Nothing But the Truth: An Anthology of Native American Literature

Book Description

For the past twenty-five years an extraordinary art movement has been underway in the remote countryside of northern Mexico, a renaissance of ceramic art in the tiny village of Mata Ortiz. As unlikely as it may seem, this phenomenon was sparked by the genius of a village woodcutter of rare artistic talent and equally rare determination, Juan Quezada.

Over the years, by trial and error, Juan Quezada gradually recreated the technology of the ancient pre-Columbian masterpieces, until modern masterpieces also emerged from his own hands. Now this reawakening of the ancient art is taking many forms in the hands of some three hundred villagers.

Noted Arizona author Susan Lowell has written a fascinating traveler's introduction to the region, the town, Juan Quezada, and many other village artists. Lowell's essay is followed by a biographical survey of a cross-section of 100 potters along with color photographs of their work and portraits of the potters. Included is a guide for travelers planning to visit the village, an index of Mata Ortiz potters, a schedule of exhibitions in the U. S. and Mexico of Mata Ortiz pottery featured in this book, a glossary, and a bibliography.

Customer Reviews:

Treasure on Treasures.......2007-01-10

"The Many Faces of Mata Ortiz" is a treasure trove of information about the treasures that are the Mata Ortiz people and pottery. It is well laid-out, well written, and well...wonderful!! The only thing that would make my copy better are autographs by Juan Quezada himself and every other potter in the book.

Unfortunately for whatever reason, Juan's son Alvaro is not featured in the book. He is indeed an exceptional artist.

I was able to meet Alvaro and Juan Quezada in Nov 2006 in their family gallery in Mata Ortiz and found them and their entire family to be humble friendly and genuinely thrilled that people love their wonderful creations.

If you have not had the opportunity to visit Mata Ortiz, "The Many Faces of Mata Ortiz" will inspire you to go. If you have, it will make you pine for it and it's people.

Want to know more about Mata Ortiz and its potters?.......2005-09-24

This is a great book for all that are curious about Mata Ortiz pottery and the people who make it. If you want to start collecting, it's a great book to have for a reference source. All artists mentioned in this book are of high caliber, as good, some even better than the Native American potters of the Southwest. At this time, these wares are also less expensive and affordable to most people. Hopefully they will be a good investment for the future.

Susan Moesch

Mata Ortiz Pottery.......2005-07-19

A wonderful collection of photographs combined with dialoge about this remote village in Mexico. It describes the journey to get there, then details the lives of the talented people who live there. The photogtaphy is outstanding. A must for any person collecting or thinking of collecting pottery from this village.

The Next Best Thing To Owning A Pot.......2003-07-18

Almost 40 years ago Juan Quesada from the village of Mata Ortiz in Chihuahua singlehandedly revived Casa Grande style pottery. This book is a beautifully illustrated account of his success, along with the other artists of the village who learned from him. Becoming familiar with these artists should lay to rest the notion held by many Americans that Mexican imports are second class. These paper-thin pots are as beautiful as any you will ever see. This book has color photographs of many of the potters from Mata Ortiz as well as pictures of their pots. There is information on how the pots are made-- they are all built by hand from native materials, painted with brushes made from the artists' children's hair and fired over cow dung.

The book has a lot of interesting details-- for instance, when the Pope visited Mexico a few years ago, he was given three of these magnificent pots. Another fascinating tidbit is that one of every seven citizens of this village makes these pots. They have gone from doing manual labor to creating works of art.

Owning this book is the next best thing to owning a Mata Ortiz pot.

The Many Faces Of Mata Ortiz.......2000-09-08

This is the best pottery book I have ever found! It is layed out in an informative, and beautiful manner. Not only is the pottery exquisite, but the photographs represent the pieces at their best. It is easy to understand, and gets one passionate about an art movement, that we can actually be a part of, in this twenty-first century. It is highly unsual to be living during a time when a new art movement is going on, and still striving for it's pinnacle. We see this with the unequalled workmanship of the Matiz Ortiz people in their Casas Grandes/Matiz Ortiz pottery. I really enjoyed getting to know each potter by name and photo, coupled with seeing their work, and feeling a part of their extended family. Juan Quesada, the founder of this artistic movement, is a highly spiritual individual, generous and gifted beyond belief. He is the reason that this wonderful pottery is being shown to the world. I am an artist that does pottery, and a retired teacher. I would recommend this book to all art teachers, and anyone who appreciates great art.

Totems to Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts of the Northwest and Southwest

Average customer rating:

A truly well-rounded treasury

Totems to Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts of the Northwest and Southwest
Kari Chalker
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810955938

Book Description

The works of contemporary Native artists from the Northwest Coast and desert Southwest regions of North America are enormously popular today, especially in the realm of jewelry. This handsome book-and the traveling exhibition it accompanies-explores how the cultures from each region continue to communicate beliefs and traditions through visual adornment, and examines the cross-cultural influences between the peoples of these very different areas.

The core of the book consists of personal statements by 39 artists, who discuss their lives, their beliefs, and their approach to art- and jewelry-making. Lavish illustrations, both historical images and new photographs by noted photographer Togashi, bring the subject to life, while supporting texts by general editor Kari Chalker, curators Lois Sherr Dubin and Peter M. Whiteley, Haida artist Jim Hart, and anthropologist Martine Reid provide background and insight. Totems to Turquoise will be an important resource for students, scholars, and designers, as well as anyone who loves beautiful and well-made objects. AUTHOR BIO: Kari Chalker is an anthropological writer, researcher, and editor. She was formerly assistant director of cultural explorations at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Cortez, Colorado. Lois Sherr Dubin is a noted authority on beads and jewelry and the author of Abrams' History of Beads and North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment. Peter M. Whiteley is curator of North American ethnology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Dubin and Whiteley are the curators of "Totems to Turquoise."

Customer Reviews:

A truly well-rounded treasury.......2005-02-08

Totems To Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts Of The Northwest And Southwest is a lavish artbook filled cover-to-cover with full-color photographs not only of beautiful Native American jewelry, but also portraits of the individual artists crafters who create it. Brief descriptions of each piece and broader essays enlighten the reader as to how and why these visually stunning articles were created, and the symbolism underlying their design. Many pieces feature short commentaries by the creators themselves. A truly well-rounded treasury and a welcome addition to contemporary Native American art shelves.

Average customer rating:

Ghost Dancing Sacred Medicine and the Art of JD Challenger
Art for the Soul
Beautiful Visual Experience
Excellent reproduction of JD's paintings.

Ghost Dancing: JD Challenger
E. Daniels
Manufacturer: Stewart, Tabori and Chang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

Ghost Dancing Sacred Medicine and the Art of JD Challenger.......2001-04-27

Descriptive words of Ghost Dancing, joined with the timeless wisdom contained in the words of Native America. Couple this with the paintings of JD Challenger and you have an opportunity to not read about but really feel. This is not a book just narrating the past but speaks volumes to the future. This book called to me from the library shelf and I have ordered to place in a prominent place on my shelf. This is a book to share with others and come back to often.

Art for the Soul.......1999-10-07

JD challengers work was the first original art that I have purchased. When I saw his work in a gallery in Santa Fe, I was mesmorized by the character of his subjects. Ghost Dancing provides a good overview of many of his prints that are available.

Beautiful Visual Experience.......1999-02-28

The text of this book is extremely informative on the Ghost Dance Religion of Native Americans. It covers the origins of the religion, its climax and the results thereof. Adding to this educational context is the Beautifully compelling work of artist JD Challenger. His riviting paintings jump from the pages virtually reaching out from the book and pulling you in. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Native Americans and most assuredly to anyone who loves art that emits emtional impact. I constantly go back to this book as a source of inspiration and to gain understanding of Native American's plight.

Excellent reproduction of JD's paintings........1998-07-10

The book is of the finest quality in printing and binding. The content is very educational and the reproductrion of JD's paintings is superb.

North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment

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SURPRISED WITH NUMBER OF PAGES
North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment
One quibble/caution
A must-have!
superb, magnificent

North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment
Lois Sherr Dubin
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810936895

Customer Reviews:

SURPRISED WITH NUMBER OF PAGES.......2005-10-26

My brother-in-law has the exact same title book,his book has over 600 pages! I ordered the book thinking that I would get a similar copy at a great price. I did not realize that I was purchasing an condensed version. The information in the book, although somewhat sparse is good. Thank you.

North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment.......2005-10-04

A few years back I signed up for a class in silversmithing which soon became addictive. In addition to that interest, I have always been interested in primitive art such as that of the American Indians, the cave drawings, Australian Aboriginal art or spiritual drawings. These forms of spirituality and art or of art are very powerful. I have chosen to concentrate my silversmithing designs toward the designs I see from these primitive peoples. The book, North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment has proven to be very helpful toward that aim. In addition to that, it's just plain good reading.

One quibble/caution.......2004-05-24

This gorgeous book is indeed indispensable, especially if "read" visually. Unfortunately, quite a few of the tribal attributions for historic objects (information given to the author by museums) are wrong. Given the scope of this project, Dubin had little choice but to take often out-dated info at face value rather than do her own research. However, readers should keep this caveat in mind when using this work as a reference.

A must-have!.......2004-05-16

This book is a must-have for anyone serious about studying Native American cultures. It is a fun read, while still being absolutely crammed with information. It's clear the author put in a lot of time and work to master her subject. Not to mention, the artwork featured in the book is beautiful. I love to breeze through it when I've had a hard day, just to feel my spirits lift looking at such amazing works of art. You will learn so much and enjoy the journey enormously.

superb, magnificent.......2003-07-02

this book could easily inspire a life of crime--how else to afford the gorgeous contemporary jewelry? or acquire the museum quality antique and archeological collections?

as a knitter, embroiderer and beader, i am always looking for inspiration for my pieces. i may stoop to outright plagarism when it comes to the works in this incredible book. though i will say that i can only dream of having the level of skill the pieces display. the craftmanship, the artistry, are humbling when one considers the tools the artists had--and the reservation conditions under which too much of the art was created.

the text is wonderfully informative, if you can force yourself to read it, instead of allowing yourself to be mesmerized by the photos.

Book Description

Rich selection of authentic Indian motifs adapted from art and artifacts of Indians of the Southwest, the Plains, and the Northwest, as well as Maya and Aztecs. Easily reproducible designs add Native American flair to posters, newsletters, brochures, many other projects.

Customer Reviews:

Great.......2007-01-15

I bought this for my son who loves drawing and he really has enjoyed it. The illustrations are great and theres good information along with the illustartions.

Tribal ID Helps.......2006-11-03

As a descendant of the Native American Choctaw tribe, I was VERY pleased with this book. The illustrations are clear and precisely drawn. The reader receives a lot of inspiration for Native American art and designs. However, of far more value to the reader, the author identifies the designs with various tribes. Naturally, I was particularly pleased to find the highly modernistic looking designs of the Choctaws. I strongly recommend this book to any students of Native Americans or students of art.

Robert J. Deffeyes

EXTEMELY VALUABLE AND USEFUL SOURCE BOOK.......2006-08-06

I purchased this one some time ago and do not have one regret. I have it in almost constant use. The graphics are wonderful, easy to use and well identified as to tribal origins. I use this publications and it's designs primarily for my gourd art, i.e. carving and burning and drawing. The designs are printed on one side and I have found that by making a copy of the page I can then enlarge or reduce the designed I need. There are approximately 391 different designs here and I have check several of them out and not found one that was not authentic. The designs cover quite a bit of area, from the Pacific Northwest and Artic to Estern Woodland to the Great Pland and Rockies to the Southwest and Mexico. Each design is quite crisp and quite accurate. Cannot recommend this one highly enough.

North American Indian Motifs.......2005-09-21

I have just started to do gourd pyrography and wanted a source of authentic Indian designs to use as paterns. This book contains 391 designs which are outstanding. Most designs also includes the name of the Indian nation which used and/or originated the design. The designs are also "permission-free" which means I don't have to worry about copyright violations if I sell my gourds. An excellent book.

Absolutely fantastic!.......2005-02-16

This book is chocked full of Native American motifs and designs from many nations! Each graphic is titled by tribe, even branches of Tribes (eg: Dakota Sioux) and the book is broken down into sections of geographic areas, eg: Pacific Northwest, Great Plains, Southwest, etc. Very well put together, this was an excellent resource and the best N.A. Tribal design book I've found!

Charles M. Russell: Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture in the Amon Carter Museum (Library of American Art)

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Charles M. Russell: Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture in the Amon Carter Museum (Library of American Art)
Frederick G. Renner
Manufacturer: Abradale/Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810980622

Learning by Designing Pacific Northwest Coast Native Indian Art, vol.1

Average customer rating:

Not what it could have been
If "doing" without understanding is enough...
good beginnings.
Full of information = full of courage
One of the best books on the topic

Learning by Designing Pacific Northwest Coast Native Indian Art, vol.1
Jim Gilbert , and Karin Clark
Manufacturer: Raven Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0969297939

Book Description

This reference and instructional manual contains a detailed, thoroughly analyzed, well-supported comparison of the four Pacific 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 to Draw section. 8 1/2" by 11", black and white, durable soft cover, 224 pages.

Customer Reviews:

Not what it could have been.......2004-11-06

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..........2003-11-04

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........2002-12-09

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.......2002-09-18

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.

One of the best books on the topic.......2000-11-21

I've purchased EVERY book I can find on the topic of Pacific Northwest Coast Native Indian artwork (currently I have over 40), and this is one of the best, especially if you want to try your hand at this type of artwork.

This book contains tons of examples, explanations, and a nice amount of info about the tribes and styles. This is the only book I've found with a section that actually takes you step-by-step through the process of creating some Northwest Coast art! (Note that the recently-published volume 2 also does.)

The only downside I can see is that the artwork is relatively "modern" and representational, and does not cover some of the older or more abstract styles. On the other hand, it does not seem to be intended to be complete. The goal of the book is to help someone delve into this sort of artwork, and it does that very well. I've taken in-person classes from several people who are acknowledged experts in the field and/or natives (including a Haida Master Carver), and they teach the same sorts of basics this book does.

If you want to try your hand at drawing this kind of art, I recommend that you buy "Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast" by Hilary Stewart as an excellent book for giving you an overview and feel for the art form, buy this book and volume 2 by the same authors for the extensive examples and how-to information, and I also recommend "An Analysis of Form" by Bill Holm, which is the single most in-depth study of the elements that are used in PNWC artwork.

Native Americans: A Portrait : The Art and Travels of Charles Bird King, George Catlin, and Karl Bodmer

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Native Americans: A Portrait : The Art and Travels of Charles Bird King, George Catlin, and Karl Bodmer
Robert J. Moore
Manufacturer: Stewart Tabori & Chang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Fine Indian Jewelry of the Southwest: The Millicent Rogers Museum Collection

Average customer rating:

Excellent Reference Book on Southwest Indian Jewelry
must-have book for Southwest Indian Jewelry coll;ectors
GOOD SERVICE
A recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Native American Studies reference collections

Fine Indian Jewelry of the Southwest: The Millicent Rogers Museum Collection
Shelby Jo-anne Tisdale
Manufacturer: Museum of New Mexico Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0890134820

Book Description

The book presents the jewelry colection through its founding collector Millicent Rogers, bringing to life the Taos she discovered in the late 1940s and showcasing the authentic, classic-era jewerly that she collected when Fred Harvey and others were popularizing Indian-made tourist pieces.

This lavishly illustrated book serves as a solid overview of southwest Indian jewelry from prehistory to present.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Reference Book on Southwest Indian Jewelry.......2007-05-31

If you like Indian Jewelry but can't get to the museum in Taos this is a great first book on the subject. If you do go to the Millicent Rodgers Museum, this is the book to help you savor that grand experience for many years to come. And it's a great reference work if you are contemplating investing in Zuni or Navajo jewelry.

Wilford's Trading Post
Gallup, New Mexico

must-have book for Southwest Indian Jewelry coll;ectors.......2007-03-14

This is a glorious book of Southwest Indian Jewelry with interesting info on Millicent Rogers, who herself was a work of art.

A must-have for collectors of Southwest Indian Jewelry.

GOOD SERVICE.......2007-02-07

I HAVE ORDERED SEVERAL BOOKS FROM AMAZON AND THEY ARE EXPEDIENT AND HAVE A GOOD BOOKS AT A GREAT PRICE. AVAILABILITY GREAT. I WILL CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS WITH AMAZON AND THEIR SERVICE. THANK YOU, BECKY DYER

A recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Native American Studies reference collections.......2006-08-07

Painstakingly compiled and with an expert, knowledgeable commentary by Shelby J. Tisdale, Fine Indian Jewelry Of The Southwest: The Millicent Rogers Museum Collection offers an impressively informative history and survey of the southwestern Native American jewelry that is represented in the collection of the Millicent Rogers Museum as the result of art patron and passionate collector Millicent Rogers who assembled a spectacular collection of Navajo and Zuni silver and turquoise, Hopi silverwork, and Pueblo stone and shell jewelry during the late 1940s and early 1950s. Of special interest is the chapter devoted to "The Origins of Indian Jewelry in the Southwest". Profusely illustrated and a very strongly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Native American Studies reference collections, Fine Indian Jewelry Of The Southwest is enhanced for scholars and non-specialist general readers alike with the inclusion of a glossary, references, and an index.

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