Art

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 ARTIST

 (Gigidoe Nodin Kwey)

Click Here! Native Americans have a very rich culture littered with struggle, strife and success. Their stories are embedded in tradition, spirituality and closely tied with Mother Earth Many aspects mainstream culture are adapted from Native American cultures. Symbols such as the sun on the New Mexico flag are actually taken straight from Native American culture. Other symbols often used are teepees, totem poles, peace pipes, and moccasins. Below are several Native American cultural facts that may help in the understanding of the rich history of Native Americans and the important role they’ve played in shaping modern culture.

Everything in Native American culture is considered to contain a spirit. Everything has ties to nature and is thought through and carefully produced. From native plants and animals to housing to the weather became a part of the culture in Indian life. Animals are revered as spirits and although they were hunted and killed, their skins and hides are used as clothing and drums, their meat is never wasted and their spirits live on in the mind of the tribes. Plants are cultivated and harvested, and used for various things such as dyes for blankets. The rain and sun are considered to be gods, giving a sign to the Indians as the seasons change.

Totem poles, large wooden poles carved with various animals are used to represent family members, loved ones who passed away and spiritual beings. People were assigned spirit animals and that are often reflected in the totem pole.

Unique to Native Americans, the dreamcatcher developed in the Ojibwe tribe symbolizes holding onto good things in life, and the holes in the catcher are there to filter out the bad thoughts and feelings. Dreamcatchers are hung outside the homes to catch the bad dreams of young children.

Smoke signals were used also a very important part of Native American culture serving as a source of communication over long distances.Can you here me now

Native American lifestyle can be divided into two categories. Sedentary farmers include the Hopi, the Zuni, the Yaqui and the Yuma. These tribes grew crops like corn, beans and squash. They lived in permanent settlements known as pueblos that were built of stone and adobe that resembled something like modern-day apartments. At their centers, many of these villages also had large ceremonial pit houses, or kivas.

The other category is nomadic including the Southwestern tribes such as the Navajo and the Apache. Known as hunters and gatherers these tribes survived by gathering and raiding their more established neighbors for their crops. Because these groups were always on the move, their homes were much less permanent than the pueblos.

While the nomadic lifestyle is no longer as predominant as it was in the past, the Native American’s deep culture remains intact through their symbols, artwork, traditions and connection with nature. Evidence of the Native American art history impact on everyday life is apparent in jewelry, housing, food and artwork


South West:

Native American Indian art of the Southwest includes sand paintings, woven blankets and rugs, basketry, kachina dolls,pottery and jewelry. Because Native Americans take great care and time in everything that they do even the most simplistic objects can be considered art. Native American Indian Art of the Southwest is deeply spiritual and closely tied to Mother Nature. Through symbols, patterns and designs Native American Indian art of the Southwest displays the everyday life, beliefs and long-lasting traditions of the Indian tribes.

One of the more important forms of Native American Indian art of the Southwest is basketry. Developed over many years by Native American tribes baskets were created by weaving reeds and corn husks. The reeds and cornhusks were then dyed to make interesting tribal patterns and designs. The baskets were used for rituals and food transportation.

Blanket and rug weaving is also a very common Native American art history. Women would spend many hours weaving threads together to create incredible colorful blankets in a rainbow of patterns and designs. The Navajo tribe is very well known for their hand woven blankets. It is believed that Spider Woman, after weaving the universe, came to the Navajo to teach them how to weave. It is a long-standing tradition that continues to pass from generation to generation.

Jewelry is very important in Native American Indian art of the Southwest. It is used for adornment, protection and rituals. Although jewelry making and beadwork were prevalent before Europeans settled, Native Americans did not begin to experiment with bead-work and metalwork to a large degree until, through the Spanish and the Europeans, Native Americans were exposed to glass.

Pottery, like basketry, was used for both practical and spiritual purposes. The early cultures of the Southwest, like the Hohokam and the Anasazi made pottery. Pottery, like all things, is said to have a spirit. It is a product of the Mother Earth: her body forms the walls of a vessel; her bounty provides the paints to decorate it.

One piece of Native American Indian Southwest art that is unique to Native Americans is the dreamcatcher. The dream-catcher developed in the Ojibwa tribe symbolizes holding onto good things in life, while the holes in the catcher are there to filter out bad thoughts and feelings. The teardrop shape was hung outside the house in order to protect children from having bad dreams.

Native American Indian Arts of the Southwest have left an impact in mainstream culture and continues leave an impact on society. Pieces like the dream-catcher have become iconic and are used for everything from CD covers, tee-shirt logos and ideas for movies. Native American art of the Southwest continues to develop while maintaining its rich culture and tradition.

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