My Tree of Life as an Appraiser of American Indian Art: My Viewpoint

By Dr. Leona M Zastrow

American Indian art has a long history and a vibrant and active modern-day community, something that has long interested collectors, historians, and anthropologists.

In My Tree of Life as an Appraiser of American Indian ArtMy Viewpoint, author Leona M. Zastrow offers an examination of the past and present of American Indian art from her viewpoint as an art appraiser. She presents facts and details about Southwest American Indian art, considering its history and transitions and offers snapshot views of American Indian art. She also describes how people can donate their work to nonprofit organizations, explains several federal laws concerning Indian artists, and profiles several American Indian artists who created many of the items featured in these pages, including potters, jewelers, weavers, carvers, printers, and painters.

Presented from the unique perspective of an appraiser, this collection of articles, originally written for a Santa Fe area publication, shines a new light on American Indian Art.

A perfect reflection of a life lived in harmony with her roles as friend, teacher, appraiser, and collector of American Indian Art. Throughout the pages, we are offered a unique insight into a many-faceted world of wondrous American Indian art.
Dr. Ginny Brouch, Phoenix, Arizona

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Jan 13, 2017
• ISBN: 9781480841314

Dr. Leona M Zastrow

Dr. Leona M. Zastrow is the founder and president of Educational Planning for Individuals and Communities, Inc. (EPIC, Inc.), a company whose services include developing culturally based curricula, grant research, development, writing, evaluation, strategic planning, and accreditation studies with schools and colleges. She is also the founder of The Arts and Antiques Appraisal Company, a subdivision of EPIC, Inc., which provides personal property appraisal services. Dr. Zastrow is a member of the Appraisers Association of America, specializing in appraising American Indian art. She has been a planner and researcher with American Indian nations for more than forty years and a teacher of American Indian art to Indian high school and college students. She is also the author of a number of books and articles about Indian art.

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Copyright © 2016, 2017 Dr. Leona M Zastrow.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-4808-4129-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-4130-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-4131-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016920642

Archway Publishing rev. date: 1/13/2017

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Dr. Leona Zastrow’s long experience and complete joy working with Native American art and artists shines on every page of this essential volume. Her appraisals are widely appreciated throughout the land, and here in an easily accessible book she explains the important points of her work and celebrates some of the best in Native American arts and artists from the earliest times to the most contemporary works. William Carroll, collector

Dr. Leona Zastrow’s lifelong interactions with the Native American community have led to a treasure-trove of knowledge regarding Native American art. These pages will enlighten the reader as to the value and importance of their collections. This is accomplished with stories and photos about the artists and the products of their imaginations. Dr. Zastrow’s expertise in the areas of art, pottery, jewelry and other artistic pieces is apparent. Her writing is a tribute to her respect for the artists and the evolution of these objects from the practical to the artistic. The book makes for peasant reading for all who have an interest in the Native American community. Patricia Sweetland, Collector

This informative book by Dr. Leona Zastrow is exactly what each of us have been searching for in trying to determine what we have with our American Indian Art collections. For months even years, I featured this appraisal expert in my publication to rave reviews and actual requests that Dr. Zastrow produce the contents of each of the articles into a book so that people like us could review and reflect on our prized possessions. Better yet, there is absolutely nothing like it in the marketplace, as this book is the first and the best. Reading and digesting the contents is probably the first step before you hire Dr. Zastrow for an actual appraisal. Alena Hart, Co - Publisher of the Santa Fe Monthly

"Dr. Z, as this engaging woman is affectionately known to her indigenous artist friends, conveys an impressive amount of art knowledge in her book. Do not be intimated by her vast academic knowledge as she writes in a relaxed, conversational, personable voice. Her goal is evident as she relates tips for the beginning collector. Dr Z. is the meticulous GPSguide for the experienced collector thru the intricate, complex, yet tax required appraisal process of donating art to a non-profit organization. In a sentence, this is the go to book applicable to all levels of collectors of American Indian art. Rosemary Lonewolf, American Indian artist

Dr. Zastrow has woven together a masterpiece! Collectors…attorneys…historians…museums…appraisers…anthropologists…accountants… and dabblers, will find helpful information in this book. I especially liked the personal anecdotes. Kay Kenton Bethune, B.A. History, J.D.

To Harry (Red) Zastrow,

the rock of our family,

father of Leona and Nancy

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1

The Amazing Art of the Southwestern Indian People

Time Is of the Essence: A Noncash Donation

Estate Planning for American Indian Art Collections

Authentic American Indian Art

Federal Laws and Appraising American Indian Art, ARPA and NAGPRA

Market Value of American Indian Art

CHAPTER 2

New Mexico Pueblos Clay Figurines

Santa Clara Pueblo Clay Animal Pottery

Mimbres and Acoma Pottery

American Indian Wedding Vases

Dancing to the Tree of Life: Laura Kerman

Rosemary Lonewolf

Barbara Gonzales

CHAPTER 3

Shopping for American Indian Jewelry

America Indian People Pawning Their Jewelry

The Amazing Concha or Concho Belts

American Indian Bolo Ties

Santo Domingo Pueblo Fetish Necklaces and Shell Jewelry

Zuni Pueblo Jewelry

American Indian Copper Jewelry

CHAPTER 4

History of Navajo Rugs

Chief Blankets

Navajo Rugs, Healing Ceremonies

Navajo Medicine Men and Navajo Sandpaintings

American Indian Women and Their Burden Baskets

American Indian Baskets from an Appraiser’s Eye

Pima (Akimel O’odham River People) and the Papago (Tohono O’odham) Weavers

Jicarilla Apache and Hopi Baskets

Identification of American Indian Beadwork

Ute and Sioux Beaded Blanket Strips

CHAPTER 5

Petroglyphs

American Indian Drums

American Indian Folk Art

Santa Fe Hidden Treasures: Pueblo Paintings at La Fonda Hotel

Hopi Katsina, Hopi Warrior, Katsina Figure, Wuyak-ku-ita

Pueblo Indian Ceremonial Dances

Patrick Swazo Hinds and Linda Lomahaftewa

Zuni Pueblo Carvings: Fetishes

Inuit Art

American Indian Art Continues to Evolve: Transition Agents

ADDENDUM

SOURCES

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book evolves as a salute to my many colleagues, clients, family, and friends:

The people I’ve met through the years as an art teacher at St. John’s Indian School, Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona, and my time at the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico as director of Native American outreach, developing art programs for American Indian students.

The people I’ve met through my education management company, EPIC, Inc. (Educational Planning Individuals and Companies), working to revise, renew, and establish educational programs. The foundation of many of these programs was traditional culture and traditions.

To my many friends who have assisted me with this publication:

My appreciation to my Arizona and New Mexico friends who have read drafts, suggested revisions, and encouraged me to publish this material.

Special thanks to Dr. Virginia Brouch, Tina Lantieri, Patricia Sweetland, and Dr. Lisa Drake who provided editing assistance.

Special love and gratitude to my sister, Nancy (Zastrow) Riley, who did the graphics and designed the cover.

INTRODUCTION

The majority of articles in this book were originally invited for publish in THE, Santa Fe’s monthly magazine owned by Alena Hart and Richard Rogers.

The purpose of these articles was to provide information about art created by American Indian artists, historical and contemporary. Information in these articles was collected from my many years of involvement with American Indian art as a friend, teacher, appraiser, and collector.

As a qualified appraiser (AAA) of American Indian art, many of these articles were the result of appraisals for many clients ranging from individual collectors, to museums, to government agencies.

Writing these articles provided me the opportunity to further my knowledge and share this knowledge through these writings. Many Santa Fe monthly magazine readers encouraged me to continue writing articles about American Indian art items, as the information provided gave them a new appreciation and understanding of American Indian art.

The information and the photographs in this book have been amassed over fifty years of working with many American Indian tribes in the United States and Canada. Some are the result of clients who have trusted me to appraise their collections over the last twenty years.

CHAPTER 1

This chapter provides information concerning the history and development of Southwest American Indian art to give you a better understanding of information needed to appraise American Indian art. These articles include information about donations, estate planning, American Indian artists, federal laws, and market values.

THE AMAZING ART OF THE SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN PEOPLE

Southwestern indigenous people have created amazing art. These works of art can be traced to the American Indians who live in Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado, such as the Pueblos, the Navajos, the Apaches, the Akimel O’odham (Pima), and the Tohono O’odham (Papago). Why, in the past and the present, was there so