"First American Art: The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection of American Indian Art accompanies a major exhibition of more than 200 Native American objects from the private collection of Charles and Valerie Diker. Like the exhibition, this illustrated volume is organized around seven principles of an indigenous aesthetic - idea, emotion, intimacy, movement, integrity, vocabulary, and composition - that are embodied in Native objects." "First American Art: The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection of American Indian Art is the product of a collaboration among Native and non-Native curators, scholars, and artists who share a deep commitment to articulating and heightening an understanding of American Indian aesthetics and to fostering an awareness of the exceptional beauty of Native art. With this book and exhibition, they introduce a new paradigm for the publication and display of Native American art - one in which its objects are appreciated as true works of art as well as significant cultural artifacts."--BOOK JACKET.