Across Frontiers: Hispanic Crafts of New Mexico [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Dexter Cirillo (Author), Eric Swanson (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The Spanish influence in northern New Mexico dates back hundreds of years, and its stark mountains and adobe churches still evoke images of conquistadores and missionaries. Across Frontiers looks at six of the handcrafts that arose from the fertile combination of Spanish tradition and New Mexican materials--Chimayó weaving, woodworking, furniture making, straw appliqué, tinwork, and santero art--and at the modern practitioners who not only keep these wonderful decorative arts alive, but constantly reinterpret them. In many cases, these crafts are still passed from parents to children. Remarkable color photographs of the crafts show the fineness of the work involved, and photos of the artists at work show their dedication to the original production methods. Some, such as Greg Flores, a Taos furniture maker, have developed unique styles that have become modern classics; others, like David C'de Baca, are known for their adherence to a strictly traditional style. In the more representational arts, the subject matter is often intertwined with the environment; San Ysidro, patron saint of farmers, is a favorite santero subject. Dexter Cirillo's carefully researched text is a fascinating history of northern New Mexico and its artists. --Barrie Trinkle

Product Description
At last, a beautiful, authoritative survey of the thriving Hispanic craft movement of the Southwest. Tracing the roots and revival of arts brought to Mexico and the US by Spanish settlers, this book includes over 150 photographs representing the work of more than 80 contemporary artists. Gorgeous chapters on weaving, furniture making, straw and tin arts, and santos (the traditional rendering of Catholic saints) reveal how these historic crafts have become today's living arts. Interviews and a thoughtful text by Dexter Cirillo illuminate the rich cultural history of the region, where frontiers overlapped and intermingled to produce a unique local aesthetic. This important book is the first to do justice to modern artists working in the 400-year-old tradition of Hispanic crafts.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; illustrated edition edition (May 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811817741
• ISBN-13: 978-0811817745
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,094,498 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too Much Not Enough, September 7, 2000

By	Enrique Torres "Rico" (San Diegotitlan, Califas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is a book that is very enjoyable to look at and if something catches your fancy you can read about it. The problenm is that there is not enough information written. Another problem is that there are too many topics covered, none in detail. If you are casually interested in the arts and crafts of New Mexico this book will suffice. This is a good starting point to do further research. The photographs are magnificent tributes to the artists work and give you some basic information but if you really want to know more you'd better look elsewhere The collection and photographs included in the text are numerous and very colorful and beautiful. If you want a nice overview and to look at pretty pictures this book will do. There is an adequate glossary and bibliography but if you're really interested in this subject you might try the Spanish Colonial Arts Society.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars same old same old, May 31, 2000

By	elaine lucero (new mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Across Frontiers: Hispanic Crafts of New Mexico (Hardcover)

Too offten the exploitation of the charm of New Mexico takes a back seat to the authentic lifestyle of the Spanish people of New Mexico. Across Frontiers:Hispanic Crafts of New Mexico is a well calculated attempt to placate to status qou of many who simply want to promote tourism. Still this is a slightly better approch, since it contains some historical content