Spirits of the water native art collected on expeditions to Alaska and British Columbia, 1774-1910 : [catalogue

The images in the pages of this book-animal, human, and spirit faces-evoke the powerful cultural legacy of the inhabitants of the Northwest Coast. Spirits of the Water presents approximately 175 examples of the art produced by the Native peoples of a region of great linguistic, cultural, and geographical diversity. Accompanying essays establish a historical and cultural context for this remarkable assemblage of objects, and explore the traditions of art, social organization, and ceremony that inspired their makers. Early expeditions of exploration and trade to the northern Pacific coast were responsible for the acquisition of numerous objects, such as masks, tools, clothing, and baskets. Spirits of the Water examines the history of Russian, Spanish, English, and American expeditions in relation to the discovery and collection of these artifacts, many now considered to be extraordinary works of art. Gathered from international museums and private collections, these objects are among the oldest known works of Northwest Coast Indian art. This book also brings together many of the drawings and engravings made by the Spanish, English, and Russian artists who witnessed and recorded the first encounters with the lands of the Northwest Coast and their inhabitants. These works of functional art, with their expressive abstractions of animals and supernatural beings, reveal the religious and social motivations intertwined in their powerful aesthetic presence. Masks in particular express the imagination and creativity of the maker while conveying social hierarchies and spiritual motivations. The contributors to this volume invoke the pragmatic and ceremonial worlds in which these artifacts were used and examine how the material cultures of the Northwest Coast were understood by explorers and collectors as diverse as Captain James Cook and Max Ernst. Frontmatter Cover Halftitle Copyright Title Contents Lenders to the Exhibition Acknowledgements Preface Mámałni: Politics, Trade, and Collectionism on the Northwest Coast during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries (Carretero Collado) Imperial Spain and Russia Permanent Colonization and the Fur Trade The Collection of Native American Objects and Records Bibliography Eighteenth-Century Spanish Expeditions, Discoveries, and Collections in the Northwest Coast (Cabello) The Russian Advance and the Spanish Situation The First Expedition to the Northwest Coast: Pérez in 1774 The Second Expedition to the Northwest Coast: Hezeta and Bodega in 1775 Bodega’s Expedition in 1779 and Acquisition of a Battle Dress The Fourth Expedition to Eskimo and Russian Lands: López and Martínez in 1788 The Fifth Expedition, the Nootka Crisis, and a New Collection: Martínez in 1789 Sixth Expedition to the Northwest Coast: Eliza in 1790 The Malaspina Expedition in the Northwest Coast The Expedition of the Schooners Sutil and Mexicana and the Caamaño Expedition in 1792 Diplomatic Negotiations and Natural History in Nootka: The Bodega Expedition in 1792 The Spanish Withdrawal Notes Bibliography Reason and Dreams: Eskimos and Northwest Native Americans in Art and Legend (Costa Romero de Tejada) The Power of the Image The Power of the Word Notes Bibliography Function of Art in Northwest Coast Indian Culture (Holm) The Southern Province The Central Province The Northern Province Summary Notes Bibliography Spanish Expeditions, 1774–1792 1 Head / Chugach 5 Human Bust / Chugach 10 Helmet / Tlingit 15 Rattle / Tlingit 20 Armor / Tlingit or Chugach 25 Hat / Chugach 30 José Cardero / View of Majoa’s Village 35 José Cardero / Pyre and Graves of the Family of the Current Ankau in Port Mulgrave English Expedition, 1778 36 Mask / Nuu-chah-nulth 40 Koohʼminne (Rattle) / Nuu-chah-nulth 45 Club / Nuu-chah-nulth 50 Comb / Probably Haida 55 Rain Hat / Tlingit or Chugach Russian Expeditions, 1778–1890 60 Mask of a Human Face / Tlingit 65 Forehead Mask and Headdress / Tlingit 70 Helmet / Tlingit 75 Oil Bowl / Tlingit 80 Shaman’s Apron / Tlingit 85 View of an Otter Hunters’ Settlement with Young Men Signaling Toward Puerto Nórdico North American Expeditions, 1867–1910 87 Archaic Inuit Mask / Inupiak 90 Portrait Mask / Coastal Tsimshian 95 Maskette / Tsimshian or Tlingit 100 Mask / Kwakwa̲ka̲ʼwakw 105 Sun Dog Crest Helmet / Tlingit 110 Forehead Mask / Tlingit 115 Articulated Mask / Tsimshian 120 Dance Mask / Yupʼik 125 Headdress Frontlet / Tlingit 130 Shaman’s Mask / Central Yupʼik 135 Dance Staff Ornament / Tlingit 140 “Slave Killer” or “Copper Breaker” / Kwakwa̲ka̲ʼwakw 145 Hunting Visor / Inupiaq 150 Saayeina.aat Double-Whale Dagger / Tlingit 155 Pipe / Probably Tlingit, possibly Tahltan 160 Bowl / Tlingit or Haida 165 Box / Tlingit or Haida 170 Hat / Tlingit 175 Fragment of a Totem Pole / Tsimshian Glossary of Terms Back Cover The images in the pages of this book -- animal, human, and spirit faces -- evoke the powerful cultural legacy of the inhabitants of the Northwest Coast. Spirits of the Water presents approximately 175 examples of the art produced by the Native peoples of a region of great linguistic, cultural, and geographical diversity. Accompanying essays establish a historical and cultural context for this remarkable assemblage of objects, and explore the traditions of art, social organization, and ceremony that inspired their makers.Early expeditions of exploration and trade to the northern Pacific coast were responsible for the acquisition of numerous objects, such as masks, tools, clothing, and baskets. Spirits of the Water examines the history of Russian, Spanish, English, and American expeditions in relation to the discovery and collection of these artifacts, many now considered to be extraordinary works of art. Gathered from international museums and private collections, these objects are among the oldest known works of Northwest Coast Indian art. This book also brings together many of the drawings and engravings made by the Spanish, English, and Russian artists who witnessed and recorded the first encounters with the lands of the Northwest Coast and their inhabitants. These works of functional art, with their expressive abstractions of animals and supernatural beings, reveal the religious and social motivations intertwined in their powerful aesthetic presence. Masks in particular express the imagination and creativity of the maker while conveying social hierarchies and spiritual motivations. The contributors to this volume invoke the pragmatic and ceremonial worlds in which theseartifacts were used and examine how the material cultures of the Northwest Coast were understood by explorers and collectors as diverse as Captain James Cook and Max Ernst. Mámałni : Politics, Trade, And Collectionism On The Northwest Coast During The Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries / Leoncio Carretero Collado -- Eighteenth-century Spanish Expeditions, Discoveries, And Collections In The Northwest Coast / Paz Cabello -- Reason And Dreams : Eskimos And Northwest Coast Native Americans In Art And Legend / Alberto Costa Romero De Tejada -- Function Of Art In Northwest Coast Indian Culture / Bill Holm. Edited By Steven C. Brown ; Essays By Paz Cabello ... [et Al.] ; Exhibition Organized By Fundación La Caixa, Barcelona. Accompanies The Exhibition 'spirits Of The Water: Native Art Collected On Expeditions To Alaska And British Columbia, 1774-1910,' Organized By Fundación 'la Caixa,' Barcelona, And Curated By Paz Cabello And Alberto Costa Romero De Tejada--t.p. Verso. Originally Published As: Espíritus Del Agua. Includes Bibliographical References.