For her first book, Abby interviewed 11 Native
American artists who showed work at American Indian Contemporary Arts in San
Francisco, and wrote lyrical stand-alone essays, which were printed as
brochures and later published as Portfolio (1986).
Now out of print, the imagery-rich book features painter
R.E. (Rick) Bartow (1946-2016); sculptor Larry Beck (1938-1994); painter
Charley Burns (b. 1960); mixed media artist Joe Feddersen (b. 1953), sculptor
Leonard Harmon (1952-1989), sculptor John Hoover (1919-2011); sculptor Edna
Davis Jackson (b. 1950); painter Jack Malotte (b. 1953); painter P.Y. Minthorn
(b. 1960); ceramicist Lillian Pitt (b. 1944); wood sculptor/mask maker James
Schoppert (1947-1992). AICA co-Director (with Janeen Antoine) Kenneth Banks
wrote the Introduction. Since its publication these artists have become even
more well-known. They are only a few of the Native American artists, many with
MFAs, who incorporate traditional themes and subject matter into highly
contemporary work.
The book was designed by Ed Marquand, edited by William Henderson, and
published by American Indian Contemporary Arts.
