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
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
These two unusual wooden figures are from Colombia, and they are identifiable because of their traditional clothing to be depictions of people of the Kamentsá cultures from the Putumayo region of southern Colombia. The male figure wears a striped poncho over a dark undergarment, and he wears a necklace composed of multiple strands of beads. The female figure … [Read more...] about Native Dolls and Doll-like Figures of the Americas by Vanessa Lockhart and Hannah DipotoNative Dolls and Doll-like Figures of the Americas by Vanessa Lockhart and Hannah Dipoto
This vessel is a faithful reproduction of a Moche culture vessel with a relief effigy face on the neck and a fine-line painting on the body. The simplified relief of the face indicates that a mold was made of the original vessel, and that this mold was then used by the Moche to mass-produce the vessel for sale throughout the Andean region. These mass-produced … [Read more...] about A Moche Ceramic Vessel by Zjane Johnson
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