Arts of Ancient America Recommendations - For all ages

BOOKS for ADULTS

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Ancient West Mexico : Art and Archaeology of the Unknown Past

by Thames and Hudson
The Art Institute of Chicago, 1998

Covers over 220 of the finest known examples of ancient West Mexican sculptural art, including representations of people, animals, and plants, as well as vessels and models of houses, ceremonial centers, ball games, and ritual scenes.

Art Treasures of Ancient Mexico : Journey to the Land of the Gods

by Felipe R. Solis Olguin
Lund Humphries, 2002

Addressing the Olmec period through to the Aztecs (a span of over 2500 years), Mexico: Journey to the Land of the Gods is an exploration into the civilizations of Mesoamerica through an examination of 250 magnificent art objects

Maya Art and Architecture

by Mary Ellen Miller
Thames & Hudson, 1999

Miller vividly takes the reader into the art of one of the world's most enigmatic ancient civilizations, explaining how and why the Maya made their greatest works. 200 illustrations, 50 in color.

Mexican, Central, and South American art

by John F. Scott
Facts on File, 1996

Scott specializes in the Pre-Columbian art of Mesoamerica.

Pre-Columbian art and the Post-Columbian World : Ancient American Sources of Modern Art

by Barbara Braun
Harry N. Abrams, 1993

An exploration and in-depth study of five seminal modern artists and the Pre-Columbian forms that provided inspiration for their work.

Rediscovered masterpieces of Mesoamerica : Mexico-Guatemala- Honduras.

by Editions Arts, 1985.
Editions Arts, 1985.

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The Art and Architecture of Ancient America : The Mexican, Maya and Andean Peoples

by Kubler, George
Yale University Press, 1990

Explore the art and architecture of the Mexican, Maya and Andean peoples' cultures.

The Art of Mesoamerica : from Olmec to Aztec

by Mary Ellen Miller
Thames & Hudson, 2001

Mary Miller surveys the artistic achievements of the high Precolumbian civilizations -- Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Toltec, Aztec -- as well as those of their less well-known contemporaries. Revised throughout this is an ideal companion for art historians, students and travelers alike

The Maya

by Michael Coe
Thames & hudson, 1993

Explore the art and antiquities of the Mayan culture.

The Maya : Life, Myth, and Art

by Timothy Laughton
Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1998

"The Maya" moves from theme to theme to present an appraisal of the cultural and artistic legacy of the Maya. From monumental architecture to intricate stone carvings to vivid wall paintings, this illustrated volume features over 200 images in full color.

WEBSITES

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Arte Maya Tz’utuhil Museum and Gallery
http://www.artemaya.com/

This website deals only with the Tz'utuhil-speaking artists, and mainly with the artists from San Pedro la Laguna and its close neighbor San Juan la Laguna.

The Art of Ancient Mexico
http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/arthistory/mexico.htm

This site offers a short report by a student covering, influence, art form and style.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
www.mfa.org/artemis/collections/americas-aa.htm

This museum site highlights ritual objects, body adornment, and ceramics ranging geographically from Central Mexico to the coast of Peru.

Mesoweb: Exploration of MesoAmerican Cultures
www.mesoweb.com

This site dons reports of MesoAmerica including those about ancient masks and sculptures.

The Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University
http://carlos.emory.edu/COLLECTION/AMERICAS

Browse this museums art collection from MesoAmerica, Central America and the Andes. The collection holds over 600 works from ancient Costa Rica from all periods.