AP ART HISTORY: Indigenous American Art

Mesa Verde

Mesa Verde

Montezuma County, Colorado; Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi); 450-1300; sandstone

Mesa Verde: Form

Built into cave; dwellings built both on top and in/along the mesas, over 500 structures; made of stone, mortar and plaster;

Mesa Verde: Function

Used for ceremonies, though not specifically the MV structures, both residential and ceremonial; originally covered, but no roofs now, space around buildings was a plaza; circular and rectangular rooms for living; smaller rooms for storage

Mesa Verde: Content

Kivas- underground circular rooms for ritual purposes; murals and other paintings decorated the walls; storage rooms off the hearth has holes to reach into

Mesa Verde: Context

Mesa Verde means green table - refers to mountains; Ancestral Puebloans lived in the MV for about 850 years (450-1300 C.E); 500-1300 CE, Ancestral Puebloans were mainly sedentary farmers; Exact reasoning for the cliff dwellings is unknown, possibly provided protection from invaders, snow, and provided shade. There could also have been a ceremonial or spiritual reasoning; Abandoned around 1300 CE probably due to drought, lack of resources, or violence

Painted Elk Hide

attributed to Cotsiogo (American name; Cadzi Cody); Easter Shoshoe, Wind River Reservation Wyoming; 1890-1900 C.E; Painted elk hide

Painted Elk Hide: Form

Pigment in elk hide; combination of free-hand penciling and stencil; colorful animals and human-like figures

Painted Elk Hide: Function

Economic and cultural benefit of the Wind River Reservation; created sales from white visitors and led them to attend Sun and Wolf dances; helped move tribe artwork into modern world by making it contemporary

Painted Elk Hide: Content

Combines contemporary tradition to the historical record of tribes; Displays important ritualistic Sun Dance and Wolf Dance; Sun Dance was especially ceremonial and used to honor deities; Depicts daily life on the Wyoming reservation such as men hunting buffalo on horses and women sitting near fires at a campsite (teepee); Warriors shown in feathered war headdresses to show their honor and importance

Painted Elk Hide: Context

Painting on animal hides is a tradition in Great-Basin region; preserved history; era of poverty on Wind River Reservation in Wyoming - artwork kept the economy and culture alive

Black on Black Ceramic Vessel

Maria Martinez and Julian Martinez; Puebloan Culture, New Mexico; Mid 20th century; Blackware ceramic, pigment, volcanic ash

Black on Black Ceramic Vessel: Form

Ceramic; mixed with volcanic ash for black color; pot made by building up coils (not a wheel); olla - traditional shape used by Puebloans for storing water (rounded pot)

Black on Black Ceramic Vessel: Function

ollas and similar dishes hold water, store seed and grain, used for cooking; The Martinez's pieces became known as fine art and were purchased for the purpose of being art

Black on Black Ceramic Vessel: Content

Images on pot based on rain clouds, feathers, corn and rivers.

Black on Black Ceramic Vessel: Context

Transformed functional tradition of Puebloan pottery into symbols of culture and works of decorative art that became status symbols for many American collectors;

Great Serpent Mound

Adams County, Ohio; Mississippian (Eastern Woodlands); 1070 C.E; Earthwork/Effigy

Great Serpent Mound: Form

Dirt; 1300 feet long (1/4 mile); 1-3 feet high; serpents tail wraps around itself; The mound conforms to the natural topography of the area; The head faces east and the tail faces west; Head aligns with summer solstice sunset; Tail points to the winter solstice sunrise.

Great Serpent Mound: Function

Snakes, which were seen to have supernatural powers, were often incorporated into spiritual rituals; astrological alignment; may have served as a natural compass could have marked Haley's Comet event; debate over purpose continues

Great Serpent Mound: Content

Snake, slightly crescent shaped; possibly rattlesnake;

Great Serpent Mound: Context

Created by Native American tribes (primarily the Fort Ancient culture) who lived in the valleys of the Ohio, Missouri, Mississippi, and Illinois rivers before settlers of European descent came to the region in the 19th century; people who made this lived in settled agrarian communities; Many Native American cultures east of the Mississippi believed the snake to be a powerful deity of the underworld;

Kwakwaka’wakw Transformation Mask

Kwakwaka’wakw; Northwest Coast of Canada; Late 19th Century; red cedar wood, string, and paint; no known artist; transformation mask

Kwakwaka’wakw Transformation Mask: Form

Large, exaggerated bird head; large beak; opens up to show human-like face; multiple bright colors (blue, red, white, yellow, black, brown); hair made of string and feathers

Kwakwaka’wakw Transformation Mask: Function

creates powerful effect during cermomies; worn during potlach (ceremonial feast to displace wealth) where host displays status; conveyed high social status; portrayed familiy genealogy - family crests; passes betwwen family members

Kwakwaka’wakw Transformation Mask: Content

Shape of eagle; pull cord to open mask; open form looks like bird spreading its wings; human face is of an ancestor

Kwakwaka’wakw Transformation Mask: Context

Mask worn during dance ceremonies; dancers open mask while dancing; takes years to make; carving techniques changed after tools introduced by Europeans - brighter synthetic colors also introduced; integral part of culture; work with cloak made of red cedar bark