The indigenous Maya peoples of Mexico and Central America have textile traditions stretching back millennia. These textile-making practices connect generations of families and communities through highly skilled processes of weaving, dyeing, brocading, and embroidery. The resulting textiles express a multitude of designs that help to identify Maya personhood, family, and … [Read more...] about Textiles of the Highland Maya Cultures of Guatemala by Julia Kidwell
The Dzonokwa Spirit Mask portrays a character Kwakiutl mythology that is known as “the wild woman of the woods,” a spirit that is believed to bring great power to chiefs. These masks are identifiable by several features, the most distinctive being its large, puckered lips; the Kwakiutl believe that the mouth is a link to one’s soul, and this spirit is believed to … [Read more...] about Native Masks and Headdresses of the Americas by Rylee Williams
The objects in this exhibit are reproductions of metalwork art produced by Pre-Columbian cultures of the Isthmian Region. Although the burials of the Isthmian Region have been heavily looted, recent excavations of intact sites confirm that these objects were used as personal adornment during life and as burial offerings after death; they also suggest that all aspects … [Read more...] about Isthmian Region Cast and Forged Metalwork Reproductions by Alex Ennor
These colorful earrings are made with light green, dark green, blue, and red seed beads. The almond shape of the transparent green beaded loops suggests that they may represent leaves, or more likely, feathers that are tied along a string. Feathers were commonly worn as status symbols among Great Plains cultures, as they were presented as symbols of recognition for different … [Read more...] about Native North American Beadwork by Alexa Langelier
The artworks in this exhibit are not actual Navajo sandpaintings, but reproductions. This is because traditional sandpaintings are made by arranging substances on the ground or on the floor, without any kind of binder or glue. These are therefore not permanent, but ephemeral artworks that may not be saved or collected. Traditional sandpaintings are made by the Navajo (also … [Read more...] about Navajo/Dine Culture Sandpainting Reproductions by Lindsey Vandieren