, and a reaffirmation of traditional culture and heritage among Native communities all contribute to a vibrant field in which Native artists reflect their enduring cultures in works that explore many contemporary directions.

Compellingly written and beautifully illustrated, Art of the Northwest Coast is a cornerstone addition to any library and essential reading for anyone interested in the art of Native cultures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Art of the Northwest Coast
This book appears to be designed as a text book.Jonaitis is a professor at University of Alaska Fairbanks.Size (6 3/4 x 9 3/4) is right for a backpack.The print appears to have been shrunk to fit the book; size of type in descriptions of work is particularly tiny.The bibliography is in the form of a "Biographic Essay" rather than the usual list form and seems to be a schoolboy approach and makes finding a particular reference difficult. I found no reference listing other sources taking a historical or chronological approach, which would have been helpful.References to times of early pieces are in terms of BCA and CA, which appears to be some sort of scholastic approach preferred to BC and AD.

Amazon's description of the book notes that the book is against a an approach assuming a time of decline. Aldonis references "what is commonly called the `Northwest Coast renaissance," stating that the revival of the art in late 20th century was a continuation of the art and involved a number of artists.She, Steve Brown, and Robert Davidson have taken this position previously, which position is a reaction to the position that the renaissance or whatever is the product of one man, Bill Reid.There appears to be a real effort on the part of special interests supporting Reid to have him identified as the sole cause, which results in a distortion of the history of the art and should be addressed..

I have never heard Lalooska referred to as Lalooska Smith, rather than Lalooska or Don Smith. The book touches on migrations of forms of the art; I would like more.The "renaissance" is largely a phenomenon of increased demand for the art by non-Indians and a result of application of the Econ. 1, law of supply and demand.No one (including the Reid proponents) has addressed who buys or why they buy resultingin the current increase demand for the art.A real factor in today's market for the art is the internet.Sometime some historian should address its impact on demand.All in all a good book well priced. ... Read more

Product Description
One in a stunning series of beautiful art books celebrating the golden age of illustration. Each volume showcases fourteen faithfully reproduced artworks from the Collectors Press archives, each selected with attention to historical significance and artistic merit. A lively introduction discusses the artists and times. Through the 1920s Indian maidens glamorized the passing of the Old West. They adorned the walls of saloons and tobacco shops, and were important precursors to the pin-up girl. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Indian Maidens via Cliff Notes
This coffee table type book is ok if you're looking for a marginal introduction to the art of Indian Maidens.Not allot of history here sorry to say, more or less a synopsis written on two pages dealing with the 1920's and 30's when the Indian Maiden was at its zenith. Also a quick run down of the more popular artists during this time. The rest of the book contains 14 one-sided color plates that give you an idea of the stylized art that was used. Most of these plates are the more popular prints you see popping up on ebay from time to time. I guess when you come down to it I was hoping for a more in-depth approach to the artists, their techniques, and also to the numerous Indian Maiden prints that still to this day have no idea who painted them.
A synopsis it is... an unabridged addition it is not.
... Read more

Product Description

The rich and diverse cultures of India are represented in exquisite detail in this book, which begins with a simple question: what is Indian art? The answer is as complex as the history of a nation that is only sixty years old and a civilization that is one of the oldest in the world. The vocabulary of Indian art is syncretic and is shaped by a variety of religious influences such as Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist. Persian, Turkish, Central Asian, Chinese, Japanese, as well as a host of European artistic traditions have also left their imprint on India. And the stunning topography of the subcontinent--the majestic Himalayas in the north, the dramatic deserts of Rajasthan, the fertile Gangetic plain, a southern coastline washed by the waves of the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal--continues to shape the Indian artistic imagination.

Each thematically organized chapter in this book delves into such topics as religion and myth, epics, festivals, courtly and village life, and the natural world. The gorgeous close-ups of paintings, textiles, and sculptures in metal, ivory, and wood illuminate the aesthetics and workmanship, as well as recurrent motifs that are distinctly Indian. The objects are all part of the extraordinary Indian Art collection in the British Museum. The beauty of the smallest details are magnified and contextualized through the accompanying essays written by an expert on Indian art and culture.

Product Description
UNDERSTANDING NORTHWEST COAST ART is a handy, dictionary-style reference guide to identifying and understanding the symbols, crests, and beings depicted in Northwest Coast Native American works of art such as totem poles, masks, and prints.

The first section of the book features an alphabetical list of words relating to Northwest Coast art, with definitions, descriptions, and explanations and synopses of the major myths associated with them.As an aid to identification and understanding, many of the crests, beings, and symbols are illustrated in 70 reproductions of contemporary artworks and archival photos.The entries cover a wide range: crests such as Eagle, Dogfish, or Dragonfly; ancestral beings such as Creek Woman or Thunderbird; mythic beings such as Raven, the Chief of the Undersea, or Cedar Man; and supernatural beings such as Death-Bringer.

The book also includes brief descriptions of the design conventions, design elements, and different art styles of Northwest Coast cultural groups, along with an overview of the interconnections between art, myth, and ceremony.

Easy to use and easy to read, this volume is an essential source for understanding and visually identifying the underlying themes and subjects of Northwest Coast Native American Art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Northwest Coast Art, more of an introduction book
I honestly have to say that the lure to the book "Northwest Coast Art: A Guide to Crests, Beings, and Symbols" was the cover.Wow!If you love Northwest Coast Art, the beautiful hat with the frog crest motif is a big fat warm dangling from a hook and you're the fish.It's a wonderful book for those who are just starting to have interest in the art forms of the Northwest Coast peoples, but it will not interest those who have a firm foundation of the culture and symbols.Its set up like a dictionary and alphabetizes terms, animals, ceremonies, and more.I liked it, for the most part, but it felt more like it was gaged for the high school reader; but you got to love that cover!I won't lie.That's definetly what reeled me in to purchasing this book on-line.

Northwest Coast Art
A wonderful reference book for anyone interested in
understanding the intricacies and symbolism of the
art of Northwest Coast native peoples.Well illustrated.

Excellent, but somewhat mis-titled book
This is a very good book that fills a definite need.

It is very easy to use, because it is organized like an encyclopedia (although nowhere near as large), with entries listed alphabetically. Each entry is between one paragraph and half a page in length.

The book covers a nice range of topics. It covers the standard myths and legends in a very condensed way that gives you the gist of what you need to know so when someone says "this shows the Raven stealing the Sun" you'll know why that's important.

The author also covers everyday items in a native's life, like clams and coppers, and tells why these things are important.

The third type of entry is totally mythological beings, like Sisiyutl, and tells just enough to get a good sense of who each is and why it is important.

The breadth of the book is excellent, as the author also covers things that are rarely covered in other books. For example, the Heron was not uncommonly used as a crest and in artwork, but it is almost never even mentioned in other books. This book has it.

The title is somewhat misleading, however, because it does not really explain the meaning of Northwest Coast art, per se, but rather explains the meaning of the things that are depicted in the artwork.

For example, the entry on Beaver goes for 8 paragraphs talking about why beaver is important to the people for its fur, along with some of the myths and legends and Beaver's place in the world of mythological creates. Right at the end of the entry, the author finally gives 3 sentences telling us the characteristics of a beaver as it is depicted in the art in order to help you identify a beaver carving or drawing. So you understand the meaning of the THING, but not of the ART. Some of the similar types of entries don't even tell how the thing is normally depicted.

If your primary goal is to understand how the art is created, or how to identify the various creatures by looking at the artwork, or even how to draw it yourself, this is not the book for you. the few pages in the appendix are well done, but far too brief. Instead, get "Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast" by Stewart, "Learning by Designing" by Gilbert and Clark, and "Northwest Coast Indian Art, an Analysis of Form" by Holm.

If you want more extensive descriptions of myths and legends, there are a large number of books available. Also, this book has very little in the way of artwork or pictures. It is very text-oriented.

Nonetheless, if you want a handy, easy-to-use, easy-to-read book that is more broad in its coverage than any I've found so far, and at the same time gets right to the point in each entry, this is the book for you. It is well worth having as part of your library. ... Read more

Product Description
To the developed world, the destruction of the Amazon rainforest has become an issue of vital concern. The ever-diminishing indigenous tribes inhabiting this vast region of beauty are equally threatened. Yet while the Western passion for folk art continues to thrive, the extraordinary creations of the peoples of the Amazon have until now received little attention. This book is their definitive documentation. A variety of objects both ceremonial and utilitarian are illustrated in over 150 specially commissioned photographs - exotic headresses, feather dance costumes, anteater masks, body ornaments of all kinds, ceramics, basketry and weapons - while the text defines the anthropological significance of each artifact. The objects embody a wealth of natural materials, from iridescent beetle wings and plumage, to animal teeth and woods - surviving expressions of a fragile environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Introduction to Amazon Indian art.
This book is the "Bible" for collectors of Indigenous Amazonian art and no wonder - there are hundreds of photos of items from America's largest private collection of "lowland" Indian art between its covers.

Peter Roe's essay is also outstanding and is the best text I've ever read on the subject. Dr. Roe spent several years living with the Wai-Wai tribe and has written several other books. Look out for his soon to be released (I hope)essay in Tribal Arts magazine (tribalarts.com)

Also recommended is the far more extensive A Plumaria Indigena Brasiliera (Indigenous Brazilian Featherwork).

Gift of the birds
With the ever encroaching Western civilization and corresponding shrinking Indian population of the Amazon the result has beena diminishing indigenous culture.Along with the collection itself this book helps to preserve those artifacts from the Amazon. This beautiful bookshows off the collectionof Adam Mekler who has probably the best collection of it's kind in the United States. Since much of the art of the Amazon is consumed by the environment and made from items suseptible to decay, such as wood, animal feathers, cloth and fibers it is important to preserve these windows into the souls of their makers. This book is primarily a picture book, filled with magnificnet colorful photographs, many of which are full pages. The book relies heavily on the feather work created from the birds of the Amazon such as parrots, mackaws and hummingbirds. The items shown in the book are headdresses, dance costumes, necklaces, various ornamentsandother artifacts associated with ceremonies.Many of the pieces are those used in shamanistic rituals. The text is brief but the explanations for the various pieces illustrate the use of the itemsquite well. The explanation of the South Amerindian beliefs in a perfect hidden reality behind the perceptible and imperfect worldthat is accesssed through altered states of awareness is pretty good. The transformation comes about by doning the costumes of the spirits and animals and thus joing them. Although from a laymens perspective these practices seem novel ,the doning of costumes is much more as the adornments are an armor revealing status through the power accrutements. The text is extremely interesting and worth reading rather than just glossing over because of the abundance of beautiful photographs. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves the indigenous arts ofAmerica, specifically the Amazon, it's people and their culture. More than a picture book, this is a glimpse into the known unknown of the many surviving tribes of their dissappearing and distinctive cultural and linguistic traditions.

A key for me in my studies
I'm actually puzzled why no one else has reviewed this book - it has been so helpful to me as I've struggled to understand the mysteries of Amazon art. For me the keyword has to be accessibility - I felt as I was there under the canopy as I turned the pages. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Among the most popular and ubiquitous sculptures in nineteenth-century America were the ship's figurehead and the cigar-store Indian. The vast majority of these engaging human figures were created by shipcarvers-highly skilled artists celebrated for their masterful figureheads but who collectively made tens of thousands of shop figures as well, from fanciful representations of American Indians to firemen, baseball players, and fashionable women.

Shaped by nineteenth-century Anglo-American values, this artwork reflects the tenor of the times, including racial and gender stereotyping, America's emerging popular culture, and the birth of modern advertising techniques.

The Shipcarvers' Art is the first book to assess the artistry and history of these two closely related genres in a single volume. Richly illustrated and elegantly written, it reveals the intertwining of art, commerce, and shipcarving in nineteenth-century America. On March 22, 1856, for example, only four months after Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem Hiawatha was first published, the clipper Minehaha was launched at an East Boston shipyard. Its figurehead depicted a renowned English actress in her role as Hiawatha's wife, Minehaha. Central to the festivities surrounding the event were poet, actress, and shipbuilder--and a fictional image of the Native American.

Ralph Sessions not only highlights the work of shipcarvers throughout the eastern United States and Canada but also presents new information on carving workshops in New York City, America's key shipbuilding center from around 1820 until after the Civil War.

Just as they were vanishing from the bows of ships and city streets around the turn of the twentieth century, figureheads and shop figures began to experience renewed interest as museum pieces and collector's items. Representing a milestone in scholarship on the subject, The Shipcarvers' Art magnificently brings them alive once more for art lovers of the twenty-first century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Welcome addition to the canon
I collect figures. I have read the books that are used for reference. I have seen the exhibit that was chaperoned by Mr. Sessions (Sandwich,MA., NYC,NY & Baltimore,MD). I am a student of the art he describes! I was impressed by his scholarship, his easy east coast art scene style of writing, his photography/graphics, his hommage to Ms. Sanburn, Mr. Pendergast & Mr. Fried (I knew him). This is not a picture atlas. This is not a coffee table book. I would have liked to seen/read more especially regarding the social relevance of color race &c.(the folly of the time theirs & ours) but this is another matter! I RECOMMEND this book to all who treasure american sculpture.The vulgar artist is finally getting his place(WELL DONE Mr Sessions! What is next?). ... Read more