I have two questions about Naaahsa is an Artist! The first is who is Naaahsa? They are an artist and a mentor to the young narrator, but are they also a mother, sibling, grandmother, aunt, a tribal leader, or another member of her people? And the second is, what works were shown at the gallery show, as they work in many mediums. However, that is a small piece of the puzzle and really is a piece that is not overly needed.
What is needed is the fact that Naaahsa is an artist who knows that art is a language that all can speak. She might speak in Blackfoot sometimes, but when she creates her works of art, she is all voices. The narrator uses Naaahsa as their own inspiration and hopes to inspire others like Naaahsa has her and other women. The story is a “celebration of art” (as the publisher content mentions) and a celebration of your own expression.
The art is interesting. I was getting both a classical feeling and a modern tone. The cover, and a page later in the book, gives off a 1970s fabric vibe. And there are other expressions throughout. The cover gives you the style and the details you will find. The text wraps itself within the imagery, making the illustrations a supportive member of the combination and not so much its own character. Yet, it has a tone that is its own. There is a little history, such as Naaahsa speaks of her time as a student and how she lost her language, her voice. And how she had to whisper, but now she can shout out in words and art.
October 2023 will see this book by Hali Heavy Shield and Norma Jean Russell (translator) published.