Background
Downs, Dorothy Rieder was born on May 14, 1937 in Miami, Florida, United States. Daughter of William Dustin Rieder and Mary Katherine Thomas.
( "A superbly readable piece of cultural history. . . . D...)
"A superbly readable piece of cultural history. . . . Downs proves that graphics and narrative can be intertwined in an entertaining and informative historical presentation. . . . Delightful and intellectually enriching."--Southern Historian "Excellent. . . . Well-documented with both historical and anthropological sources, this is the best work to appear on a significant cultural characteristic of the Seminoles in quite some time. An excellent addition to the growing literature on the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes."--Tampa Tribune "Unfolds the meaning of Seminole-Miccosukee arts as metaphor for the people of the Everglades."--Joyce Herold, Denver Museum of Natural History The artistic tradition that in the past sustained Florida Indians helps identify them today as possessing a resilient, modern culture. In this richly illustrated account of the arts and crafts of the Florida Seminole and Miccosukee Indians, Dorothy Downs shows how artistic expression reflects and inspires history. Emphasizing the influence of drastic cultural changes on their artistic traditions, Downs traces Seminole and Miccosukee art from the eighteenth century to the present and demonstrates both the persistence of some prehistoric southeastern Indian designs and the impact of contact with Europeans. In addition to clothing and finger-woven or bead-embroidered accessories, their arts and crafts--most often practiced by women--include pottery, basketry, and doll making. Their most powerful artistic expression is found in the colorful and intricate patchwork patterns that have become their twentieth-century signature. Incorporating color and black-and-white photographs of these remarkable art pieces, Downs also details the "men's work" of silver and wood crafts and chickee building in a volume sure to interest scholars and the general public alike.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813015367/?tag=2022091-20
consultant art historian writer
Downs, Dorothy Rieder was born on May 14, 1937 in Miami, Florida, United States. Daughter of William Dustin Rieder and Mary Katherine Thomas.
Bachelor, Emory University, 1959. Master of Arts in Art History, University Miami, 1976.
Registrar Lowe Art Museum, University Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 1977—1978. Director 4 Corners Gallery, 1978—1979, New Gallery, University Miami, 1986—1987. Manager Center Art Store, Center Fine Arts, 1982—1984.
Instructor department art & art history University Miami, Coral Gables, 1996. Guest curator Lowe Art Museum, University Miami, 1999, curatorial consultant, since 2001. Consultant Miccosukee Museum, Miami, 1983.
Instructor art history Florida Keys Community College, Key West, 1995, St. Leo's College, Key West, 1995. Lecturer in field.
( "A superbly readable piece of cultural history. . . . D...)
President Tribal Arts Society Lowe Art Museum, Coral Gables, 2001—2003. Member of Native American Art Studies Association.
Married R Maurice Downs, July 12, 1955. Children: Craig Thomas, Gary Steven.