NON WESTERN ART PRE-COLUMBIAN ART

Pre-Columbian art flourished in Mexico, Central America and South America before the arrival of Europeans Artists from these Mesoamerican and Andean regions produced architecture, sculpture, textiles and ceramics of astounding quality Mesoamerica- Mexico and the northern countries of Central America Andean- coastal and highland areas of Peru and adjacent areas in South America

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Mesoamerica Andean region

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART

The reason for the big jump from Asian artwork is that this region still produced very non-western art Very technically and stylistically different from western art Realism and forms, mediums, Element usage, art ownership (as artist) and ceremonial/ religious matters are all part of the major difference

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Most archaeologists and historians conclude that people came to Canada, US, Mexico and Central and South America from Asia along a land bridge around 4000 BC Could have been looking for food or land Could have been leaving harsher areas Could have been simply exploring In Mexico and Central America, archaeologists have found sculpture made of basalt and jadeite, similar to those found in Asia

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART In architecture, the arch hadn’t been patented by the Etruscans and Romans yet… So- corbeling. Corbeled arches were created for openings Corbel- overlapping arrangement of stones, each layer projecting a bit beyond the row beneath it, or a bracket of stone, wood or brick projecting from the face of a wall to support a cornice or arch (today)

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART

Corbeled arches cannot span a wide area, so no large openings are found in pre-Columbian architecture Earthquake-proof temples and palaces were made of fitted stones that were locked and bonded into massive walls Temples were built pyramidal in shape, often built of earthen mounds faced with finely fit stones or sculptured adobe (mud brick) One or more sides outfitted with a massive stairway Carved mythological heads depicting deities were cut and fit into the slopes

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART TempleTemple and Pyramids of Teotihuacan Quetzlcoatl (feathered serpent)

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART There are a lot of conspiracy theories when talking about a lot of older artwork. Just like not knowing the answer to the Easter Island mystery, a lot of older artwork remains shrouded in the unknown Sacsayhuaman (Saqsaywaman) is one such mystery A lot of historians think that the Inca took over already completed architectural sites and added to them Regardless, mason and adobe work in Pre- Colombian times was astounding

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Sacsayhuaman consists of three zig- zaggy layers and numerous outbuildings

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Machu Picchu is a similar walled fortress, built so that it would be earthquake and invader safe Stand today in a testament to the engineering skill of the Andean civilizationstestament engineering skill Late 15 th century

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Architecture showed a lot of prowess in these early times The mathematical elements was second to none, numbers and orientation to the sun Echo to sound like a bird call

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Sculpture throughout was often ceremonial, with heads of full figures of gods carved in low or high relief

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Human or animal forms very stylized Clay funeral urns popular for rituals and remembrance Clay Funeral Urn Oaxaca 5 th / 6 th century

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Close up of Quetzalcoatal (feathered serpent) The god Quetzalcoatl, is the Feathered Serpent or Precious Twin. He is the god intelligence and self-reflection, a patron of priests. Quetzalcoatl is a primordial god of creation, a giver of life. With his opposite Tezcatlipoca he created the world. Also said he was a god of vegetation- an earth and water deity

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Ceramics were a significant product of nearly all cultures None hand-thrown, no wheel Handbuilding work only, but excellent Terra cotta clays used and burnished (polished) to produce shiny wares even though not glazed Chimu ceramicists of Peru produced black wares by firing with oxygen deficient reduction atmosphere in kiln Pottery used for use in ritual and burial Pots broken to release the spirits within when buried with the dead Stirrup shaped vessels predominant, handles as use

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Moche stirrup vessel AD One stirrup vessel, not this one, made about 500 AD and found in Guatemala in 1984 has a lid that can be twisted off, a unique invention in the history of ceramics!

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Teotihuacan ceramics AD

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Metalworking originated with early cultures- excelling at working metals such as gold and silver Gold was associated with the sun, and silver with the moon Copper, lead and alloys were also used to make jewelry, death masks, whistles and ritual objects Hammered, shaped, soldered, inlaid, filigreed and cast these materials with lost wax casting and open molds

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Gold Funerary Mask 9th–11th century Peru Sican Gold Dimensions: H. 16 1/8 x W. 28 3/4 x D. 4 7/8 in Most likely used to cover faces of deceased

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Beaker, Figure with Shell 10th–11th century Peru Gold Dimensions: H. 10 3/8 x Diam. 8 in Most likely used by high ranking people for ceremonies, then buried with them

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Stone Ear Flare 3rd–9th century El Salvador, Mesoamerica El Salvador; Maya (?) Jade Dimensions: Height 1-7/8 in. Not metalwork, but an example of jewelry of the times

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Pair of Earflare Frontals 5th–7th century Guatemala (?), Mesoamerica Maya Shell

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Fabrics of cotton, wool, feathers or strips of hide and fur were produced throughout the regions Weaving traditions date back to at least 1500 BC in coastal Peru, where the Paracas culture produced the finest of all ancient Meso and South American fabrics

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Paracas Textile BC Cotton and wool 25 in x 59 in

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Tunic Section 7th–9th century Peru Wari Camelid hair, cotton

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART- MESOAMERICA VS ANDEAN CULTURES Most ancient culture in Mesoamerica is the Olmec culture Lived along Gulf of Mexico from 1500 BC to 200 AD Huge monolithic basalt sculptures Teotihuacans built huge pyramids, and the Mayan civilization also flourished after them constructing similar pyramidal structures Mayan calendar that we all know and love and fear also created in this time period Zapotec, Toltec and then Aztec civilizations controlled middle America

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Olmec Colossal Heads

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Stela Fragment with Glyphs 4th–9th century Mexico, Mesoamerica, Tabasco Maya Stone H. 21 1/4 in Part of the Mayan calendar, the piece that some people thought said the world would end Dec 2012

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART

Aztec era developed codices- illuminated manuscripts- painted on deerskin parchment or bark paper Aztecs also adapted the Mayan calendar ”Each page represents a thirteen-day “week” in a 260 day calendar; the ruling deities and symbols associated with the week are prominently displayed. In the boxes along the edge of each page, the named and numbered days (1 to 13 dots) of the week are accompanied by their governing supernaturals (birds and deities)”-Codex Borbonicas, publications.newberry.org

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART

Aztec Calendar Bas Relief Stone

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Chavin culture of the Peruvian highlands began Andean culture Followed by Paracas, Mochica, Nazca, Chimu and finally Incan civilizations Jaguar- most powerful symbol in Andean art, worshipped and feared Stirrups shaped vessels were first made here Lots of geometric shapes in pottery and weaving Excellent textiles and pottery artists

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Anthropomorphic Animal Pendant 11 th -16 th Century Gold alloy Jaguar with serpents coming from its head and limbs Animals and people used to share similar features, standing of the jaguar… thus anthropomorphic

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART Feathered Tabard 15th–early 17th century Peru Cotton, feathers 25 x 30 in. Feathers considered a luxury item, used to embellish costumes of elite

PRE-COLUMBIAN ART What is corbeling? What cultures used corbeling and what is its limitation? What shape were pre-Columbian temples? Describe the temple of Quetzalcoatl? Who was Quetzalcoatl? Which pre-Columbian culture was famous for its textiles? List some of the metals used by pre-Columbian artists. What did they make with these metals? Specifically, how were gold funerary masks used? What is the oldest Mesoamerican culture? What types of sculptures did they carve? What animal was the most powerful in Andean art? Which two civilizations made calendars we refer to today? What type of ornamentation did the upper class get on their costumes? What separates a stirrup vessel from any other water holding device?