| Arts and Crafts |
Applehead
Dolls
Dolls are one of the oldest forms of entertainment
in the world.
http://198.209.8.166/sheproom/periodicals/bittersweet/wi74f.htm
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Carving
at Skidegate
In the following sections you will find a story
told with photos of a totem pole being carved at Skidegate, Haida Gwaii
http://www.spruceroots.org/PoleSite/Haida.html
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Dot
So La Lee
On the curve of land which comprises the
northern bank of Tahoe's Truckee River outlet, on a wooden floor with
materials of her labor spread at the perimeters of her voluminous skirts,
and Indian woman often used to sit with her front door open to catch
the light necessary for the fineness of her work.
http://www.tahoecountry.com/oldtimetahoe/dotsolalee.html
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Inuit
Cultural Perspectives
Welcome to the Inuit art and traditional culture
Web Page! This site links the graphic work of some of the famous artists
from the community of Cape Dorset with the memories, myths and legends
of elders from the community of Igloolik.
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/cape_dorset/index1.html
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Making
Natural Dyes From Plants
Did you know that a great source for natural dyes
can be found right in your own back yard! Roots, nuts and flowers are
just a few common natural ways to get many colours. Yellow, orange,
blue, red, green, brown and grey are available. Go ahead, experiment!
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/crafts/crafts-basics/naturaldyes.html
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*National
Museum of the American Indian: Beauty Surrounds Us [Macromedia Flash
Player]*
The
Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of the American Indian has
an engaging online version of their "Beauty Surrounds Us" exhibit.
In addition to its beauty, the web exhibit also provides an activity
for each section the exhibit is divided into, such as "Tools of Existence",
"Recreation and Pastimes", "Design as Identity", and "Expressions
of Identity." The activity tests a visitor's comprehension and memory
of the objects' written descriptions given when you click on the object's
picture. Once you've clicked on the object, you can then click on
“Map” to see the area the object is from, and you can click on "Related"
to see historic photos of the objects in use by Native peoples. The
exhibit includes the Native peoples of both North and South America,
and objects of indigenous materials, modern materials and a mix of
indigenous and modern materials. The activity in "Design as Identity"
tests your knowledge about several object's material composition.
Sports fans will find some familiar items in the "Recreation and Pastimes"
section, and they can even try their hand at shooting arrows at hoops
to hone their buffalo shooting skills. [KMG]
http://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/beauty_surrounds_us/flash8.html
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Navajo
Rugs: Styles on the Reservations
Rug designs sometimes have names (like
the Storm pattern) and perhaps have inner meanings for the weavers.
But the designs themselves are not symbolic, they have no significance.
http://www.kstrom.net/isk/maps/rugmap.html
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Native
American Geometry
Native American Geometry explores designs from various Native American
nations to illustrate the physical geometry of the simple circle.
http://www.earthmeasure.com
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Porcupine
Quillwork
Porcupine quillwork is one of the earliest
forms of decoration used by the North American Indians. Its use was
widespread...from the Woodlands peoples of the Northeast, the Plains
peoples of the Midwest, and the Plateau peoples of the Northwest.
http://www.matoska.com/quilwork.htm
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Progression
of Basket Weaving in the Southwest
Basket weaving is a form of artwork that is common among the Native
Americans in the Southwestern United States. At the same time, it may
possibly be the oldest textile art known to mankind.
http://www.u.arizona.edu/ic/mcbride/ws200/weavwome.htm
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Teachers
First Crafts
Children in the American colonies frequently learned
how to make toys and other crafts from the Native American children
who lived nearby. The activities below illustrate some of the crafts,
techniques, and materials which Native and Colonial children might have
used for their toys and crafts.
http://www.teachersfirst.com/summer/nativecrafts.htm
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Totem
Poles, Present at the Creation
Since they were first noticed by European explorers
in the 1700s, totem poles may have been misunderstood as frightening
statues worshipped as gods. But some say early totem poles were actually
billboards for powerful native families, announcing the privileges they
enjoyed. NPR's Robert Smith traces the history of totem poles for the
Present at the Creation series.
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/totempoles/index.html
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Quillwork
Porcupine
Quillwork & Hair
http://www.nativetech.org/quill/
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Story
Robes
Thousands of years ago, people recorded
their history and beliefs on stone outcrops which dot the plains.
http://pages.prodigy.net/jzeller/storyrobe/srobe.htm
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Surrounded
By Beauty - Arts of Native America
There is no equivalent in the many Native American
languages for the word art. Yet the objects here suggest that Native
Americans are a highly spiritual people who create objects of extraordinary
beauty. In Native American thought there is also no distinction between
what is beautiful or functional, and what is sacred or secular. Design
goes far beyond concerns of function, and beauty is much more than simple
appearances.
http://www.artsmia.org/surrounded-by-beauty/
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