Native American Folk Native American Folk ArtArt

BackgroundBackground• Late 19th century.Late 19th century.• Relocation to Relocation to

reservations reservations disrupted historical disrupted historical art styles and led to art styles and led to new creativity.new creativity.

• Synthesis of Synthesis of traditional American traditional American Indian art forms and Indian art forms and influences of greater influences of greater American society American society (new ideas and (new ideas and materials).materials).

Background (cont.)Background (cont.)• Most Native American folk artists are self-Most Native American folk artists are self-

taught; elders serve as mentors to younger taught; elders serve as mentors to younger generation.generation.

• Before 20th century, objects (baskets, pottery, Before 20th century, objects (baskets, pottery, quilts, textiles) created as necessary part of quilts, textiles) created as necessary part of life; after, objects created for art market.life; after, objects created for art market.

BasketsBaskets• 1970s - renaissance in 1970s - renaissance in

Southwest tribes.Southwest tribes.• Collectors, dealers, Collectors, dealers,

traders and galleries traders and galleries sought handmade sought handmade baskets.baskets.

• Traditional techniques: Traditional techniques: plaited style.plaited style.

• New designs: letters, New designs: letters, pictorial images, pictorial images, portraits.portraits.

PotteryPottery• Traditionally, Traditionally,

ceremonial vessels ceremonial vessels decorative.decorative.

• 1970s - art markets: 1970s - art markets: sculpture, mixture of sculpture, mixture of designs on pottery, designs on pottery, modern subjects.modern subjects.

Beadwork & QuillworkBeadwork & Quillwork• Wearable art: quill work on moccasins, Wearable art: quill work on moccasins,

shirts, and dresses.shirts, and dresses.• 16th century: glass beads imported 16th century: glass beads imported

from Europe; provided new material.from Europe; provided new material.• Early quillwork and beadwork designs Early quillwork and beadwork designs

identified tribes; later synthesis of identified tribes; later synthesis of design and themes.design and themes.

QuiltsQuilts• Plains Indian tribes: Plains Indian tribes:

missionaries taught Native missionaries taught Native American women.American women.

• Southeast tribes: influenced Southeast tribes: influenced by European American by European American patchwork traditions and patchwork traditions and African American appliqué African American appliqué techniques.techniques.

• Made to commemorate and Made to commemorate and celebrate special occasions.celebrate special occasions.

TextilesTextiles

• 16th century Spanish 16th century Spanish explorers brought sheep explorers brought sheep (wool) to New World.(wool) to New World.

• Blankets, rugs, pictorial Blankets, rugs, pictorial textiles: cultural textiles: cultural documents.documents.

• Subjects: commercial Subjects: commercial products, transportation, products, transportation, reservation scenes.reservation scenes.