Book Description
Presented here are one hundred classic-era (1880s-1940s) Hopi and Zuni carved dolls from private and public collections that have rarely, if ever, been put on exhibition and that collectively form a profound and powerful assembly of the very finest examples from the classic period in Kachina carving. Portago has greacefully photographed these rare figures using avaialbe light so as not to distort their colors and to reveal their movement and drama, passion and personality. Wright's essay masterfully elucidates Pueblo culture and cosmology and the systems and perceptions by which Pueblo People interact with their perceived universe.
Customer Reviews:
Portago katsina book .......2007-01-18
This book has one strength. The photos are excellent - at least in terms of the antique katsinam themselves. Ms. Portago's decision to photograph the carvings on metal backgrounds is odd to say the least. The essay in the back by Barton Wright is insightful but is not linked to the text. It was written many years ago.
I find one minor detail in this book to be quite annoying. Ms. Portago's bio on the jacket is twice as long as Barton Wright's. Mr. Wright is the most extensively published author on Hopi culture ever. Ms. Portago is a former model, a contessa, and a sometime photographer. That feels incongruous to me.
Kachinas.......2006-11-06
This is a wonderful -- and wonderfully photographed -- book and a valued addition to my collection of books on kachinas.
wonderful images, valuable essay.......2006-08-10
The essence of any Pueblo Kachina (Katsina) is determined in no small way by its mask (as well as by the ritual drama in which it appears). And while there are many kachina books in print, this volume by Portago and Wright emphasizes the doll's mask more than most other volumes. The Wright essay is one of his best and not easy for the layperson to find, so its printing here is especially useful. What Portago's kachina-doll photos bring to the fore is the aspect of an artist at home on either side of the camera--as a model and as the photographer. Finally, this group of kachina dolls is wonderful!
A most informative and delightful book.......2006-08-08
As one unfamiliar with Kachina figures and their history, I was fascinated with Andrea Portago's book. I was taken with the professionalism of the book - the wonderful photography and the knowledgeable presentation of the subject. It was a most rewarding reading, taking me on a delightful journey into the Hopi and Zuni cultures.
Like Salt on Melon.......2006-08-01
I too have waited for a long time for Ms Portago's book of photographs of Kachina figurines but, quite contrary to the last reviewer, I could'nt have been more delighted with the finished product. It is absolutely delightful. One must have a dead 'scholar's eye' not to be able to see the love and humor with which she has invested these little painted fabrications of wood, clay, cloth and feathers. They laugh at us with glee or, like Goyescas, shriek with horror from out of the pages of her book. Through her gorgeous colored photography she has breathed life and personality into her beloved subjects just as did that fine lineage of photographers from which she is derived. And as for her instinct to intersperse the glory of her colored images with severe black and white photos, in the manner of Anselm Adams, of the epic Southwest landscape from which these effigies derive, like putting salt on melon this was sheer genius.
The book is a treasure, for which I thank you, Andrea. On receiving my copy I ran right out and bought copies for all my friends. I urge you to do the same.
Book Description
A Hopi Indian will tell you that a kachina is a supernatural being who is impersonated by a man wearing a mask. Small wooden dolls carved in the likenesses of the various kachinas are used to help teach Hopi children the tribal religion and traditions. Each child receives a doll made especially for him by his male relatives. He treasures the doll and studies it so that he can learn to recognize and respect the host of spirit kachinas that people the Hopi world.
Kachinas are difficult to classify because different Hopi pueblos have different ideas about their appearance and their functions. The late Dr. Harold S. Colton identified 266 different kinds of kachina dolls, and in this book he describes the meaning, the making, and the principal features of all of them. Each type of doll is pictured in a simplified line drawing. There is also an illustrated key to help the collector identify the various types.
Catalog of Hopi kachina dolls and how to identify them.
Customer Reviews:
Just heads.......2005-11-24
For the most part the depictions of the Kachinas in this book are line drawings of heads. That leaves out about 90% of what you may be interested in seeing.
Best Kachina book.......2003-06-01
This is by far the best Kachina book on the market. It was written by Harold S. Colton who spent a lifetime studying the Hopi indian culture. I found this book to provide the most accurate details of the Kachina. If you are pursuing an in-depth study of the Kachina, this book is for you.
Excellent Source.......2001-07-29
This book is a good place to start if you are lookin into collecting katsina's
An excellent, informative book!.......2000-01-09
This book will be most helpful to you if you have a Hopi kachina and don't know which one it is (there are several hundred different kachinas). The book shows the different styles of masks and dress of the dolls, and also shows the differences in the little details such as mouths, eye shapes, colors the dolls are painted, feathers, and accessories that the dolls carry. The kachinas are listed with their names in English as well as Hopi, and the functions of the kachinas are given as well. The line drawings are very easy to understand, and the photographs are clear. Many of the dolls shown in this book are the older style non-action dolls (sometimes called "belly-ache dolls" because of the way their hands are positioned in front of their stomachs, as if they had belly aches), but there are some nice photos of more contemporary styled dolls too. I highly recommend this book!
An outstanding reference, as well as a great introduction........1999-02-21
This book is one of the best I've seen on the subject of kachina dolls and their carvers. A great reference as well as a strong introduction to the art. Describes the differences between Hopi and Navajo styles, with high quality photos. Along with my Barton Wright, this book is invaluable as a collecting reference book. The appendix includes a big list of Hopi carvers' names and a page of translated symbols.
Book Description
The Hopi Indians have had Kachinas in their religion for probably more than 1,000 years. The kachinas are a prominent part of the religion and daily life of the Hopi.
Over the years many works have been published about the Kachinas. Most of these have discussed them from the white man's interpretaion of what the Hopi have told him. This book gives readers the perspective of the Hopi themselves.
The seventy-nine kachinas depicted in this book were painted by Neil David Sr., a Hopi-Tewa from First Mesa. The paintings show both the front and the back of each Kachina, that is, the entire costume of the Kachina. The descriptions of the Kachinas have come from the mouths of various Hopi. They discuss differences in the kachinas as they appear on each of the three mesas where the Hopi make their home.
The kachinas which appear in this book are, in general, rare and unusual Kachinas and will enlighten those who wish to learn about and appreciate the Kachinas: Spirit Beings of the Hopi.
Paintings and descriptions of seventy-nine kachinas from the Hopi perspective.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful Companion Book.......2005-01-01
If you are a serious collector of Hopi katsinam (kachina dolls) or are seeking accurate illustrations of the nearly 400 katsinam, I would highly recommend this outstanding book as a companion to Barton Wright's foundational work (Kachinas: A Hopi Artist's Documentary). Neil David has been called the "Norman Rockwell of Native America" and rightfully so. His illustrations are some of the best and showing both front and back views of each katsina is much appreciated. Most of the 79 katsinam contained in this book are not in Wright's book and several are extremely rare and seldom, if ever, seen or carved. Start with Wright's book and then add this one. You can't go wrong with either!
A Must to Own.......2001-05-21
This is the most comprehensive book on the Kachina to date. This book is the only one where the illustrator has depicted not only the front of the figure, but also the back and this makes this book a must to own for anyone who studies the Kachina or who is an artist and wants to be completely accurate in the depiction of the figure. The figures are historically and spiritually exact and are certainly meant as a tribute to the figure as a revered being.Truly a fine publication and well worth the cost.
Customer Reviews:
In a word: OUTSTANDING!.......1999-07-02
Cecil Calnimptewa, Ronald Honyouti, Loren Phillips, Dennis Tewa and Wilmer Kaye ... they're all in this book, plus 22 other top Hopi carvers. Need I say more! Author/photographer Teiwes begins by tracing the life, history and religion of the Hopi and brings the reader to the doorstep of 1991 (the publication date). 24 color photos serve as the central focus of the book, but the final 63 pages which profile the 27 carvers is what really "makes" it. My copy is in paperback. I assume the hardback foremat is the same. Pick up a copy; you'll thoroughly enjoy it!!!
Customer Reviews:
BRILLIANT, THE ONLY BOOK YOU NEED ON THE HOPI KACHINI.......1999-07-30
ON A TRAVEL OF MINE, I WAS VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE MET ALPHA AND HIS NEICE ON THE HOPI RESERVATION. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THIS MEETING WOULD BRING AND HERE'S HOPING IT BRINGS MORE DELIGHTS..... THEY ARE THE BEST OF PEOPLE, TRULY A CULTURE THAT LIVES THEIR TRADITIONS, ONE THAT SHOULD BE RESPECTED. I WAS GIVEN A SEED OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON THAT FIRST VISIT AND WAS ANXIOUS TO READ THIS BOOK, WHICH I DID THE WHOLE DAY! IF YOU WANT A BOOK REGARDING THE HOPI KACHINI TRADITION THIS IS IT! THIS BOOK TRULY GIVES US A GOOD PEAK INTO THEIR "RELIGION" AND BELIEFS, ONE THAT I BELIEVE WE CAN NEVER REALLY KNOW FULLY, BUT ALPH HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE US A FEW SEEDS. IF YOU MAKE A TRIP TO THE S.W. MAKE SURE YOU STOP AT THE HOPI CULTURE CENTER AND PAY A VISIT. BRING THEM SOME GOOD COFFEE!
Excellent Book Written By A Hopi.......1997-11-08
You can read all the Kachina books you want, but take them all with a grain of salt until you read this one. This is the first book about the Kachina (actually "Katsina") tradition written by a Hopi. That is significant because of the secrecy around the religion. This book was suggested to me by a man who lives on Second Mesa of the Hopi Reservation. He said, "After years of bad books about Kachinas written by white guys, finally there's one written by a Hopi." This book gives the reader a clear understanding of the basics of the Hopi calendar and the Hopi religion. This is not a book about Kachina dolls, although it has photos of approximately 200 old style dolls. It is about the spirits those dolls represent. Buy this book as an indispensable reference. The Heard Museum in Phoenix deserves credit along with the author for presenting this great collection of dolls and descriptions.
Average customer rating:
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A Guide to Hopi Katsina Dolls
Kent McManis
Manufacturer: Rio Nuevo Publishers
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Similar Items:
-
Hopi Kachina Dolls with a Key to Their Identification
-
Hopi Kachinas: The Complete Guide to Collecting Kachina Dolls
-
Kachina Dolls: The Art of Hopi Carvers
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Traditional Hopi Kachinas: A New Generation of Carvers
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Kachinas Spirit Beings of the Hopi
ASIN: 1887896171 |
Book Description
Hopi katsinam and the dolls that represent them have fascinated Indian arts trader and author Kent McManis since he was a little boy. In A Guide to Hopi Katsina Dolls, McManis shows how the eternal spirit of the katsinam manifests itself in the works of some of the most skilled and inspired Hopi carvers working today.
For the Hopi-a communal farming people who reside in stone and adobe villages on and near three Mesas in northeastern Arizona-everything in life is imbued with the sacred. The Hopi attribute their very survival as a people to the katsinam, inhabitants of the spiritual realm who convey prayers to the gods and respond with blessings in the form of rain, bountiful harvests, and plentiful game.
In A Guide to Hopi Katsina Dolls, more than seventy of the most prominent and intriguing katsinam who appear during the Hopi ceremonial year are described and depicted in full color photographs of both contemporary and historic katsina dolls.
Customer Reviews:
A Valuable Resource.......2000-09-16
If you have an interest in Hopi katsina dolls, this is the right book at a price everyone can afford. Having been in contact with the author several months prior to the book's publication, it was eagerly anticipated. The finished product does not disappoint. As a collector, judge at several major juried shows and owner of a Native American Trading Company, Kent McManis knows his stuff! I have only one complaint ... I wish the book were at least twice it's size. At 56 pages, I hope the author will consider another book on the subject as he had with Zuni fetishes. This is the first book I have discovered which traces the katsina cycle and includes the corresponding doll on the page where it is discussed. This aspect alone makes the book a "keeper". Robin Stancliff is to be commended for 70 beautiful photographs of both contemporary / action pieces and historic / traditional katsinam as well. If you have never seen the work of modern masters like Brian and Ronald Honyouti, Cecil Calnimptewa, Ros George, Loren Phillips and Dennis Tewa ... add this book to your library. Thank you, Mr McManis, for sharing such a valuable resource with your readers.
Customer Reviews:
EXCELLENT GUIDE FOR ANYONE PLANNING TO BUY KACHINA DOLLS.......1999-05-06
This is the perfect place to begin to learn about Kachina dolls. Whether you are a novice or an experienced collector, this guide will be of great help. The detailed descriptions and information are a must for any collector. For those planning to buy a kachina doll, I highly recommend THE NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN ARTIST DIRECTORY. It will enable you to find the kachina carver you are looking for. When you find a kachina you like in one of the Jacka or other fine Southwest Indian art books, check the name and then find it in the directory - along with mailing address and phone # ! Call the artist directly, make an appointment, take along your COMPLETE GUIDE TO COLLECTING KACHINA DOLLS and have a great time!
Book Description
Kachina dolls are carved from cottonwood by Hopi artists in Arizona to represent the many spirits of their religion. Old examples are preserved at the Heard Museum in Phoenix and most of the important Indian museums nationally. Today, modern Hopi artists continue to make exquisite Kachina dolls, and they have become very sought after by a growing number of collectors world-wide. The reader of this new book is able to grasp the art of Kachina wood carvings, and enjoy knowledge behind each doll, through the carvers who make them. The book beautifully illustrates contemporary Kachina dolls with over 150 exquisite color photographs, and delves into the lives of the carvers who make them. Twenty-five of today's important Kachina carvers have been interviewed personally for a first-hand glimpse into their work. Discussions with Cecil Calnimptewa, Von Monongya, and Loren Phillips, to name just a few, bring to life the essence behind their carvings. All who are interested in Southwestern crafts and art in general will appreciate these beautiful art works carved by such interesting people.
Customer Reviews:
Kachina carver talk about their art and the meanings behind.......1999-09-19
This is really one of the most unusual Kachina art books out there. Besides the exquisite photography of Gene Balzer, Theda Bassman delves into how the new carvers who adapted to all wood carving feel about their craft and what it means to them to be a carver. One gets a real sense that the artists themselves come alive and in this way, bring their art alive. They demonstrate a trust in talking with Ms. Bassman, who has a long history of working in the Southwest Indian contemporary art world. In this way, this book transcends the typical art book.
Customer Reviews:
mixed review.......2005-07-26
the kachina dolls and photography were well done and could hardly be improved upon. however, the commentary is terrible; it is replete with errors; so much so that the reader is misled by unreliable information; this book should be withdrawn from the market until the errors have been corrected.
Very disappointed........2004-01-23
The pictures in this book were quite good. I would have liked the captions to match the Kachinas. Some of the errors were so blatant that I find it hard to believe the book was proofed.
Disappointing and Error Filled.......2003-08-06
Like many collectors of Hopi kachina/katsina dolls, I eagerly await the release of another book on the subject. I have several books by Schiffer Publishing in my library and have enjoyed each of them. Auhor Nancy Schiffer (a part of the company?) claims to be an avid collector of katsinam for the past 15 years. Her knowledge of the subject and research are some of the worst I have ever seen. There are at least three dozen ERRORS in this book. Any writer who misspells the names of two of today's MASTER carvers, Cecil Calnimptewa and Ronald Honyouti, should not have a book in print. Only one piece by Ronald is shown, but his brothers' last names are misspelled in several places. Various katsinam are wrongly named and the list of errors goes on and on. There are a number of quality books re: Hopi katsinam, but this is not one of them. Many average to below-average carvers are represented, while excellent carvers are excluded. A PLUS for this book is the number of katsinam which are included. It is the only book which has both front and back photos of every katsina. For an introduction to contemporary katsinam and reliable information, I would certainly NOT recommend this book. My suggestion is that Schiffer Publishing cease publication on this edition, rework it and REISSUE a quality product in a year or two.
Average customer rating:
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Ray Manley's Hopi Kachinas
Clara Lee Tanner
Manufacturer: Ray Manley Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
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ASIN: 0931418062 |
Books:
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- Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass
- Collector's Guide To Ideal Dolls: Identification & Values (Collectors Guide to Ideal Dolls Identification and Values)
- Columbia River Basketry: Gift of the Ancestors, Gift of the Earth (Samuel and Althea Stroum Book)
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