Looking at Totem Poles

Description

This newest book on Northwest Coast art by a widely published author in the field ( Cedar: Tree of Life to the Northwest Coast Indians , Univ. of Washington Pr., 1984) is primarily a guide to 110 specific totem poles located in British Columbia and Alaska. It also contains a number of short opening chapters that provide an excellent, concise introduction to the poles for the lay reader; Stewart’s thorough understanding of the subject shines most brightly in her discussion of iconography. The guide section offers a detailed drawing of each pole; identification of its location, carver, and style; and a brief explanation of the meaning of the figures on the pole. Highly recommended for public libraries because of its accessibility to general audiences and for academic libraries as a reference source on individual totem poles.