Various Indigenous Artists

A monumental gathering of more than 60 contemporary artists, photographers, musicians, writers and more, showcasing diverse approaches to Indigenous concepts, forms and mediums

This landmark volume is a gathering of Native North American contemporary artists, musicians, filmmakers, choreographers, architects, writers, photographers, designers and more. Conceived by Jeffrey Gibson, a renowned artist of Mississippi Choctaw and Cherokee descent, An Indigenous Present presents an increasingly visible and expanding field of Indigenous creative practice. It centers individual practices, while acknowledging shared histories, to create a visual experience that foregrounds diverse approaches to concept, form and medium as well as connection, influence, conversation and collaboration. An Indigenous Present foregrounds transculturalism over affiliation and contemporaneity over outmoded categories.

Artists include: Neal Ambrose-Smith, Teresa Baker, Natalie Ball, Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory, Rebecca Belmore, Andrea Carlson, Nani Chacon, Raven Chacon, Dana Claxton, Melissa Cody, Chris T. Cornelius, Lewis deSoto, Beau Dick, Demian DineYazhi’, Wally Dion, Divide and Dissolve, Korina Emmerich, Ka’ila Farrell-Smith, Yatika Starr Fields, Nicholas Galanin, Raven Halfmoon, Elisa Harkins, Luzene Hill, Anna Hoover, Sky Hopinka, Chaz John, Emily Johnson, Brian Jungen, Brad Kahlhamer, Sonya Kelliher-Combs, Adam Khalil, Zack Kahlil, Kite, Layli Long Soldier, Erica Lord, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Tanya Lukin Linklater, James Luna, Dylan McLaughlin, Meryl McMaster, Caroline Monnet, Audie Murray, New Red Order, Jamie Okuma, Laura Ortman, Katherine "KP" Paul/Black Belt Eagle Scout, Postcommodity, Wendy Red Star, Eric-Paul Riege, Cara Romero, Sara Siestreem, Rose B. Simpson, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Hulleah J. Tsinhnahjinnie, Anna Tsouhlarakis, Arielle Twist, Marie Watt, Dyani White Hawk and Zoon a.k.a. Daniel Glen Monkman.

Additional Information
448 pages | 9.75" x 12.25" | 387 Illustrations | Hardcover

Carrying on "Irregardless" is a handsomely illustrated paperback based on the first exhibition to focus on humour in Northwest Coast First Nations art. The show, mounted by the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art in Vancouver is titled after one of Bill Reid's favourite deliberate grammatical blunders that were part of the sense of humour that, as Martine J. Reid says in her introduction, "was perhaps a part of his survival kit, as it often seems to be for First Nations people."

Within this book are the photographed artworks of twenty-eight prominent Northwest Coast artists, including such varied approaches to humour as a rare prehistoric Coast Salish bowl featuring a smiling face carved from stone, a 1990s etching depicting Raven and the First Men Overlooking Wreck Beach (to catch a glimpse at all the nudists, of course!) and a pair of red and yellow cedar bark high heels titled Too Haida. Collected here are artworks that act as political weapons, bold challenges to stereotypes, and nods to the Trickster. They satirize, ridicule and play. And, above all, they make us laugh, and think, and laugh again.

Accompanying the work are descriptions, quips and jokes from the artists themselves. And preceding it stands three impassioned contextualizing essays that range from the poetic to the academic to the anecdotal, by Tahltan artist, stand-up comedian and co-curator, Peter Morin; Director of Content and Research for the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art and co-curator, Martine J. Reid; and CEO of the Bill Reid Trust and Director for the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, Mike Robinson.

The first book, Clearing a Path: New Ways of Seeing Traditional Indigenous Art, is edited by First Nations University of Canada scholar Carmen Robertson and noted Saskatchewan Métis artist and scholar, Sherry Farrell Racette.

"In 2005, as part of the province's centennial celebrations, the Saskatchewan Arts Board contracted Carmen Robertson and Sherry Farrell Racette to curate an exhibition which would bring together a diverse group of contemporary artists working in traditional Indigenous media," says Brian Mlazgar, publications manager of the CPRC. "When Clearing a Path opened in November of that year, few could have predicted the strength of its work. More than three years later, the exhibition continues to flourish and tour."

The exhibition catalogue includes photographs of the works and brief biographies of the 21 participating artists. Artists' statements for many of the pieces provide unique insight into the artistic process and the artist's connection to his or her history and traditions. In two introductory essays, Robertson and Farrell Racette explore the history of traditional artists and their art: the criminalization of indigenous arts and ceremonies, the subsequent loss of culture through colonization and more recently, the struggle to have their work considered "art" rather than "handicraft."

Native Elements - Colour & Draw: Northwest Coast Native Formline Colouring Book

Explore the traditional design styles of the Pacific Northwest with the Native Elements Colour & Draw: Native Northwest Coast Formline Colouring Book. This book features 32 pages of colouring space and blank sketching space.

Join in as artists from the Pacific Northwest use Indigenous formline techniques to create authentic interpretations of Pacific Northwest animals. Each artist uses their own style of authentic Northwest Coast formline to create various interpretations of the animals presented on each page.

Features:

• Features the artwork of over 10 indigenous artists.
• Includes both colouring pages and blank sketching pages.
• Printed in Canada using non-toxic, vegetable-based ink, and water-based coating.
• 32 pages; measures 8.5" x 11".
• One page at the beginning of the book with words and insights from the artists about Indigenous art and formline.

Additional Information 
This is a colouring book for adults and young adults; however, intermediate and secondary students would still enjoy colouring in the animal drawings and creating their own drawings on the blank pages provided!

Nurture your spirit! Slow down and explore colouring while learning about the Indigenous Peoples and cultures of the Pacific Northwest. Find your own magical and mysterious story woven within these pages." - Melaney Gleeson-Lyall, Musqueam, Coast Salish

Colouring Journal: Northwest Coast First Nations & Native Art features 14 journal pages and 16 original art designs from different Northwest Coast First Nations and Native American artists that take the reader/drawer through a journey of self-reflection and design.  The images and text in this book are the work of various Indigenous artists of the Pacific Northwest.

Inside Colouring Journal, you will find pages explaining the significance and symbolism of different animals and supernatural beings, followed by questions and space to journal. Facing the journalling pages are beautifully detailed colouring pages to complement the questions for reflection. Find your own magical journey woven within these pages.

Features:

• Features 16 original art designs.
• Printed in Canada using non-toxic, vegetable-based ink, and water-based coating.
• 32 pages; measures 8.5" x 11".

Native Elements - Colouring Our Drums: Northwest Coast First Nations and Art

We are all born to the beat of a drum, it is within us. Our drum beat is what leads us to find our own path through our journey in life. - Doug Horne, Coast Salish

Features:

Features 32 pages of original drum drawings from Northwest Coast Indigenous artists.  One page at the beginning of the book includes words and insights from the artists about drums.

Printed in Canada using non-toxic, vegetable based ink, and water based coating.

32 pages; measures 8.5" x 11".

Additional Information
This is a colouring book for adults and young adults; however, intermediate and secondary students would still enjoy colouring in the intricate drum drawings.

An eighty-year overview of wood and argillite carving by Indigenous women artists on the Northwest Coast.

Though women of the Northwest Coast have long carved poles, canoes, panels, and masks, many of these artists have not become as well known outside their communities as their male counterparts. These artists are cherished within their communities for helping to keep traditional carving practices alive, and for maintaining the dances, songs, and ceremonies that are intertwined with visual art production. This book, and an associated exhibition at the Audain Art Museum, gathers a range of sculptural formats by Indigenous women in order to expand the discourse of carving in the region.

Both the exhibition and publication are co-curated by Dana Claxton, artist, filmmaker and head of the University of British Columbia's Department of Art History, Visual Art and Theory; and Dr. Curtis Collins, the AAM's Director & Chief Curator. Commentaries by Skeena Reece, Claxton, and Marika Swan, and interviews with artists Dale Campbell and Mary Anne Barkhouse are presented alongside more than one hundred artworks from public and private collections across North America, including several newly commissioned pieces.

Featured artists include:
- Ellen Neel (Kwakwaka'wakw, 1916-1966) - Freda Diesing (Haida, 1925-2002) - Doreen Jensen (Gitxsan, 1933-2009) - Susan Point (Musqueam, b. 1952) - Dale Campbell (Tahltan, b. 1954) - Marianne Nicolson (Kwakwaka'wakw, b. 1969) - Arlene Ness (Gitxsan, b. 1970s) - Melanie Russ (Haida, b. 1977) - Marika Swan (Nuu-chah-nulth, b. 1982) - Morgan Asoyuf (Ts'msyen, b. 1984) - Cori Savard (Haida, b. 1985) - Cherish Alexander (Gitwangak, b. 1987) - Stephanie Anderson (Wetsuwet'en, b. 1991) - Veronica Waechter (Gitxsan, b. 1995)

Additional Information
160 pages | 9.20" x 1.10" | 120 colour photos | Hardcover 

A powerful and visually stunning anthology from some of the most groundbreaking Native artists working in North America today.

Truly universal in its themes, Dreaming In Indian will shatter commonly held stereotypes and challenge readers to rethink their own place in the world. Divided into four sections, ‘Roots,’ ‘Battles,’ ‘Medicines,’ and ‘Dreamcatchers,’ this book offers readers a unique insight into a community often misunderstood and misrepresented by the mainstream media.

Emerging and established Native artists, including acclaimed author Joseph Boyden, renowned visual artist Bunky Echo Hawk, and stand-up comedian Ryan McMahon, contribute thoughtful and heartfelt pieces on their experiences growing up Indigenous, expressing them through such mediums as art, food, the written word, sport, dance, and fashion. Renowned chef Aaron Bear Robe, for example, explains how he introduces restaurant customers to his culture by reinventing traditional dishes. And in a dramatic photo spread, model Ashley Callingbull and photographer Thosh Collins reappropriate the trend of wearing ‘Native’ clothing.

Whether addressing the effects of residential schools, calling out bullies through personal manifestos, or simply citing hopes for the future, Dreaming In Indian refuses to shy away from difficult topics. Insightful, thought-provoking, and beautifully honest, this book will to appeal to young adult readers. An innovative and captivating design enhances each contribution and makes for a truly unique reading experience.

Reviews
“It’s hard to imagine a middle- or high-school classroom that wouldn’t benefit from having this.” —Booklist, 02/15

“Belongs in every middle school, high school and public library.” —CM Reviews, 05/22/15

"For some time now, I've been waiting for Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices... It was getting buzz in Native networks on social media. I've read it, now, and highly recommend it... Dreaming in Indian has a vibrancy I've not seen in anything else. A vibrancy that, perhaps, is characteristic of a generation at ease with technology and its tools... I want to pore over the art, studying it, thinking about it, marveling at it. I can imagine a lot of people dismissing this work because it doesn't conform to their stereotypical ideas of dead or stoic Indians. But I can also imagine a lot of others holding it dear because it reflects who we are... You'll also have a solid introduction to the artists and writers, their lives, what drives them... Gritty and real, their live stories are inspiring... There's a lot to ponder in Dreaming In Indian. It'll challenge readers, in good ways, and that is a good thing. Check it out." — Debbie Reese, American Indians in Children's Literature, September 2014

Educator Information
Recommended Ages: 11-18

Themes: First Nations; native peoples; Indigenous; biography; multicultural; stereotyping; acceptance; community; prejudice; self-esteem; tolerance.

Fountas & Pinnell Reading Level: Z+

Authentic First Peoples resource K-9.

Recommended English First Peoples resource.

Additional Information
128 pages | 8.50" x 11.00" | full-color illustrations and photographs throughout, foreword, introduction

Everything in our world is precious and important whether it is big or small. Explore from the ocean to the sky and learn the names of the animals of all sizes that call the Northwest Coast home.

Educator Information
Soy-based ink and water-based protective coating. Made from paper sourced from sustainable forests.

For babies and toddlers.

Additional Information
20 pages; measures 6.5 in x 7.5 in | Board Book

Book of Play with Northwest Coast Native Art is a 20-page board book by various Indigenous artists, including Doug LaFortune, Corey Bulpitt, T.J. Young & Frances Horne Sr.  This book teaches the ABCs, arithmetic concepts, and more, while at the same time allowing children to learn about art from Indigenous peoples such as the Haida and Coast Salish.

Additional Information
20 pages | 10 Indigenous Artist Contributions

Native Explore - Discover the Animals Colouring Book

Colour along as you learn about the significance of animals to the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. This book gathers all new artwork within a colouring book of medium difficulty.

Features:

• Features the artwork of over 20 indigenous artists.
• 24 new animals to discover.
• Printed in Canada using non-toxic, vegetable-based ink, and water-based coating.
• 24 pages; measures 8.5" x 11".

Some of the artists who have contributed to this work include Dwayne Simeon, Bruce Morrisseau, Donald Peters, Mark A. Jacobson, Corey Bulpitt, Eric Parnell, Bruce Morrisseau, Wolf Morrisseau, Ben Houstie, Sean Whonnock, and Terry Starr.

Colour along as you learn about the significance of animals to the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest. This resource gathers creatures of the land, sea, and sky in a colouring book of medium difficulty.

Features:

• Features the artwork and insights of over 20 indigenous artists.
• Coloured back cover featuring every design for inspiration.
• Printed in Canada using non-toxic, vegetable based ink, and water based coating.
• 24 pages; measures 8.5" x 11". 

24-page board book by various Indigenous artists.

"Animals are highly respected in our culture and featured in our traditions. They are part of our stories, dances, songs, and in our dreams." - Francis Horne Sr., Coast Salish

 Additional Information
Board book format.  Also available as a hardcover book.

Night-time themed artistic view of animals, fish and insects of the Northwest Coast.

"Goodnight birds singing each other to sleep....Goodnight frogs croaking in the night....Goodnight owls keeping watch through the night". All of creation says: "Goodnight". Artwork from various Indigenous artists.

Additional Information
Hardcover format.  Also available as a board book.

I am Dreaming Of... is authored by Coast Salish, Musqueam artist Melaney Gleeson-Lyall.

Over 10 Northwest Coast Indigenous Artists have come together in I am Dreaming of... to create a bedtime story that rhymes. Dream your way through the forest as you encounter animals of the Pacific Northwest all drawn in beautiful coastal First Nations styles.

Additional Information
24 pages | 5.75" x 7.5"