| science / nature | 31
30 | photographY / historY |
Faces from the Land Twenty Years of Powwow Tradition By Ben and Linda Marra
Big Fish
FACES from the LAND TWENTY YEARS OF POWWOW TRADITION
BEN
and
LINDA MARRA
By Richard Ellis From Richard Ellis, America’s foremost painter and chronicler of undersea life, comes Big Fish, a natural history of the
After the success of Powwow: Images
largest fish on Earth. Blending art and
Along the Red Road, this new book by
science with historical, cultural, and per-
the marras presents more photographs
sonal stories, Ellis illustrates the giants
and testimonies. Faces from the Land
of the sea, incorporating anecdotes,
reveals the dancers, who, united by the
archival images, and photos related to
ageless rhythms of the powwow drums,
legendary catches and discoveries.
come from many tribes, different trades,
Along the way, we meet big-game
and every corner of North America and
fishermen like Ernest Hemingway and
celebrate customs both ancient and mod-
Zane Grey, as well as naturalists and
ern, bringing them together as a proud
explorers. We also meet all manner of
community to preserve tribal traditions.
tuna, from bluefin and yellowfin to alba-
Since 1988, photographer Ben marra
core and bigeye; billfish, from marlins to
and his wife, Linda, have crisscrossed
the mighty swordfish; and sharks, from
the nation to document the majestic
the long-extinct megamouth to the very
dance regalia worn at Native American
much extant great white. Perfect for all
powwows. Traveling to over 30 cities a
those enchanted by the mysteries of the
year, Ben marra invites participants into
deep, Big Fish illuminates natural history
his makeshift studio to be photographed
with wit, charm, artistry, and humor.
in full traditional dress, while Linda records the stories behind their outfits
˘ Easelback poster
and dance. The resulting images are
˘ Targeted mailings to maritime
stunning, and capture not only the brilliant colors and incredible craftsmanship of the regalia, but the personal journeys that inspired them. ˘ Promotion to Native American organizations ˘ Academic marketing ˘ Promote with exhibitions ˘ Outreach to art, travel, cultural, and Native American interest publications
museums and deep sea fishing outfits sPECIFICaTIONs:
abOUT THE aUTHOrs:
• 155 full-color photographs
Ben and Linda Marra are a husband-
• 176 pages, 9 * 10 V"
and-wife team who began to document
• Hardcover with jacket
powwows in 1988. The marras’ ongoing
IsbN: 978-0-8109-8335-9 Us $30.00
CAN $33.00
RIGHTS: WORLD PUB MONTH: APRiL
˘ Target local media where powwows are held ˘ media tie-in with authors’ extensive
photography project includes a traveling exhibition for museums, two yearly calendar titles, fine art photographs, and lithographic art prints.
˘ Online promotions ˘ National TV, radio, and print campaign ˘ Target art, nature, marine life, and fishing publications
sPECIFICaTIONs:
abOUT THE aUTHOr:
• Over 40 full-color and 50 black-and-
Richard Ellis is an artist and writer. His
white illustrations
Book of Sharks and Book of Whales are
• 144 pages, 11 * 10"
believed to be the most popular books
• Hardcover with jacket IsbN: 978-0-8109-9626-7 Us $35.00
CAN $39.00
RIGHTS: WORLD PUB MONTH: APRiL
on sharks and whales ever written, and he has contributed to or been featured in over eighty magazines and journals. Among his many accomplishments, he designed the beloved life-size blue whale that hangs in the Hall of Ocean Life in the American museum of Natural History. He lives in New York City.
tour schedule aLsO aVaILabLE:
Powwow IsbN: 978-0-8109-2680-6 Us $17.95 CAN $19.95 abrams | spring 2009 | www.abramsbooks.com
www.abramsbooks.com | spring 2009 | abrams