Jesse Monongya: Opal Bears and Lapis Skies (American Indian Master Jewelers) [Hardcover]

Louis Sherr Dubin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2002 | Series: American Indian Master Jewelers

A stunning exploration of the world-renowned master of painterly inlay, who combines his Native American culture with cutting-edge materials and techniques.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 186 pages
• Publisher: Hudson Hills Press; 1st edition (September 18, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966938283
• ISBN-13: 978-0966938289
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,120,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Visual Treat, March 1, 2003

By 

Steven Wagner (Studio City, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jesse Monongya: Opal Bears and Lapis Skies (American Indian Master Jewelers) (Hardcover)

I am a bit of a novice who has recently become interested in contemporary Native American jewelry and received this book as a gift. What I can say is that Opal Bears and Lapis Skies was an incredible treat to receive and I have found myself frequently going back to it to learn more about this artist. His volume of work is quite impressive and beautifully displayed in this book.

What I think works most effectively with this book is that for someone like myself, who is still familiarizing myself with this craft, I found it instantly appealing and understandible. One particularly notable quality of this book is how it works on several different levels of familiarity with this type of jewelry. Friends of mine with little knowledge of this craft have picked it up merely to page through it and have been able to quickly develop an appeciation for the struggles Jesse has gone through (many that we're all familiar with) and how he has been able to transform these motivations into an amazing talent. I found the information on his background particularly interesting and valuable, helping me place his pieces in a greater context.

I can imagine that this book is even more valuable to anyone who appreciates this type of jewelry and the talent and skill behind the pieces featured. I find myself learning something new each time I look through this book--the pieces shown are beautiful and many are truly amazing. The photographs are amazingly rich and sharp and are themselves a visual treat, with the quality as good as well as anything I've seen in print.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb book, September 15, 2005

By 

Mr. Archibald Ward (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesse Monongya: Opal Bears and Lapis Skies (American Indian Master Jewelers) (Hardcover)

Jesse Monongya: Opal Bears and Lapis Skies (American Indian Master Jewelers) is a superb book, not just in the quantity and quality of its photographs of this important master jeweler's work, but in its insights into his life and the precision and beauty of his craft. We learn how Jesse's work is inspired by Navajo mythology, tradition and culture; how he has studied the work of many master craftsmen and women that came before him; how he has taken these traditions, the symbols, techniques and materials, placed them in a contemporary context and found his own voice. We learn about techniques of jewelry making, past and present, and with the clarity and directness of Lois Sherr Dubin's elegant prose, are encouraged to see beyond the dazzling surface of these highly crafted pieces to the spiritual world that lies beneath. Whether pendants, belt buckles, earrings or bolo ties, Monongya's work is of exceptional technical quality and imagination - these pieces are works of art in their own right. His use of new materials is highly dramatic, his combinations of colour and design unique, and his journey to where he is now, as a man, a jeweler and a Navajo, is a fascinating one. And it's this invaluable historical and cultural context that gives us such an intriguing glimpse into Jesse Monongya's world, and the wider world of Native Americans from which he comes.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First in Series, January 8, 2003

By 

T. Dorsey (Montreal, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jesse Monongya: Opal Bears and Lapis Skies (American Indian Master Jewelers) (Hardcover)

Having taken a historical journey with Ms. Dubin in her two previous books, History of Beads and North American Jewelry and Adornment, it was a great pleasure to have a new opportunity to travel the creative path with the mind and art of Jesse Monongya, in her new book Opal Bears and Lapis Skies.
The beautiful photographs are intoxicating, and the text is clear and
multi-sourced. We are presented with the voices of Jesse's family members,
friends, gallery and museum heads, collectors and his own eloquent and
at times painful thoughts.

In particular, what stands out as special indeed, in a book about one-of-a-kind jewelry, (which is prized in every meaning of the word), is that there is an entire chapter devoted to explaining the process of making the pieces.
My deepest gratitude for the writing of this book is for the insight it gives into the "native way" of seeing human existence, a most fascinating read and much to think about.
This book is a first in a series of monographs and I am anticipating the next.
T. Dorsey, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.