Haida Art

by George F. MacDonald

The Haida, inhabitants for centuries of the Queen Charlotte Islands off the Northwest Coast of N. America, had no word for art; but virtually every object they created was elegantly decorated. Ninety color photos of artworks (masks, pipes, rattles, and other ceremonial objects) and 95 b&w photos represent the renowned collection of the Canadian Museum of Civilization. MacDonald, president of the Museum, supplies the extensive text, discussing Haida art in a historical, cultural, and cosmological context. 10x12.25" Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

242 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1996

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This oversize coffee-table book has good photos of great Haida artworks, which you can get elsewhere. The importance of the book, in my view, is the scholarly contributions of the author, a Canadian anthropologist who has made major contributions to Northwest Coast archaeology. He writes well for the general reader, and he included a major section of historical photos of the Haida villages and their monumental art, drawn from his [Haida Monumental Art: Villages of the Queen Charlotte Islands. He also includes biographies and works of major Haida artisans, up to the mid-1990s.

These are remarkable sculptures and large-scale paintings, best appreciated in their historic context. Library Journal's reviewer called this "the definitive Haida compilation." The color photos are well-reproduced, and the historic photos are fascinating.

Highly recommended for fans of Northwest Coast Indian art. An important scholarly effort, and a beautiful book.