Customer Reviews

The Road to Aztlan: Art from a Mythic Homeland

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First check out the editorial reviews here to understand what this book is about. This is a fascinating and beautiful collection of material reflective of Mexican art through the ages. There are ancient manuscripts, drawings rendered from old books, photgraphs of pre-Columbian pottery and art, ancient petroglyphs from the southwest, maps and recent art pieces by Chicano/a artists all recreated tastefully and rendered in an eye appealing manner. The concept of the exhibition and art book created from the exhibition is spectacular and unique. The idea is to tie the evolutionary art process from pre-Columbian times to the contemporary art produced in the southwest. The concept suggests that art is migratory, influenced by culture both past and present, linked to both but unique in it's modern evolutionary vision by contemporary artists. The lands from which this art has evolved is based in Aztlan, a mythical land dating back to pre-Columbian cultures by remains in the hearts and minds of people on both sides of the border. The link between Mexico and the United States and it's people is explored and highlighted by the art of the southwest. This migration, in search of a new land, that continues today, began with the Mexica(Aztecs)pilgrimage and establshment of Tenochitlan in what is now modern Mexico City; this is where the Mexica were said to seen the eagle on the nopal cactus and then build their city of Tenochitlan. The mythical land of Aztlan lives on and is reflective in the art of the southwest. This book explores the relationship, in both essay and photograph, between the citizens of Mexico and the United States and even those who live in the neither land in the fields and dark shadows of Aztlan. This is an oversized book with a wealth of information to help you develop your own understanding of the relationships between past and present in the art of the southwest. Recommended for high schools , community libraries and the southwest art book lovers homes.

After seeing the exhibit at LACMA, this book was a great compliment to the art that was shown. It ranged from pre columbian to modern and was very intersting and informative. The photgraphs in the book are complimented by the narration and anaylsis by the author.