Native Art of the Northwest Coast
Resources from the Seattle Art Museum
Resources at the Dorothy Stimson Bullitt Library at the Seattle Art Museum.
Art of the Northwest Coast. Aldona Jonaitis. Seattle: University of Washington Press; Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2006. E 78 N78 J622.
This book surveys Native arts of the Pacific Northwest Coast and looks at how the arrival of Europeans affected traditional Native art. Jonaitis examines the origins of each linguistic group, their histories, myths, and art forms from the prehistoric to the present to reveal how they responded to the presence of Europeans. Includes observations from anthropologists, art historians, and Native peoples. The text contains 63 black and white and 89 color high quality illustrations, images, and plates, as well as a bibliographic essay that reviews and categorizes related literature.
Cedar: Tree of Life to the Northwest Coast Indians. Hilary Stewart. Vancouver, B.C.: Douglas & McIntyre; Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1984. E 78 N77 S64.
Hilary Stewart explores the vital role of the cedar tree in the life, culture, and art of the First Nations People of the Northwest Coast. She explains the tools and techniques used in crafting objects, and what their uses are in everyday life as well as ceremonial rituals. Includes 550 drawings, and 50 photographs enriched by anecdotes, oral history, and early explorer, missionary, and Native elder accounts.
Challenging Traditions: Contemporary First Nations Art of the Northwest Coast. Ian M. Thom. Vancouver, B.C.: Douglas & McIntyre; Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2009. E 78 N78 T45.
Highlights the art of 40 working artists and how they have incorporated the contemporary with their traditional roots. Thom explores the career, method, and philosophy of each featured artist based on interviews he conducted with them. Highlighted are a broad display of subject, techniques, and media.
A Guide to the Tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Robert H. Ruby. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2010. REF E 78 N77 R79.
Offers a guide to prominent and lesser known groups of the 150 Pacific Northwest tribes. Includes the tribes’ history and cultural traditions; this 3rd edition also has photographs, maps, and an updated pronunciation guide.
Indigenous Beauty: Masterworks of American Indian Art from the Diker Collection First Friday Lecture (video). Barbara Brotherton. Seattle: Seattle Art Museum, 2015. VIDEO E 98 A7 I64.
An overview of the exhibition "Indigenous Beauty: Masterworks of American Indian Art from the Diker Collection". Given by SAM’s curator Barbara Brotherton.
Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast. Hilary Stewart. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1979. E 98 A7 S7.
Examines the traditional forms of each of the major cultural groups. It analyzes the elements of style and interprets the complex mythology which influences the motifs. Black and white illustrations and photographs demonstrate the traditional designs of the raven, thunderbird, killer, whale, bear and other animals. Offers a great introduction to the art and culture of the Northwest Coast.
Looking at Totem Poles. Hilary Stewart. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre; Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1993. E 98 T65 S83.
A guide to 110 totem poles in accessible locations along coastal British Columbia and Alaska. Stewart describes the types of poles, their purpose, how they were carved and raised, she also identifies commonly represented figures and objects, such as Sea Bear, Thunderbird, and Cedar Man. Each pole is illustrated or photographed and accompanied by text that provide historical and cultural background. A companion book to Stewart’s "Looking at Indian Art of the Northwest Coast."
Modernism in Pacific Northwest: Here, Then, and Now (video). Seattle: Seattle Art Museum, 2014. VIDEO N 6528 S43 M64.
Part of the SAM’s exhibit, “Modernism in the Pacific Northwest: The Mythic and the Mystical”, this video features artists working in the Pacific Northwest today as they discuss the development the Northwest School in the 1930’ and 1940’s.
Northwest Coast Indian Art: An Analysis of Form. Bill Holm. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1965. [2005] E 98 A7 H6.
First published in 1965, following a systematic survey of northern Northwest Coast art, this work offers concise analysis of use of color, line, and texture; organization of space; and ovoids, eyelids, and U forms. Considered to be a foundation reference on the art of the northern Northwest Coast which introduced new terminology for describing these works which aided the discussion on evolution and individual artists’ style. Examines the similarities in masterworks despite origin, material, size and purpose.This 50th anniversary edition offers new color illustrations of painted and carved wooden objects.
Robert Davidson: Abstract Impulse (video). Barbara Brotherton. Seattle: Seattle Art Museum, 2014. VIDEO E 99 H2 D28.
Curator of SAM, Barbara Brotherton's presentation on influential Haida artist Robert Davidson. Discusses his 40 year career from his perfection of the traditional art to his experimentation of new forms, pairing, and abstractions.
The Spirit Within: Northwest Coast Native Art From the John H. Hauberg Collection. Seattle Art Museum. New York: Seattle, WA: Rizzoli; Seattle Art Museum, 1995. E 78 N78 S4.
This book highlights the John H. Hauberg collection at the Seattle Art Museum. It provides color plates, maps, language charts, photographs which show the pieces in situ. The text offers insight on function and traditions of numerous Northwest cultures from Native authors and discussions on the meaning of the design elements depicted. Cited by the SAM as a “best resource”.
The Totem: An Intercultural History. Aldona Jonaitis. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre; Seattle University of Washington Press, 2010. E 98 T65 J66.
Together, Jonaitis and Aaron Glass analyze the evolving nature of the totem within Northwest art. The impact of European settlers on the art form, the functions of the totem in a number of contexts, and a discussion on its development from its origins to present day. Included are essays by leading scholars and artists, 129 illustrations, 120 in color.
Electronic Resources at the Seattle Art Museum
View the SAM’s Native American Collections. High quality images, multiple views and angles of the pieces, accompanied with artifact information.
Over 50,000 books, exhibition catalogs, videos, and electronic resources available.
Access to JSTOR, AskArt, ArtNet, Oxford Art Online, Official Museum Directory.
Additional Web Resources
Access to 100 artist interviews; includes biographical info and interview transcripts.
The Bill Holm Center is one of the leading centers for the study of Northwest Coast Native art. A high quality and well maintained site, it has great images, searchable collection databases, and expert curated blog posts on a variety of topics relating to Northwest Native art and culture; an up to date and informative Facebook. Also of note are the extensive and creative education and outreach programs used by the museum.
A video of a 2013 faculty lecture at the University of Washington by Bill Holm. Uses over 100 photographs and explores the perception of the art over generations.
The Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington. Features established and emerging artists. Has interview videos and audios, images, and links to artists’ websites.
This gallery has been in operation for over 30 years and displays work from some of the leading artists of Northwest Native arts, as well as promoting emerging artists. Offers an extensive list of artists along with biographical information, as well as an in depth list explaining the meaning behind objects, materials used, and symbols and motifs displayed.
Comprised of printed and manuscripts materials pertaining to the people, history, and culture of the region; including artists.
A collaborative research project initiated by the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia and co-developed with the Musqueam Indian Band, U’mista Cultural Society, and the Stó:lō Tribal Council. The network has 26 participating institutions, 502,802 items, 305,288 photographs, and 1402 projects. RRN allows for the research of Northwest Coast cultural art and objects housed at the participating institutions from one easy to use interface. Search results provide a description, culture, item history, physical description and details, where it is housed, acquisition information. Excellent search and navigation features.
Online versions of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition Collection, the Northwest Art Collection, and the Seattle Historical Photograph Collection created by SPL Special Collections Staff.
No comments:
Post a Comment