NON WESTERN ART NATIVE AMERICA

North America supported a great diverse population of Native Americans Different customs and beliefs, but all practice a form of nature worship Native Americans have created ceremonial and art as utility, that were as beautiful as they were functional, since Neolithic times Proclivity toward use of natural objects and materials, common respect for nature and the connection to the spirit world are hallmarks of Native American art

NATIVE AMERICA VOCABULARY Mound builders- early Native Americans in the midwest and southeast that formed large earthen burial mounds (first earth works in America) Kiva- subterranean chamber used by southwestern Native Americans as a worship center Adobe- mud brick, made out of clay and sun dried Pueblo- communal dwelling consisting of groups of homes- southwestern Native Americans Tipi- conical, rawhide dwelling consisting of groups of buffalo hides over poles, dwelling of Plains Native Americans Petroglyph- carving on rock, usually stylized image or message in images Totem pole- tall post or pillar carved with hereditary marks, emblems or badges of tribe or clan, functions as family tree

NATIVE AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE The mound builders of eastern America created huge earthen platforms by carrying earth fragments in baskets and patting it onto scraped flat terraces One of the largest- Cahokia, Illinois- complex of 85 mounds Area 30 m high, 300 meters long and 200 meters wide Larger than London in 13 th century

NATIVE AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE

The Anasazi people of the Southwest were the ancestors of the Pueblo peoples They built amazing cliff dwellings Mesa Verde still standing, and can be visited in NM 200 rooms, 23 kivas Interiors painted with ceremonial designs

NATIVE AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE

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NATIVE AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE Pueblo Indians used stone and Adobe to build square shaped houses like apartments Rooms were made in terraces so roof of lower room formed terrace for those above Openings only accessible through retractable ladders- easily defensible Contemporary pueblos continue today, with a bit more stone and man-made products involved!

NATIVE AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE

Hunters on the Plains region needed something easily moved, as the lifestyle was more nomadic than that of their southwestern counterparts Tipi’s were constructed- 12 to 30 foot bases that stretched tall with poles and were covered in rawhide The inside of the tipi was decorated, the paintings on the hide had designs representing forces of nature Sun, rain, animals, spirits, mandala patterns all rendered with earth colors and animal dyes

NATIVE AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE Tipi examples

NATIVE AMERICAN POTTERY Exceptional craftsmanship and design Earliest NA pottery created around 2200 BC Clay was formed using coil method Paddles sometimes used Partially waterproofed pots by burnishing, no glazes used Decorations stamped, incised or engraved Slip of varying colors used on leatherhard clay Most used for storage or cooking

NATIVE AMERICAN POTTERY Zuni Pueblo Pottery Late 19 th / 20 th century

NATIVE AMERICAN POTTERY

Since the 1920’s, Native Americans have been encouraged to sell their pottery and wares Some that leave reservations to make money selling their pottery take secret religious designs that they imprint or paint onto the pottery Tribal leaders do not look kindly on this practice, obviously

NATIVE AMERICAN PAINTING Traced back to petroglyphs Found in at least 43 of the states Some 5000 years old! Designs scraped into rock as part of ritual puberty, hunting, fertility or worship practices Images of animals and human figures beginnings of written language Highlighted with color from clay, minerals, charred bones or plant pigments

NATIVE AMERICAN PAINTING Petroglyphs carved onto rock at Montezuma Castle, AZ

NATIVE AMERICAN PAINTING Petroglyphs from Medicine Lake, CA

NATIVE AMERICAN WEAVING Southwestern weaving traces its roots back to the Cochise and Mogollon cultures and their use of the loom Different weave patterns used- basket, tapestry, diagonal twill and diamond twill Most rugs and weaving creations not only showed marks of the tribe and spirit designs, but also individualized marks of the woman weaving it

NATIVE AMERICAN WEAVING Wool, cotton, silk and glass beads 19 th century

NATIVE AMERICAN WEAVING

NATIVE AMERICAN BASKETRY More ancient craft of basketry yrs ago Woven into fine, often watertight containers Dyed or naturally colored strands are interwoven to create geometric patterns and shapes Some shapes were made to resemble animals Californian Hupa and Pomo peoples are regarded as the most skilled at this craft

NATIVE AMERICAN BASKETRY Pomo oval basket and Pomo prayer basket

NATIVE AMERICAN BASKETRY Pomo basket with adorning shells

NORTH AMERICAN BASKETRY Hupa Trinket Basket

NORTH AMERICAN METALWORKING Metalworking with copper practiced since 3000 BC Southeastern peoples made ceremonial plaques of eagles and costumed dancing warriors Mound builders of Ohio hammered copper ornaments into headdresses, snake heads, birds and fish Fashioned mica into forms such as hands Silver intro’d by Europeans, beaten into jewelry by the Iroquois, Oneida and others in 19 th century Cheyenne and Sioux created hair plates, buckles, arm bands and harness accessories in the same period Zuni created elaborate turquoise pieces with silver and Hopi added shell and coral to their pieces

NORTH AMERICAN METALWORKING Jewelry of today influenced by Zuni, Navajo and Hopi traditions of 19 th century

NORTH AMERICAN METALWORKING Human Hand Hopewell Mound Cut sheet mica

NORTH AMERICAN WOODWORKING Most creative energy went into functional objects Wood sculptures of Northwest coast Indians more decorative Use of totem poles, some of finest sculpture created by Native Americans Depict supernatural and legendary characters associated with individual tribes or clans Stood in front of houses as mark of prestige, showcase family totems and animals that symbolized the family

NORTH AMERICAN WOODWORKING Two examples of Haida Totem poles

NORTH AMERICAN WOODWORKING Somewhat creepy- false face masks were worn in Iroquois rituals for healing Generally used when no other healing methods would work Carved into live tree, then prayed to as the spirit forces it represents Carved from tree, painted and given hair, worn in ritual healings

NATIVE AMERICAN ART So much more could be discussed! Arrowheads, weaponry, garments, moccasins- the Native Americans were proud creators and artisans that were highly successful Leather work was something that was specialized to Native Americans, excelled at making garments, weapon holders and much more with leather. Many traditional styles still in use today Art as utility, geometric, animal and human figures and natural mediums

NATIVE AMERICAN ART Pair of Moccasins ca United States Sioux Leather, glass beads, metal cones Length 10 in.

NATIVE AMERICAN ART Frame Drum 19th century United States Native American (Dakota) wood, various materials Woman's Dress 1880 United States Sioux (Teton) Native-tanned leather, glass beads Length 49 in

NATIVE AMERICAN ART QUESTIONS 1.Who were the Anasazi? What did they build? 2.What are kivas? 3.Why was a tipi ideal for the Plains Indians? What kinds of things were designed on the tipis? What were they made out of? 4.When and where was the earliest Native American pottery made? 5.Describe the process Native Americans used to make their pottery partially waterproof. 6.What is a petroglyph? 7.What images are found in petroglyphs? 8.Which craft was first practiced in the Southwest, basketry or weaving? 9.How did the Europeans influence Native American jewelry? 10.What medium did most Northwest tribes use to create their art? 11.What subjects did the Haida carve on their totem poles? 12.What did these totem poles symbolize? 13.What tribes were the most skilled at basketry? 14.What is adobe? 15.What are False Face Masks used for? How were they made?