Native American Art

by David W. Penney

Celebrating twenty thousand years of Native American art in North America, Native American Art reveals the rich tradition and wide variety of native arts from across the continent in more than three hundred enlightening color plates.

Genres: Art

262 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Melissa McClintock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers Indian art from the "Archaic" period, to contemporary Art in the 20th Century.

I like this book because it doesn't just show the Art, but it correlates in a summary what was going on historically with the indians at the time it was created.

For example, the author boints out that clothes became much more decorated with increased beadwork, in the "reservation period". Stating that this is how they responded as a people to maintain and project their cultural identity.

I have looked at lots of "art" books as well as online, because I make things that are native inspired and I also live in an ex rezervation town that is still home of a tribe.

This book had the more well known work that it seems most native art books have, but it also has specific pieces that I have not seen before. There is a side seam dress of the Lewis/Clark era that is amazing.


Also, while it does give a great deal of space to the totally populated navajo and pueble pottery and rug market, the author did give equal space to others, the Plains and the drawings that became popular..

Plus it is an oversize book, so the detail is amazing. A good way for a person who doesn't want too much detailed history but wants to have a general understanding of the Indian Art.