In the spirit of mother earth
Subtitle: nature in Native American art
By: text by Jeremy Schmidt ; captions by Laine Thom.
Contributors: Thom, Laine, 1952-
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Published: 1994
Place of publication: [San Francisco]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 120
Subjects: Indian art -- North America.; Nature (Aesthetics)
Description: To Native Americans, nature and art are undeniably interwined. Creating a work of art - or even a tool or weapon - meant paying reverence to the cosmic forces of the Earth's spirit. With over 100 color photographs, In The Spirit Of Mother Earth shows how nature has influenced the exquisite handiwork of Native American people through the ages. Divided by region, this book looks back in time to show us how the once-abundant resources inspired images of whales and bears in the crafts of such tribes as the Tlingit, Makah, and Chinook; how the wide-open skies and huge herds of buffalo became common motifs in Plains Indian art; and how the mountains, rivers, and vast woods of the East appeared in masks and other carvings of the Mohawk, Iroquois, and other Woodland tribes. What these people knew, and what was sadly overlooked by invading European cultures, is that harmony comes from respecting nature, not taking from her.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 120) and index.