ARCTIC SPIRIT. INUIT ART FROM THE ALBRECHT COLLECTION at the Heard Museum, Phoenix

Covering prehistoric to contemporary works of cultures from Siberia to the Bering Strait, "Arctic Spirit" is based on one of the world's most important collections of Inuit art. Organized by major themes -- the land, the animals, the supernatural -- the book showcases sculptures, prints and drawings, and textiles. Highlighting Canadian Inuit works but also including such rarities as ancient Alaskan ivories as well as contemporary Greenlandic "tupilaks, Arctic Spirit" features extensive commentaries, historical background, and artist interviews in a multifaceted homage to some unique cultures and their art.

A beautifully illustrated overview of contemporary and historical Inuit art sculpture, prints, drawings and fabrics from Canada, Alaska, Greenland and Siberia as represented in the Albrecht Collection of the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. A detailed examination of 190 masterworks of Inuit art, this beautifully illustrated work is a groundbreaking survey of one of the world s most unique art traditions. In one short decade, Dan and Martha Albrecht put together one of the finest collections of Inuit art ever assembled nearly 4,000 pieces. Their closest advisor, Ingo Hessel, uses the most impressive pieces in their collection to bring the breadth and history of Inuit art to life. More than half the text is written by the artists themselves, illuminating the context of their work.