What do you think?
Rate this book
Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists
Hearts of Our Native Women Artists explores the artistic achievements of Native women and establishes their rightful place in the art world. This landmark book includes works of art from antiquity to the present, made in a variety of media from textiles and beadwork to video and digital arts. It showcases artists from more than seventy-five Indigenous tribes to reveal the ingenuity and innovation that have always been foundational to the art of Native women.
Beautifully illustrated and enriched by the personal reflections, historical research, and artistic insights of leading scholars and artists in the field, Hearts of Our Native Women Artists pays tribute to the vital role and creative force of Native women artists, now and throughout time.
Beautifully illustrated and enriched by the personal reflections, historical research, and artistic insights of leading scholars and artists in the field, Hearts of Our Native Women Artists pays tribute to the vital role and creative force of Native women artists, now and throughout time.
- GenresArtIndigenousHistory
344 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2019
1 person is currently reading
88 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 15, 2025
This is more than a catalog of a 2017 exhibit of the Native American female arts at the Walker Museum in Minneapolis. Besides the photos which seem to be a complete rendering of the exhibit there is extensive commentary and 40 essays which make this a documentary on these arts to date.
The work is wide ranging from traditional weaving and pottery to installation and performance art.
The commentary and essays were overwhelming, so after the introductory material I scanned the text to focus on and digest the parts most relevant to the pictured work.
My favorite items and essays show the scope of the contributions of Native American women:
pp.56-58 - baskets, c 1900-1905 and a photo of basketmaker Grace Nicholson c.1915.
p. 61 - caribou parkas worn by Avalik women c.1905-6. Beaded clothing signaled status: that leisure time was available and the woman was skillful. The traders knew the value of the beads and brought more variety in materials (along with machine made needles and calico).
p. 62 - has a color blow up of a c. 1900 caribou parka.
p. 60 - moose hair embroidery on black dyed hide, 1838
p. 81 - clay and glaze sculpture. 2003. by Roxanne Swentzell of the Santa Clara Pueblo.
pp. 96-97 - a marble carving 1872. Edmonia Lewis of Black, Haitian and Mississaugan descent studied carving in Italy. This marble statue is of Minnehaha (from Longfellow’s poem) and her father, an arrow maker.
Pp 114-115 - Photos by Jesse Ross Cobb. The most striking photo is of her 1902 graduating class from the Cherokee Female Seminary, the first institute for higher learning for women west of the Mississippi. This was one of many schools owned and operated by the Cherokee Nation.
p. 121 - a wool and cedar garment, 2002, by Clarissa Rizal, Tlingit weaver
pp. 142-3 - porcupine quill work from 1880.
pp. 154-155 -an essay by Kaniekehaka: Carla Hemlock describes the growth and demise of beading as an industry illustrated by a photo of a bead seller (c. 1890) and a painting (c.1853-63) of the difficulty of getting beaded goods to market.
Pp, 156-157 – essay by Alitiiq, Nadia Jackinsky-Sethi on spruce root basketry. Photos help to show how the roots are prepared and examples of finished work.
pp.186-7 - Hupa Dance skirts, 1875 & 1950
pp. 197-199 - Kiowa cradleboards 1890s
p 208-- stylish stiletto heals, beaded with feathers by Luisena, Shoshone-Bannock: Jamie Okuma. 2012
pp. 236-7 - a dress coat mixing traditional and contemporary styles of needlework and beads by Kaniekehaka: Carla Hemlock. 2017
pp,238-9 - an installation. “Blanket Stories: Three Sisters, Four Pelts, Sky Woman, cousin Rose and all my relations” 2007 by Marie Watt of the Seneca Nation.
pp. 246-7 an Oteo “Faw Faw Coat” used in ceremonial dances c.1900-1920
p.266 “Childhood” a photomosaic (3000 images) by Kwak waka’ wakw,artist: Lou-Ann Noel. 2013.
Pp282-3 “The Collector/The Artist in her Museum". A digital manipulation of the famous Wilson Peale painting of a similar name by Cree & English artist: Rosalie Farrell. 2005.
pp. 283-273 - An essay featuring 7 Native American women painters with examples of their work by Ogalala Lakhota: Dakota Hoska.
p. 301. - “Women’s Voices at the Council” painting by Muskogee, Creek and Cherokee painter: America Wilson. 1990.
pp. 306-307 An essay and gorgeous photo salute the work of Osage ballerina: Maria Tallchief.
From the above, you can see the scope of this book. It brings together a lot of information and raises awareness of the contributions of Native American women to the culture of their tribes and to the larger culture of the US. If you are interested in this topic, you will want to read or (as I did) browse this book.
The work is wide ranging from traditional weaving and pottery to installation and performance art.
The commentary and essays were overwhelming, so after the introductory material I scanned the text to focus on and digest the parts most relevant to the pictured work.
My favorite items and essays show the scope of the contributions of Native American women:
pp.56-58 - baskets, c 1900-1905 and a photo of basketmaker Grace Nicholson c.1915.
p. 61 - caribou parkas worn by Avalik women c.1905-6. Beaded clothing signaled status: that leisure time was available and the woman was skillful. The traders knew the value of the beads and brought more variety in materials (along with machine made needles and calico).
p. 62 - has a color blow up of a c. 1900 caribou parka.
p. 60 - moose hair embroidery on black dyed hide, 1838
p. 81 - clay and glaze sculpture. 2003. by Roxanne Swentzell of the Santa Clara Pueblo.
pp. 96-97 - a marble carving 1872. Edmonia Lewis of Black, Haitian and Mississaugan descent studied carving in Italy. This marble statue is of Minnehaha (from Longfellow’s poem) and her father, an arrow maker.
Pp 114-115 - Photos by Jesse Ross Cobb. The most striking photo is of her 1902 graduating class from the Cherokee Female Seminary, the first institute for higher learning for women west of the Mississippi. This was one of many schools owned and operated by the Cherokee Nation.
p. 121 - a wool and cedar garment, 2002, by Clarissa Rizal, Tlingit weaver
pp. 142-3 - porcupine quill work from 1880.
pp. 154-155 -an essay by Kaniekehaka: Carla Hemlock describes the growth and demise of beading as an industry illustrated by a photo of a bead seller (c. 1890) and a painting (c.1853-63) of the difficulty of getting beaded goods to market.
Pp, 156-157 – essay by Alitiiq, Nadia Jackinsky-Sethi on spruce root basketry. Photos help to show how the roots are prepared and examples of finished work.
pp.186-7 - Hupa Dance skirts, 1875 & 1950
pp. 197-199 - Kiowa cradleboards 1890s
p 208-- stylish stiletto heals, beaded with feathers by Luisena, Shoshone-Bannock: Jamie Okuma. 2012
pp. 236-7 - a dress coat mixing traditional and contemporary styles of needlework and beads by Kaniekehaka: Carla Hemlock. 2017
pp,238-9 - an installation. “Blanket Stories: Three Sisters, Four Pelts, Sky Woman, cousin Rose and all my relations” 2007 by Marie Watt of the Seneca Nation.
pp. 246-7 an Oteo “Faw Faw Coat” used in ceremonial dances c.1900-1920
p.266 “Childhood” a photomosaic (3000 images) by Kwak waka’ wakw,artist: Lou-Ann Noel. 2013.
Pp282-3 “The Collector/The Artist in her Museum". A digital manipulation of the famous Wilson Peale painting of a similar name by Cree & English artist: Rosalie Farrell. 2005.
pp. 283-273 - An essay featuring 7 Native American women painters with examples of their work by Ogalala Lakhota: Dakota Hoska.
p. 301. - “Women’s Voices at the Council” painting by Muskogee, Creek and Cherokee painter: America Wilson. 1990.
pp. 306-307 An essay and gorgeous photo salute the work of Osage ballerina: Maria Tallchief.
From the above, you can see the scope of this book. It brings together a lot of information and raises awareness of the contributions of Native American women to the culture of their tribes and to the larger culture of the US. If you are interested in this topic, you will want to read or (as I did) browse this book.
February 1, 2020
A wonderful synopsis of the exhibit at MIA. Beautiful art and explanatory text.
January 17, 2021
Beautiful book!
March 25, 2021
Amazing chronicle of Native American art. The rich descriptions, vivid colors and Cultural history are only a few reasons for you to check this book out.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews