Native American art is as diverse as the tribes that create it in terms of medium and style. In the United States, there are over 330 federally recognized Native American tribes, each with its own distinct artistic culture. Many tribes are known for their basketry, while others excel at weaving, beading, pottery, jewelry making, or carving. Traditional colors, patterns, and symbols help a tribe’s work stand out from that of other Native American nations.
Basketry is a Native American art form with a practical application. Basketry is one of the oldest Native American arts, with the majority of tribes weaving with whatever materials are available on the land. Split river cane is used by the Cherokee and other southeastern tribes, sweet grass or black ash is used by tribes from the Great Lakes region, and Native Americans from California perfected the coil basket made of willow, sumac, or basket rush. Patterns and symbols specific to each tribe can be woven into the baskets as decoration, and the materials are frequently dyed for a vibrant appearance.
Native American art includes animal carvings, masks, and important tribal symbols. The Alaskan Inuit can carve intricate works in soapstone, such as polar bears and seals. The Hopewell tradition could be associated with a hand-carved Formica. Totem poles, which are large sculptures carved from cedar trees by tribes in the Pacific Northwest, are used to narrate important events or represent a tribe’s power. Additionally, many tribes, including the Cherokee, have a tradition of carving booger and effigy masks out of gourds or copper. Masks play an important role in dances and other rituals.
Textile or fabric art has a long history among some tribes. Navajo women weave wool rugs with abstract designs that may be influenced by Persian and Spanish influences. Clara Sherman, a Navajo weaver, has received national recognition. Some prairie tribes use a sophisticated applique technique to decorate ceremonial clothing with ribbon. To create a multicolored design, ribbon is layered and secured with thread, some with shapes cut out. Ribbon work is also used to create colorful shawls.
The Native American pottery tradition predates the arrival of Europeans by hundreds of years. Traditional pottery is made by hand and fired in a shallow pit with brush. Pottery can be plain and functional, or it can be ornate and ornate. In Native American art, effigy pots of humans and animals are common. Southwest tribes continue to make ollas, large unglazed round pots with wide openings, for sale to collectors.
Basically, there are as many different types of Native American art as there are different cultures represented by the art.