Artists and Craftspeople

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-In providing short biographical sketches of 17 contemporary Native American artists, Hirschfelder draws on published resources and some interviews with women and men who make dolls, jewelry, paintings, pottery, baskets, and sculptures. Although focusing mainly on their art experiences, she does address the influences of family, teachers, and the forces in non-Indian society in which these artists work and, most often, thrive. The author offers an honest, matter-of-fact description of the interaction between groups, e.g., the weaving techniques of the Navajos that were learned from the Athabascans. The writing is nontechnical and nonjudgmental (there's no gushing over objects' aesthetic qualities). Instead, this is a readable narrative that offers considerable contextual information as well as biographical facts. Unfortunately, the illustrations are small, black-and-white, often fuzzy snapshots of the artists, and there is a dull textbook look to the design. References are made to institutions where some objects may be viewed, and a 16-page annotated bibliography offers other sources for more in-depth information about each artist.-Kenneth Marantz, Art Education Department, Ohio State University, Columbus