Traditional American Indian Art

American Indians like to think of their art as music of the earth. Many American Indians feel that the earth is their mother and all American Indian art comes from the earth. American Indian art consists of pottery, dance, tattoos and body art, totem poles, jewelry, featherwork, basket-making, music, clothing and many other forms of art. Their work often consists of common materials that can be found in nature such as leather, ivory, feathers, pine needles, and wood. Every piece of American Indian art has meaning behind it. They tell a story and use symbols to represent something. The collection of symbols is what translates into a story. Traditional American Indian art often expresses the emotions of the artist while current American

Indian art expresses the struggles and triumphs of the entire culture. Every piece of American art represents a different part of its culture which is what makes the topic so interesting. Because there is such a wide range of expression in their art.
Animals, plants, astrology, people, and everyday items or objects are used for symbolism in American Indian art. For many tribes, the Morning star represents courage and purity, the Sun represents life, warmth, and growth. Another common symbol in American Indian art is the Hand which represents the presence of Man as well as his history and achievements. Animals are considered symbols which is why bones or teeth are woven into clothes and used as beads to symbolize that these remains carry on well after a life has passed and the flesh has decayed. American Indians wear parts of animals in hopes that they will be blessed with the animal’s spirit. The Bear represents physical strength and leadership. The Coyote is an omen that something bad is about to happen. The Horse represents journey, travel, and freedom. The Butterfly represents everlasting life. The Eagle is considered the master of the skies and the carrier of prayers. The Eagle is often associated with visions and spirits. There are many other common symbols in American Indian culture that include the struggles and triumphs they have gone through. A broken arrow represents peace and two crossed arrows represent friendship. Storm clouds represent blessing and renewal. A teepee represents a temporary home and a Hogan (similar to a wagon wheel) represents a permanent home. All of these symbols and many others are all used in American Indian art to portray a message or tell a story. Every aspect of their art is affected by their culture. No piece of art is created without a reason behind it.
For most people, tattoos are a way to express individuality or to express something that has meaning to them.

In American Indian culture, tattoos have a variety of meaning. Some represent a connection with the earth while others may include ancestral background, family connections or connections with their Native roots. American Indian tattoos are often associated with tribal designs. Tribal designs are very popular in modern tattoos for all types of people but it usually takes a true American Indian to understand the full meaning and significance behind the designs. Many American Indians believe their tattoos can provide great strengths and even supernatural powers. Traditional tribal tattoos were not applied the same way they are now. Before tattooing technology advanced, tattoos were applied using a sharp object and a prepared dye. This was a rather painful process and provided more significance and status with having a tattoo than having a tattoo today. American Indian tattoos today are commonly applied for aesthetic reason, but many of them connect with their Native roots which is why tattoos are still a large part of American Indian

culture.
Many American Indians today get tribal tattoos to honor their heritage. The problem with this is that it can be considered offensive to many tribes because a lot of American Indians today are unaware of their tribal identity. Since American Indian tattoos were originally used for permanent tribal identification, if you got the tattoo of a tribe that you do not currently affiliate yourself with, you will seem like a poser. In this case, getting a Native American tribal tattoo can be a bad idea because even though the intention is to honor your ancestry, the effect could actually be mis-honoring an ancestor or distancing yourself from your people.
Totem poles are sculptures carved on poles, posts, or pillars and are specific to American Indian culture. The word totem derives from the Ojibwe meaning “his kinship group”. The carvings often symbolize cultural beliefs or represent familiar legends or significant events. The viewer’s knowledge and connection to the meanings of each carving relies on the placement of these carvings or figures. While many cultures use written language to record history, American Indians use art to express what they have gone through and it can be interpreted in a variety of ways. One of the ways the can be interpreted is through means of wisdom and providing lessons or teaching. An American Indian observing a totem pole can interpret its message in the same way a Catholic can interpret a message from the bible.
Totem poles today are carved for both Natives and non-Natives. They are primarily made by Northwestern and Alaskan Indian artists and can be purchased. Authentic totem poles are made exclusively from Cedar trees and usually cost about $500 per foot. This is the single most expensive form of American Indian art. Modern totem poles are created in a much different process than traditional totem poles. Every member of the tribe would be involved in the creation of a totem pole and a ceremony would be held after. This was a huge event in traditional American Indian culture compared to today. Although, the practice of creating totem poles is still taken seriously as a way to keep their culture, history, and spirituality alive.
American Indians have been making jewelry since prehistoric times. The art is handed down from generation to generation. The gemstones used in their jewelry vary depending on the tribe but one of the most popular and admired gemstones used in American Indian jewelry is Turquoise. Turquoise is a blue-green mineral that is believed to be magical and brings good fortune and strength. The color turquoise was believed to be taken from the sky and put into stone.
Traditional American Indian jewelry is more valuable than modern American Indian jewelry but less “fashionable”.

Jewelry is a complicated market and what is in style or out of style varies from year to year. For this reason, American Indian jewelry artists aren’t creating the same pieces as their ancestors. They are influenced by modern trends so American Indian jewelry today has to keep up with modern fashion. What is consistent with American Indian jewelry is the use of color. Most jewelry today consists of gold, silver, and diamonds. The colorful gemstones used in American Indian jewelry is a powerful aspect of their culture. The color behind the stone represents meaning which still holds true today. Ruby is a red stone and is thought to speed the healing of the body, mind, and spirit. It is also believed to aid in psychic development while it energizes. Lapis is a blue stone thought to bring wisdom and fortitude. Malachite is a deep green colored stone that is believed to bring luck and to keep away danger and illness. It is also believed to stabilize emotions. Rhodochrosite is a pink stone that is known to bring emotional strength and to strengthen self-identity. All of these gems as well as many others are believed to have spiritual powers and superstitious abilities according to American Indian culture. The use of color in their jewelry is what establishes cultural

significance.