| West Coast Indian art, particularly that of the Haida, portrays a deep mystic consciousness that few people have come close to comprehending. In this exhaustive study, the authors dig deep within this timeless culture to illustrate the influence of the remote Queen Charlotte Islands and its pervasive spirit on the Haida carvers who sought to express it. Drew and Wilson outline the history of the Haida in relation to argillite carving. In a key chapter, "A World Apart," the reader is led through a tangle of Haida beliefs and legends seen through the artist's mind as he sought to express the world around him. The technical aspects of argillite - its nature, how it was quarried, the relationship of the carver to his material, clues to a carver's identity through his carving style, the transformation of argillite art with the coming of the white man, and its resurgence alongside contemporary art are detailed. Argillite is a study that will appeal to collectors, students of Indian art and culture, and anyone interested in recapturing the formidable and legendary consciousness of this ancient people. |
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