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The Legacy: Tradition and Innovation in Northwest Coast Indian Art
This classic book is an enduring tribute to the continuing tradition of First Nations art on The Legacypresents the work of 40 artists who have helped strengthen their artistic and cultural traditions. The authors give a detailed cultural analysis of the artist' works and explore the different styles, techniques and materials used to create them.
The Legacy began as an exhibition that toured throughout Canada and the United Kingdom in the 1970s and early 1980s. The first edition of the book appeared in 1980 – it has been reprinted a dozen times and sold more than 25,000 copies. It remains an indispensable account of Northwest Coast art and artists. This new printing includes updates to First Nations' names and the artists' biographies.
The Legacy began as an exhibition that toured throughout Canada and the United Kingdom in the 1970s and early 1980s. The first edition of the book appeared in 1980 – it has been reprinted a dozen times and sold more than 25,000 copies. It remains an indispensable account of Northwest Coast art and artists. This new printing includes updates to First Nations' names and the artists' biographies.
196 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 15, 2022
A first-rate catalog of a long-running show on just what it says, put on by Canadians with substantial input from the First Nations artists. Color reproduction is first-rate, a pleasant surprise: I'm not sure if my used copy is from the first printing or the reprint. Regardless, superior color printing and (mostly) graceful cultural commentary. A knowledgeable reviewer nearby points out that some of the preferred terminology has changed since 1984 (I have a second printing from 1985). I don't know all that much about NW Coast Indian art, except that I always enjoy seeing it. Recommended book, that isn't hard to find.
February 2, 2020
This is a somewhat older (35-year-old) work originally done as a catalog for a series of travelling shows sponsored by the Royal British Columbia Museum. The selection of works is nicely curated, and the photos are good, for the most part, in illustrating the points on design and style made in the text.
If you are looking for your first book on Northwest Coast indigenous art, I suggest you start instead with Jonaitis (2006) Art of the Northwest Coast. The main reason is that both some of the thinking about Northwest Coast art, and the language used to describe it, have moved on since this time. E.g., in terms of language, you’ll have to do mental translating when the Nuu-chah-nulth are referred to as Westcoast and the Nuxalk as the Bella Bella. Also, of course, you won’t get a chance to see or learn about the artistic innovations that have happened in the field over the past several decades.
Despite these limitations, if you are someone who has already read and learned a good bit about Northwest Coast art, this is worth reading. The renaissance of the work which had only hit its stride in the 1960s and 1970s was blossoming at this time, and there are good descriptions of the key artists and teachers of this period. Also, of course, you always learn something new from any good new book on this endlessly rich subject. E.g., the differences in how 2D and 3D designs are treated across different cultural groups are described here in good detail that is easy to understand and recall.
If you are looking for your first book on Northwest Coast indigenous art, I suggest you start instead with Jonaitis (2006) Art of the Northwest Coast. The main reason is that both some of the thinking about Northwest Coast art, and the language used to describe it, have moved on since this time. E.g., in terms of language, you’ll have to do mental translating when the Nuu-chah-nulth are referred to as Westcoast and the Nuxalk as the Bella Bella. Also, of course, you won’t get a chance to see or learn about the artistic innovations that have happened in the field over the past several decades.
Despite these limitations, if you are someone who has already read and learned a good bit about Northwest Coast art, this is worth reading. The renaissance of the work which had only hit its stride in the 1960s and 1970s was blossoming at this time, and there are good descriptions of the key artists and teachers of this period. Also, of course, you always learn something new from any good new book on this endlessly rich subject. E.g., the differences in how 2D and 3D designs are treated across different cultural groups are described here in good detail that is easy to understand and recall.
July 2, 2008
This book is a catologue of The Legacy's art collection, a gallery in Seattle, WA. Beautiful art, beautiful photographs.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews