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Reviews and Publications
The Fresno Bee
Guatemalan Indian Art
By David Hale
Bee Arts Writer
INDIAN ART -- Folk art with an Indian heritage dating back to the great Mayan civilization of Guatemala will be the attraction next weekend at the first fall meeting the Fresno Fiber Guild.
The speaker will be Gordon Frost of Newhall (now Frost is based in Point Reyes, California), owner of perhaps the world’s largest collection of Guatemalan Indian art.
The art will be on display Saturday morning at the Fresno Arts Center, 3033 E. Yale Ave. Frost also will show his collection of ceramics, textiles and ceremonial masks in a slide program starting about 9:45 a.m. Admission will be $2.
Frost, who spends several months a year in Guatemala in what has become a fulltime career as archivist and collector, said he approaches the folk art of the little Central American nation from two directions.
"I’ve set out to bring two worlds together — ours and theirs," he explained over the phone from Newhall. "The art and its creators have great vitality and value, yet there is little awareness of it despite the extraordinary history of the people. Too, there is little written about it that is accurate.
"What you have in Guatemala is one of the largest populations of Indians whose lives and art remain largely rooted in ancient customs. There is not much time left for such isolated civilizations—not much time left to photograph their lives or collect the artifacts.
Most of the folk art comes from the 20th century. What’s interesting are the striking differences between it and folk art of other Latin American countries. What’s interesting is that much of it is made by a contemporary people so near yet the art is so different from that of our contemporary artists.
"It isn’t just the extraordinary variety of interpretations within an essentially ancient form—though the stuff is made in regional centers only miles apart—but the daring use of colors, and the wonderful craftsmanship."
Frost, 35, became interested in Latin America from an archeology standpoint 15 years ago as an economics major at the UCLA, taking elective courses on Latin America.
When Uncle Sam beckoned, calling the Southern Californian to service in the midst of the Vietnam conflict, Frost chose the Peace Corps as an alternative. He got his wish and was dispatched to Guatemala.
Today he makes his living as a dealer and collector, leading expeditions into the Latin American country, organizing exhibits at museums and universities, and lecturing. A catalog he prepared for an exhibit in the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles received a national award for graphic design. ø
By David Hale
Bee Arts Writer
INDIAN ART -- Folk art with an Indian heritage dating back to the great Mayan civilization of Guatemala will be the attraction next weekend at the first fall meeting the Fresno Fiber Guild.
The speaker will be Gordon Frost of Newhall (now Frost is based in Point Reyes, California), owner of perhaps the world’s largest collection of Guatemalan Indian art.
The art will be on display Saturday morning at the Fresno Arts Center, 3033 E. Yale Ave. Frost also will show his collection of ceramics, textiles and ceremonial masks in a slide program starting about 9:45 a.m. Admission will be $2.
Frost, who spends several months a year in Guatemala in what has become a fulltime career as archivist and collector, said he approaches the folk art of the little Central American nation from two directions.
"I’ve set out to bring two worlds together — ours and theirs," he explained over the phone from Newhall. "The art and its creators have great vitality and value, yet there is little awareness of it despite the extraordinary history of the people. Too, there is little written about it that is accurate.
"What you have in Guatemala is one of the largest populations of Indians whose lives and art remain largely rooted in ancient customs. There is not much time left for such isolated civilizations—not much time left to photograph their lives or collect the artifacts.
Most of the folk art comes from the 20th century. What’s interesting are the striking differences between it and folk art of other Latin American countries. What’s interesting is that much of it is made by a contemporary people so near yet the art is so different from that of our contemporary artists.
"It isn’t just the extraordinary variety of interpretations within an essentially ancient form—though the stuff is made in regional centers only miles apart—but the daring use of colors, and the wonderful craftsmanship."
Frost, 35, became interested in Latin America from an archeology standpoint 15 years ago as an economics major at the UCLA, taking elective courses on Latin America.
When Uncle Sam beckoned, calling the Southern Californian to service in the midst of the Vietnam conflict, Frost chose the Peace Corps as an alternative. He got his wish and was dispatched to Guatemala.
Today he makes his living as a dealer and collector, leading expeditions into the Latin American country, organizing exhibits at museums and universities, and lecturing. A catalog he prepared for an exhibit in the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles received a national award for graphic design. ø
Photos: (top) Devils, Santa Cruz del Quiche, El Quiche, Guatemala
(bottom) Shaman Ajitz & Lacondon of the Dance of the Conquest of Guatemala, Solola, Guatemala
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 © 2005 Gordon Frost • PO Box 666 • Point Reyes Station • California 94956 Tel: 1-415-663-1919 • E-mail: gordon@gordonfrost.com • www.gordonfrost.com |