REFERENCE BOOKS

This book is the only comprehensive source on the whimsical and heart-warming creations  termed "Navajo Folk Art."  It is a wonderful art has finally received the recognition that it deserves. Also, the value and the exposure of Navajo folk art has increased dramatically, igniting the interests of everyone from art collectors and museum curators to casual buyers.

Toba Tucker's expressive black and white portraits honoring Pueblo artists were made over a two-and-a-half year stay in the Southwest. This stunning photographs form a record for history and art at the end of the twentieth century and portray Tucker's interest in the individuals and families who pass their artistic traditions from one generation to the next. Her portrait of each one of the artists allows the viewer to make intimate connections with the elegance of photography and the power of artistic personalities.

Guide to Zuni Fetishes and Carvings Volume One Kent McMannis

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McManis explains the different types of fetishes with special emphasis on the two major types; the protective and healing group and the hunting group. Also provided are family trees for the more prominent families, along with more than 200 fetishes in full-color. Perfect for those buying their first fetish or their fiftieth. !

. This book describes the many materials that Zuni artists work with today and discusses eleven more carving families. It also contains many photographs of contemporary fetishes by the best Zuni carvers, from the traditional white healing bears carved out of alabaster to a lapis lazuli mountain lion for deer hunting.

The purpose of this book on fetish carvings of the Zuni people of New Mexico is to convey to the reader the  current status as well as the scope and depth of this new and growing art form. It also contains a short overview of the area, color photos of many fetishes and lists many well known
carvers..

Do you know who is referred to as "Reared in the Mountains" lest he think he's being called? Or what the connection is between rabbits and the Underworld? Noted Indian arts-and-crafts expert Mark Bahti has compiled a fascinating reference to answer hundreds of questions such as these about Native American fetishes and carvings. Part I introduces the tribes and their traditional uses of fetishes. Part II contains the stories and
legends associated with the animals and other figures represented by fetish forms. Part III covers the materials used. To many of us, it's a collection of "folk tales" --where Badger gave corn its many colors and where Black Body used crystals to make the stars, which his helpers clean and replace each day. To America's indigenous people, it is the real world. Anyone who has glimpsed the depth of meaning in the traditions and cosmologies of their cultures will find a wealth of information in this richly illustrated handbook.

.This book on Zuni fetishes written by Frank Cushing, one of the first ethnoligists of the Zuni pueblo, has become a classic. The beautiful photographs and insightful information make it a great resource for both the novice and advid collector.

Kachina dolls are carved from cottonwood by Hopi artists in Arizona to represent the many spirits of their religion. Old examples are preserved at the Heard Museum in Phoenix and most of the important Indian museums nationally. Today, modern Hopi artists continue to make exquisite Kachina dolls, and they have become very sought after by a growing
number of collectors world-wide.

The reader of this new book is able to grasp the art of Kachina wood carvings, and enjoy knowledge behind each doll, through the carvers who make them.

The book beautifully illustrates contemporary Kachina dolls with over 150 exquisite color photographs, and delves into the lives of the carvers who make them. Twenty-five of today's important Kachina carvers have been interviewed personally for a first-hand glimpse into their work. Discussions with Cecil Calnimptewa, Von Monongya, and Loren Phillips, to name just a few, bring to life the essence behind their carvings.

All who are interested in Southwestern crafts and art in general will appreciate these beautiful art works carved by such interesting people.

This book written by Barton Wright, a preeminent scholar of both ancient and contemporary Hopi culture, is the perfect place to begin to learn about Kachina dolls. Whether you are a novice or an experienced collector, this guide will be of great value. Kachinas are grouped by their function and a paragraph is written about each one explaining the role it plays in the Hopi ceremony.  Beautiful colored photos of the kachina further help to enhance ones knowledge.

This book is one of the best on the subject of kachina dolls and their carvers. A great reference as well as a strong introduction to the art. Describes the differences between Hopi and Navajo styles, with high quality photos.  The appendix includes a big list of Hopi
carvers' names and a page of translated symbols.