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

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

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