Of Earth and Timbers Made: New Mexico Architecture

Albuauerque, New Mexico: University of New Mexico Press, 1975. First Edition Second Printing Stated 2nd Printing. Soft cover. Very Good. 8 1/2" X 11. Lazar, Arthur - Photography. 85 Pages.Book is clean with a square, tight binding and bright, white pages. No other defects noted and interior text and illustration pages are near flawless. This book is a collection of black and white photographic images. The photographer was obviously fascinated by the sculptural and figurative beauty of adobe buildings but this was by no means his only concern. In selecting subjects he was responding to the beauty of shapes and textures and tonal values. He was not interested in structures for their historical importance alone, nor did he attempt to record the region's architecture in a systematic historical way. With all of New Mexico as his province, Mr. LaZar is drawn instinctively to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the valleys adjacent to them. Half the plates show buildings on the south and east sides of the mountains and are mostly north of Las Vegas. The other half come from the western slopes including Taos and the Rio Grande Valley and three subjects are included from the Rio Abajo, the Rio Grande Valley south of La Bajada. This omission of the Indian architecture, which is also important, is because the present-day pueblos do not allow photography. A short text accompanies each of the plates which are arranged by topic. The sequence illustrates the rich variety of architectural forms that developed in the area, and it may also facilitate comparisons between different eras of building activity. The colonial-architecture of New Mexico represents a fusion of native Indian and imported Spanish forms. The basic structure of earthen walls supporting a flat wooden roof is Indian, a tradition extending back for more than a thousand years. Though they lacked the technique of forming adobe into sun-baked bricks, Indians were capable of erecting structures of great size, as multistoried Taos Pueblo proves. Contents of First 36 of 70 Photos: Chacon Valley, Plaza del Cerro Chimayo, Abandoned House Taos, Juan Jose Sanchez Homestead La Cueva, Juan Ortega House Chacon, Phoenix Ranch, Romero-Salman Ranch La Cueva, Los Luceros, Mills-Clegg House Springer, Ruined Building Arroyo Seco, Rooftops Cordova, Pilar, Upper Morada Arroyo Hondo, Buttress Isleta Pueblo, Encarnacion Trujillo House Talpam, Archway Severino Martinez House Taos, Door to Chapel Upper Morada Arroyo Hondo, Zaguan Gate Hiram Long House Ranchos de Taos, Paneled Door Pablo Sena House,San Jose, Entrance Ortega Oratorio Plaza del Cerro Chimayo, Door Details Upper Morada Arroyo Hondo, Lucero Store Chacon, Sandoval House San Miguel, Doorways,Las Vegas, Juan Ortega House Chacon, Auriano Martinez House Llano de San Juan, Storehouse Door Los Luceros, Chapel Doors Los L uceros, Mills-Clegg House Springer, Portal Detail Jose Valdez House Taos, Portal Jose Maria Martinez House Taos, Portal Sandoval House San Miguel, Portal Detail Sandoval House, San Miguel, Porch Details Juan Ortega House Chacon, Portal Juan Jose Baca House Socorro, Porch Detail Mills-Clegg House Springer. Book is clean with a square, tight binding and bright, white pages. The book you see in the images is the actual book we have for sale. Why pay more? When you buy this book from us, you are helping to support a small brick and mortar family owned store. We have been curating our collection for three generations and currently have over 250,000 volumes in stock. Please feel free to call for more stock.