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Learning by Designing Pacific Northwest Coast Native Indian Art, Volume 2

Raven Publishing Inc.

Regular price $32.95

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Learn about Indigenous art styles of the Northwest Coast peoples within a First Nations’ cultural context

Learning by Designing Pacific Northwest Coast Native Indian Art, Volume 2, by Jim Gilbert and Karin Clark, is a companion manual to Volume 1 that dives deeper into a First Nations’ cultural context for the Indigenous art styles of the Northwest Coast peoples.

This book includes interviews showcasing four contemporary Indigenous voices that provide a cultural context for the Indigenous art styles of Northwest Pacific Coast peoples. 

To provide you with a deeper First Nations’ cultural context for Northwest Coast Indigenous art styles, this book includes in-depth interviews with Northwest Coast First Nations community members Ruth Cook, George Cook, Nella Nelson, and Wedlidi Speck.

Indigenous values, ethics, and history as a backdrop for Northwest Coast Indigenous art styles. 

Ruth, George, Nella, and Wedlidi give you a glimpse into Indigenous values, perspectives, ethics, and history of Northwest Coast Indigenous peoples in Canada.

This book also includes a Traditional First Nations Code of Ethics and Twelve Principles of Indigenous Philosophy, so you can integrate Indigenous perspectives into your understanding of Indigenous art styles of Northwest Coast peoples.

Bonus 1: Volume 2 includes a full-colour, 16-page creation story, In the Beginning There was the First World, written by one of our interviewees and collaborators Wedlidi Speck.

Bonus 2: You’ll find a helpful quick reference chart with over 100 Indigenous animal art designs, including 12 types of birds, 12 types of fish, 10 human figure designs, 4 types of insects, 18 types of mammals, 17 types of mythological creatures, 15 types of natural elements, and 8 types of seafood creatures.

More about Learning by Designing, Volume 2:

  • This companion manual to Volume 1 puts First Nations Northwest Coast art into deeper cultural context, providing Indigenous philosophy, knowledge, and skills foundation, a code of ethics, and interviews with First Nations community members Ruth Cook, George Cook, Nella Nelson, and Wedlidi Speck, as well as some aspects of historical context and a description of the Potlatch.
  • The companion manual includes a full colour, 16-page creation story with 20 designs.
  • Additional topics include contemporary indigenous art design evolution with 50 examples, 20 designs to draw and paint, and a Quick Reference Chart containing over 100 designs.
  • Volume 2 was first published in 2002 and reprinted in 2007 and 2017. It has sold over 15,000 copies to date. 

Customer Reviews

“Volume 2 continues to be a helpful resource for budding artists and a worthy addition to the bookshelf of any Northwest Coast artist." — Andy Everson, K’ómoks First Nations Artist/Anthropologist. Comox, B.C.

“Learning by Designing Pacific Northwest Coast Native Indian Art, Volume 2 is a very thorough, well-researched book that will be of great value to anyone interested in learning more about Northwest Coast First Nations art. The design terminology is straightforward, well explained, and easy to understand. Especially valuable is the separation and consistent identification of different coastal styles: Northern, Mid-coast, ‘west coast,’ and southern coast. This clearly denotes these divergent individual traditions and credits these regions and First Nations with their unique historical design contributions. — Steve Brown, Author/Artist, Former Curator of Native American Art, Seattle Art Museum. Seattle, Washington.

“I am even more impressed with this volume than the last. It offers so many new tools and insights that allow one to create imaginative and lively designs that incorporate the numerous elements of the art form. The carver in me got really excited at what I found … The patterns are beautiful and the combinations almost endless. — F. (Bill) Judt, relief carver, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

 “There is so much information packed into this extremely well-written and exhaustively researched second volume, I found myself reading many pages twice, just to make sure that I had absorbed all of the fascinating text … Kudos to Karin Clark and the late Jim Gilbert, whose tireless efforts and endless research have resulted in two classic volumes which are surely destined to find their way as valued additions to libraries, schools, cultural institutions and other places of learning throughout North America. — Reg Ashwell, Freelance writer and Northwest Coast art dealer and collector, Vancouver Island, British Columbia

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Preface

Introduction

Goals

Overview of Learning by Designing

Building on a First Nations Foundation

Traditional First Nations Code of Ethics

Twelve Principles of Aboriginal Philosophy

First Nations Knowledge and Skills Foundation

Four Worlds Colour Section

Aboriginal Art within a Cultural Context

Talking with one contemporary First Nations Family

Ruth Cook

George Cook

Nella Nelson

Wedlidi Speck

Introduction to Design

Formline

Evolution and Formation of Design Shapes

Evolution of the Ovoid - The Salmon Egg/Salmon Head Theory

Two-Dimensional Design Styles

Semi-Realistic Design Styles

Extended and Rearranged Design Styles

Myth Interpretation /Reading a Rearranged Design

Reading a Two-Dimensional Design

Overlapping - Depth and Perspective

Perspective - Birds Wings and Tails

The Elements - Rain, Clouds, Snow, Water, Ocean

Trees and Coastal Islands

Painting and Colours

Basketry Designs - Geometric, Decorative, Animal, Woven or Painted

Decorated Garments

Decorative Garments - Button and Applique

Contemporary Garments

Culture & Art Style Regions of the Pacific Northwest Coast

Map: Four Major Art Style Regions of the Pacific Northwest Coast

Full Designs in the Style of the Four Art Areas

North Coast Designs

Human

Salmon

Thunderbird

Killer Whale

Wolf

Mid Coast Designs

Human

Salmon

Thunderbird

Killer Whale

Wolf

South Coast Designs

Human

Salmon

Thunderbird

Killer Whale

Wolf

West Coast of Vancouver Island Designs

Human

Salmon

Thunderbird

Killer Whale

Wolf

Summary Chart

Quick Reference Charts

Birds

Fish

Humans

Insects

Mammals

Mythological Creatures

Natural Elements and Heavenly Bodies

Sea Creatures

Appendices

Appendix A: Some Aspects of History of the Coastal First Peoples

Appendix B: The Potlatch

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

Learn about Raven Publishing's authors.