Native American Arts: A Primer

NATIVE AMERICAN

(FIRST NATION)

ARTS:

a brief introduction

At the time of the first modern European settlements in North America, there were an estimated 500 different nations already settled on the continent. The size of the continent and the diversity of the terrain produced cultural diversity far greater than seen in Europe.

Some Native American nations were nomadic, following the herds of game across the continent. Others, like the Aztecs, the Choctaw, and the Hopi, lived in cities that rivaled most European settlements of that time.  Some societies were literate, with their own system of written language, while others had no need for written words. Still others recorded their history in pictures or pictographs.

Where Europe was unified into two dominant language groupings (Indo-European and Ugric), Native American languages covered many diverse language groups. These groupings had as little in common with each other as English and Hungarian.

The diverse origins can be seen  as reflecte in diverse  forms of art.  First Nations varied greatly in both their environment (ecology) and the cultural history. These differences exerted their influences on Native American (First Nation) groups. Their modes of artistic expression are also diverse.

For many people of European extraction, the image of Native American art consists of feathers, beads, and skins. These elements were part of artistic vision of many First Nations,  especially in the Northern Woodlands, just as they were in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. However, not every group of Native Americans used the materials in the same way. The large feathered head dresses of the Great Plains did not extend to the costal woodlands. The Pomo of California used feathers to adorne baskets for special occasions.   Glass and ceramic beads only became popular modes of adornment after the bead trade began with Europeans.

But Native American art neither began nor ended with beads and feathers. Many groups had the tradition of weaving cloth from plant or animal fiber rather than using hides for clothing. Some 18th century Native American groups are known to have produced metal work that exceeded the European standards of metal purity in its day. The ceremonial masks of the Pueblos and of the North West Coast nations had no rivals in Europe, and few rivals world wide.

Today, many people are First Nation Artists, with a deep cultural history visibly embedded in their works. Others would be better classified as artists who happen to also be members of First Nations.

Native North American artists encompass the entire range of expression. Many choose to continue their traditional art forms, or to integrate them into more modern designs. Others work in abstract or traditional European art forms. (One collaborative project between Hopi and Irish artists drew attention to the similarities between these diverse peoples.)

Prairie House Gallery is proud to provide you with a range of art works by Native American artists and by Non-Native artists. Our philosophy is that the work must be of great quality first and foremost. Because beautiful work is beautiful work, the works by First Nation artists are also cross-listed with the works by other artists.  All work by First Nation (Native American) artists is clearly labled as such, along with national designations.