The new beadwork
/ Kathlyn Moss and Alice Scherer ; with photography by Tommy Olof Elder
- New York : Harry N. Abrams , 1992
- 112 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 25 cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 108) and index.
Beadwork, the last of the traditional crafts to be discovered by fine artists, has undergone a revolution in the past two decades. Creative men and women, interested in its unique qualities of color, light reflection, refraction, and texture, are exploring its rich possibilities for fine detail and spectacular pattern. Kathlyn Moss, an important beadwork artist, and Alice Scherer, founder and director of the Center for the Study of Beadwork in Portland, Oregon, provide a survey of the best recent work in the medium. Their choices range from traditional wall hangings and jewelry to highly original and experimental pieces, including narrative sculptures, game boards, vessels, installation pieces, and wearable art. Dozens of full-color illustrations, photographed especially for this volume, present work of remarkable scope and variety. They are accompanied by detailed commentaries, often in the words of the artists themselves. The introductory essay traces the history of modern beadwork and examines the relationship between the beadwork of traditional cultures and the innovative work being done today. The book offers a wealth of reference materials. One appendix details the history and manufacture worldwide of seed beads, the basic unit of beadwork, a second describes the principal techniques, with and without a bead loom. Clear, easy-to-follow diagrams, created especially for this volume, explain each technique. Additionally, the authors have assembled a glossary of important beadwork terms, a listing of recent exhibitions of beadwork, a selected bibliography, and listings of addresses for principal bead societies, research institutions, and suppliers. Thus the book is both a full-colorpresentation of the finest recent work in this burgeoning art form and an indispensable reference for the artist and collector.