The San Diego Museum of Man in...

The San Diego Museum of Man in Balboa Park has a splendid exhibition of works of art by American Indians gathered in “The Kwakiutl Collection.”

Traditionally, coastal natives of the Northwest--known for their ornately carved totem poles--only painted on surfaces such as boxes and housefronts. In the late 1950s, however, Gyula Mayer, an immigrant art dealer from Hungary residing in Vancouver, distributed paper, paint and brushes to Kwakiutl artists and promised to buy all the works they made. From 1958 to 1964, he collected more than 700 paintings.

For a decade, the collection lay forgotten in the basement of the Canadian Pacific Railway depot in Vancouver but then fortunately was rediscovered, studied and interpreted by University of British Columbia anthropologist Karen Duffek. San Diego is the first site to show these 60 framed paintings representing 18 artists from the “Kwakiutl Collection.”

Although largely self-taught, the artists evince a strong sense of design and color. They evince as well, although working with traditional forms, idiosyncrasies identifying themselves from one another. The abstract qualities and flatness of the works enhance their appeal to those who favor contemporary art. Indeed, the strongest artists are those who, like Ben Dick and Lloyd Wadhams, adhere most closely to tradition. Chas Dudoward’s attempt at chiaroscuro, or shading, proves the point by weakening his work.

A companion exhibition by Native Canadians working within the contemporary idiom drives the point home. Formal training seems to have weakened the vision of the artists.

Two works, however, are outstanding. Bob Boyer’s “Sundance Shield” combines a brilliant contemporary sense of color with traditional form. Norval Morrisseau’s “The Virgin Mary With Jesus and St. John” is strong because of its adaptation of western subject matter to an indigenous aesthetic. The artist, an Ojibway from Ontario, has boldly outlined the figures in black, then filled in areas with flat tertiary colors. The child John speaking to the mother, Mary, surrounded by a halo resembling a snake and the child Jesus intently sucking at his mother’s full breast are strong Indian figures viewed in profile. The artist has absorbed traditional western imagery and made good use of contemporary materials while preserving the traditions of his own people in the execution of the work.

This exhibition, entitled “A Celebration of Native Canadian Art,” continues through Jan. 31. The “Kwakiutl Collection” continues through Feb. 16.

Nearby at the San Diego Art Institute is an exhibition of works in a variety of media by Art Institute members entitled “Skymbols.” Artist Kathleen McCord selected the works for what is overall a strong show.

“Images in Infrared,” an exhibition of black-and-white photographs of nature by Laura Cunningham Hilbig is outstanding, as much for the poetry as the compositional strength of the images.

Max Stark’s “Celebration of Woman,” in contrast is indescribably vulgar--the epitome of kitsch.

These three exhibitions continue through Jan. 4.

The paintings of Tony Raczka now at the Paris Green Gallery (7825 Fay Ave.) are disappointing, flaccid works by a young artist who several years ago promised to have a distinguished career. These referential abstractions of organic forms in monochromatic fields seem aimed unfortunately at a designer market.

The exhibition continues through Jan. 3.

Sunset Gallery (1424 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.) is a new space that aims to be part of the community of Ocean Beach. Currently on view are ivory and meerschaum carvings by Barbara Jimenez, ceramic sculptures by John Raggio, mixed-media sculptures by Rich Columbo and paintings by Peter Everly.

Ruth Braunstein, a highly respected senior art dealer in San Francisco, judged the annual exhibition of the Allied Craftsmen now on view at the A.R.T. Beasley Gallery (2802 Juan St.). As might have been anticipated, it is a very strong show with outstanding works by, to mention only a few, ceramist Les Lawrence, jeweler Arlene Fisch, paper artist Martha Chatelain and furniture maker John Michael Pierson.

The exhibition continues through Jan. 3.