Rating: 
Summary: First in Series
Review: Having taken a historical journey with Ms. Dubin in her two previous books, History of Beads and North American Jewelry and Adornment, it was a great pleasure to have a new opportunity to travel the creative path with the mind and art of Jesse Monongya, in her new book Opal Bears and Lapis Skies.
The beautiful photographs are intoxicating, and the text is clear and
multi-sourced. We are presented with the voices of Jesse's family members,
friends, gallery and museum heads, collectors and his own eloquent and
at times painful thoughts.In particular, what stands out as special indeed, in a book about one-of-a-kind jewelry, (which is prized in every meaning of the word), is that there is an entire chapter devoted to explaining the process of making the pieces.
My deepest gratitude for the writing of this book is for the insight it gives into the "native way" of seeing human existence, a most fascinating read and much to think about.
This book is a first in a series of monographs and I am anticipating the next.
T. Dorsey, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Rating:
Summary: A Visual Treat
Review: I am a bit of a novice who has recently become interested in contemporary Native American jewelry and received this book as a gift. What I can say is that Opal Bears and Lapis Skies was an incredible treat to receive and I have found myself frequently going back to it to learn more about this artist. His volume of work is quite impressive and beautifully displayed in this book. What I think works most effectively with this book is that for someone like myself, who is still familiarizing myself with this craft, I found it instantly appealing and understandible. One particularly notable quality of this book is how it works on several different levels of familiarity with this type of jewelry. Friends of mine with little knowledge of this craft have picked it up merely to page through it and have been able to quickly develop an appeciation for the struggles Jesse has gone through (many that we're all familiar with) and how he has been able to transform these motivations into an amazing talent. I found the information on his background particularly interesting and valuable, helping me place his pieces in a greater context. I can imagine that this book is even more valuable to anyone who appreciates this type of jewelry and the talent and skill behind the pieces featured. I find myself learning something new each time I look through this book--the pieces shown are beautiful and many are truly amazing. The photographs are amazingly rich and sharp and are themselves a visual treat, with the quality as good as well as anything I've seen in print.
Rating: 
Summary: Opal Bears and Lapis Skies
Review: I received this book as a gift from someone who knows I've had a preference for traditional, old-style Native American jewelry and crafts. It was good to learn, in depth and through this example of one artist, that contemporary Indian arts can be rooted in the same ancestral basis of geography and cosmology that produced earlier art and jewelry. Well-written . . . a good, and beautiful, addition to learning about Native American lives and art.
Evelyn Winkel
Seal Beach, CA
Rating:
Summary: For lovers of American Indian jewelry, a must!
Review: I was very impressed with Lois Dubin's previous book on the history of North American Indian jewelry so was pleasantly suprised to find her latest on the work of one very talented artist. I thought the pictures were gorgeous, the colors so lush and true, and the detail exquisite. Looking at them made me feel as if I owned the pieces! (I only wish!) Monongya is such a skilled craftsman, mixing various elements with boldness and imagination. One simply does not see that kind of dazzling interpretation in most Indian jewelry shops. But beyond the photos, I loved reading Monongya's own words... the story of his life, the influence of his elders on his work. He comes across as a sensitive and thoughtful man - but with an impish sense of humor as well - as some of his work evidences. And he is obviously, a creative genius. I read the whole book in one sitting, a credit to Dubin's easy prose, sensibility and organization. Now a question, is Monongya's jewelry available in Jackson, Wyoming where I often vacation?
Rating: 
Summary: Portrait of a Master
Review: Jesse Monongya is a powerhouse in contemporary American Indian culture, greatly admired by many who should like this winsome book. Selling expensive art takes skills beyond those used at the jeweler's workbench. Prominence in the politically charged museum and gallery world takes other talents that few perfect. Being a member of a minority culture adds further odds. Monongya has mastered the field. Little of this comes through in Dubin's portrait of her friend. She makes him a bland cliché, stressing the requisite (for Indian stories) spiritual grandmother, and the recovery from drunkenness (also required, if to be up-to-date). Add some personal charm and an ostensibly adoring family for good measure. Her subject is short changed. Her readers are denied an understanding of the complexities of Indian culture today as exemplified by an extraordinary figure. This book will appeal to those who want a pretty story to match the pretty pictures. Monongya is worth more than that.
Also not explained is how the artist's exquisite handling of his images distinguishes his expensive jewelry from that made by other Indian artists using the same images who sell their work in galleries or even at roadside tables for a fraction of Monongya's prices. Creative innovation or smart marketing? On the other hand, if the value of the work is perceived by looking at it, why not just show the pictures (excellent, though not accurate in color) and skip the gooey writing? As the first publication in a proposed series about individual Indian jewelers, this book gives foreboding of what's to come: mawkish biographical sketches suitable for the coffee table? One could wish for something worth keeping in the library; something that reads less like advertising copy. However, congratulations to Dubin for her success in promoting her friend's work. People evidently like reading her stories.
Robert Kasal, professor of art emeritus,
Portland State University
Rating:
Summary: A singularly impressive artbook
Review: Jesse Monongya: Opal Bears And Lapis Skies by Lois Sherr Dubin (Commissioner of the Indian Arts & Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC) offers 175 full-color plates of vibrant earrings, pendants, bracelets and more, as it showcases the vivid and memorably impressive quality of Jesse Monongya's jewelry making drawn from and inspired by Hopi and Navajo tradition and heritage. The informed and informative text thoughtfully describes the feeling, tradition, quality, and respect wrought within each work by this Native American artist and craftsman. A singularly impressive artbook, Jesse Monongya is a welcome contribution to Native American Art Studies and highly recommended for jewelry making enthusiasts and students.
Rating:
Summary: A singularly impressive artbook
Review: Jesse Monongya: Opal Bears And Lapis Skies by Lois Sherr Dubin (Commissioner of the Indian Arts & Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC) offers 175 full-color plates of vibrant earrings, pendants, bracelets and more, as it showcases the vivid and memorably impressive quality of Jesse Monongya's jewelry making drawn from and inspired by Hopi and Navajo tradition and heritage. The informed and informative text thoughtfully describes the feeling, tradition, quality, and respect wrought within each work by this Native American artist and craftsman. A singularly impressive artbook, Jesse Monongya is a welcome contribution to Native American Art Studies and highly recommended for jewelry making enthusiasts and students.
Rating:
Summary: Opal Bears and Lapis Skies
Review: Lois Sherr Dubin has given us a sensiive exposure to a fine artist jewler of Hopi and Navajo background. Breathtaking photographs by Kiyoshi Togashi, brings us up close and personal to the man, his work and enviroment. A joyful and moving read.
Rating:
Summary: Immersion into the world of an inspired artist
Review: Open this wonderful book, look at the magnificent jewelry and craftsman ship, stunningly photographed, and placed in the geographic and cultural context from which it arose. Mr. Monongya's creations are truly organic, arising deep from within his cultural roots, which tap the brilliant and subtle landscape of the West. Ms Dubin's writing, concise and direct in its prose, reveals the Mr. Monongya's history and evolution as an artist. Everything works in this book - the subject, the photographs, the text, the typography. This book follows in the brilliant tradition of Ms. Sherr's two earlier classics. Jay E. Selman...
Rating:
Summary: Immersion into the world of an inspired artist
Review: Open this wonderful book, look at the magnificent jewelry and craftsman ship, stunningly photographed, and placed in the geographic and cultural context from which it arose. Mr. Monongya's creations are truly organic, arising deep from within his cultural roots, which tap the brilliant and subtle landscape of the West. Ms Dubin's writing, concise and direct in its prose, reveals the Mr. Monongya's history and evolution as an artist. Everything works in this book - the subject, the photographs, the text, the typography. This book follows in the brilliant tradition of Ms. Sherr's two earlier classics. Jay E. Selman...
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