Native American Rock Art of the Southwest

Intended for classroom use, this program explores the painted and pecked (chiseled) designs found on rocks scattered throughout the southwestern U.S. Explaining first that we do not know for sure why ancient indigenous cultures created this art, the producers visit four of the greatest rock art "galleries," and explore in detail the types, styles, and geology of the representational and abstract designs. Visuals include maps, but the focus here is most definitely on the art itself; production values are high, so the beauty and mystery of the pictographs and petroglyphs come across loud and clear. Not addressed are the materials with which the Indians painted and/or chiseled, and the video's tone is more than a little somber; despite these missteps, it is recommended for school and public collections, particularly those in the Southwest. Aud: J, H, C, P. (K. Glaser)