Features designs drawn from ornamental and utilitarian objects of the African culture.

Describes the traditional designs of the Moors, Berbers, Abyssinian Christians and more from jewellery, tattoos, camel bags, rugs and other ornamented objects.

The creative accomplishments of the Andean people of the highland region of South America are prominent among the folk art legacies of the world. This wide-ranging publication, examining over 850 works, is the first to present an overview of the religious, textile, costume, utilitarian, and festival folk arts made in the Andes in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, after the Andeans were free from Spanish colonial rule. The author offers an understanding of the development of folk art during the colonial period and shows how much of the work produced after independence reflects the interweaving of indigenous craft traditions with European art forms and techniques. Drawing from the renowned collection at the Museum of International Folk Art and other private and public collections in the United States, this book includes religious paintings, sculptures, portable altars, milagros, amulets, and ritual offerings. Traditional hand woven ponchos, mantles, belts, and bags are shown, along with women's skirts, hats, and shawls adapted from the Spanish. Jewellery, wooden trunks, silverwork, majolica ceramics, carved gourds, house blessing ornaments, and toys reveal not only the craftsmanship of the work, but the ways the objects function in everyday life. Also explored are Andean festival cycles Kith lavish costumes and a variety of masks. With over 400 colour photographs, this monumental book provides a window into the rich spirit and culture of the Andeans. Published to coincide with an exhibition to open at the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in April 2011.

Once little known outside of Haiti, Vodou flags ("drapo Vodou"), dazzling in color and imagery, have become popular commodities in the international art market. Works by such notable Haitian artists as Silva Joseph, Antoine Oleyant, and Yves Telemak now grace the walls of museums, art galleries, and private homes throughout the world.

The fascinating, colorful collection of "drapo Vodou" included in this book reveals the importance of Vodou flags in the Haitian culture. Shimmering with sequins and reflected light, they capture the attention of Vodou practitioners and art lovers alike.

In showcasing the Vodou flags and the artists who create them, this book also offers a striking revelation of the gods ("Iwa") that inhabit the Vodou spirit world.

Linocut prints in stark blacks and whites of work from Zulu, Masai, and dozens of other tribes. Masks, abstract motifs, etc.

A celebration of female inventiveness and aesthetic sensibility, Shedding the Shackles explores women's craft enterprises, their artisanal excellence, and the positive impact their individual projects have on breaking the poverty cycle. In the first part of the twentieth century, suffering from a legacy inherited from the Victorian era, craft skills, such as weaving, sewing, embroidery, and quilting were regarded largely as women's domestic pastimes, and remained undervalued and marginalised. It has taken several decades for attitudes to change, for the boundaries between 'fine art' and craft to blur, and for textile crafts to be given the same respect and recognition as other media. Featuring artisans and projects from across the globe Shedding the Shackles celebrates their vision and motivation giving a fascinating glimpse into how these craft initiatives have created a sustainable lifestyle, and impacted upon their communities at a deeper level.