Totems to Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts of the Northwest and Southwest [Hardcover]

Kari Chalker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 7, 2004

Published to coincide with a traveling exhibition, an exploration of the jewelry art of thirty-nine regional Native American artists considers the ways in which visual adornment reflects cross-cultural traditions, in a lavishly illustrated resource that is complemented by anthropological and historical information. 15,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kari Chalker is an anthropological writer, researcher, and editor. She was formerly assistant director of cultural explorations at the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Cortez, Colorado. Lois Sherr Dubin is a noted authority on beads and jewelry and the author of Abrams' History of Beads and North American Indian Jewelry and Adornment. Peter M. Whiteley is curator of North American ethnology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Dubin and Whiteley are the curators of "Totems to Turquoise."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; First Edition edition (December 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810955938
• ISBN-13: 978-0810955936
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,013,597 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly well-rounded treasury, February 8, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Totems to Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts of the Northwest and Southwest (Hardcover)

Totems To Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts Of The Northwest And Southwest is a lavish artbook filled cover-to-cover with full-color photographs not only of beautiful Native American jewelry, but also portraits of the individual artists crafters who create it. Brief descriptions of each piece and broader essays enlighten the reader as to how and why these visually stunning articles were created, and the symbolism underlying their design. Many pieces feature short commentaries by the creators themselves. A truly well-rounded treasury and a welcome addition to contemporary Native American art shelves.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A coffee table book that's an engaging read, January 2, 2010

By 

L. Brooks - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Totems to Turquoise: Native North American Jewelry Arts of the Northwest and Southwest (Hardcover)

I lucked onto Totems to Turquoise at a local museum gift shop after exposure to the arts of the northwestern and southwestern Native American in 2008 and 2009. It is an excellent resource highlighting important contemporary artists as well as recognized masters who have had major impact on the market. What sets this great find apart from others is the ample discourse with the artists who reveal their connection to their work, their inspiration, and how their upbringing and cultural traditions impact the artist and the art. The depth of spiritual awareness that is accessed during creation is quite moving--and it is this "unquantifiable" factor that adds additional value to each work of art. The making of this book enabled some artists of the northwest and southwest to come together for the first time, thus developing new bonds and new creative influences.