Art of the Red Earth People: The Mesquakie of Iowa

Arts & Photography

Hobbs, Robert

Torrence, Gaylord

History & Criticism

Univ of Washington Pr

The parfleche - a container of folded or sewn rawhide elaborated with painted designs on the exposed surfacesconstitutes one of the great traditions of abstract imagery created by American Indian artists. In The American Indian Parfleche, Gaylord Torrence reveals the quality and great diversity of this art form which was widespread in the western half of North America during the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries. He explains the origin and chronology of parfleches, and examines their aesthetic and utilitarian function. These beautiful containers are most closely associated an probably originated with the peoples of the Great Plains, where they were integral to the nomadic way of life, providing a means to store and transport a family's food and possessions. They were made by women from more than forty tribes, and their richly associative and symbolic painted images gave visual expression to the artists' personal and cultural lives. The author writes: "These paintings were inseparable from the world view of their makers, formed from their collective experience and cultural role as women; from the details of their daily lives and the richness and love of family life and tribal associations; from the invisible spirit forces that filled their world and the profound religious traditions that sustained their inner lives; and from their intimate relationship with nature and the sweeping monumental landscapes and incomparable light of the American West which was their home. All of this was given tangible form in these paintings, through an expressive power transcending time and cultural boundaries." A major contribution of The American indian Parfleche is the identification of characteristics that define regional and tribal styles. The author has studied more than 1,500 parfleches in nearly one hundred public and private collections in the united States, Canada, and Europe, allowing him to conceptualize a unique analysis and interpretation of the art form. One hundred twenty-seven of the finest examples of parfleches are reproduced here. Most of the pieces are previously unpublished and virtually unknown. The book fills a gap in our knowledge of American Indian culture and history, and will be valuable to scholars in the field of American Indian studies and to those interested int he history of modern abstract art.

American Indian Parfleche: A Tradition of Abstract Painting

Detailing the unique symbolism and utilization of the Western North American Indian parfleche, a diverse yet virtually unknown abstract art form, this study conceptualizes the historical and personal expression of nomadic culture.

The American Indian Parfleche: A Tradition of Abstract Painting

Des Moines Art Center

A fresh exploration of Native American art that positions the work within the broader context of North American art history This landmark publication presents Native American art within the broader context of American art history, through an examination of notable works from a major private collection. The insightful texts provide a new evaluation of the art, culture, and daily life of numerous North American tribes, including Acoma, Apache, Cheyenne, Creek, Crow, Hopi-Twea, Kiowa, Lakota, Pomo, Seneca, Seminole, Tlingit, and Zuni, among others. The works featured in this lavish volume span centuries, from the period prior to contact with European settlers through the early 20th century, and represent the extensive artistic achievements of culturally distinct indigenous peoples. Both known and unrecorded makers’ innovative visions are manifest in a wide variety of aesthetic forms and media—from painting, sculpture, and drawing to costume, ceramics, and baskets. Challenging traditional presentations of American Indian art, this publication situates and analyzes them alongside other North American artistic practices.

Art of Native America: The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Books by Torrence, Gaylord