By Tyler Sarratori

Life With Native American Indians

Osceola of FloridaCreator- Catlin, George, 1796-1872.

Work Type- Print

Date- 1838.

Info- Osceola, Seminole Chief, 1804-1838.

Size- 26 3/8 inches x 19 5/8 inches.

Website-Artstor

Description: The print depicts an influential leader and war chief of the Seminole in Florida. He is with his rifle in a stance ready for battle to stand strong for his land.

Interpretation: I believe this piece represents a strong man standing up for his beliefs. Ready to do what he needs for his family and himself.

Analysis: I chose this piece because of the strong representation of a Native American Indian. I like the monochromatic colors as it represents the American Indian as being simple and not asking for much.. Yet it shows him as strong and in control.

The Calling Description: A Native American rider in

full headdress sails atop his horse over waves of color, in this print. With contemporary style bold colors in a fluid motion presenting images a warriors and horse that seem to be approaching the you straight off the canvas.

Interpretation: You can feel the power of the horse as you move across the picture. You can feel the emotion of the artist as she painted with such bright strokes.

Analysis: I love the movement in this piece the lines give you a sense that the horse is galloping. The is symmetrical balance with the horse and the Indian. The different hues of blues and other colors add such brightness to the picture.

Creator- JoAnne Bird

Work Type Print

Date Unknown

Measurements- 18x24

Website-googleart

Indian Encampment Creator- Worthington Whittredge

Work Type- Painting

Date- between 1870 and 1876

Material- Oil on canvas

Measurements- Image: 14 1/2 x 21 7/8 in. (36.8 x 55.6 cm) Frame: 23 5/8 x 30 3/4 x 3 3/4 in. (60.0 x 78.1 x 9.5 cm)

Website-Artstor

Description: Here is a painting by Whittredge that depicts Indian living or campsite. To the right you can see tepees or where they slept. The river flowing through the picture providing water and food. Mountains and trees surrounding them for protection.

Interpretation: I like the piece it seems to be calming. Providing the simple life and basic needs being meets in the 19th century. It allows you to feel the sense of the surroundings.

Analysis: I included this piece as it fits well into the exhibit. Its use of space is well seen with all the depths provided. It allows for balance with the mountains on each side and the river flowing with movement.

Soul Catcher Creator- Unknown

Date- c.1840-60

Material- bone, bear femur

Measurements- l. 7 3/4“

Work type- Necklaces

Websites-Artstor

Description: The soul catcher was constructed by the Tsimshia Tribe from a bear femur. It was used to cure the ill. A tribe member would travel to the spirit world, locate a soul and suck it into the soul catcher. Then the soul would be blown into the ill individual.

Interpretation: This piece is realistic as a lot of Indian medicine was followed with spiritual beliefs . It a good example of how both ends would be used in the process of obtaining and transferring the soul.

Analysis: This piece is very indicative of Native American Indian Art. It provides balance with both ends open to allow for the flow of the soul. Color tones are used to represent Indian design along with shape for its symbols.

Navajo Yei Imagery Description: This abstract piece of

art communicates a powerful force with it’s spiritual impression The meaning of the Yei symbol represents the Navajo Yei Spirit which mediates between humans and the Great Spirit. The holy spirits control elements such as the rain, snow, wind and sun and also control the night and day.

Interpretation: The abstract painting provides you with a sense or symbol of the spiritual beliefs and dance associated with Native American tribes. You can almost feel these three women preforming a ritual act.

Analysis: I feel the vast fields of color and texture translates the spiritual self on the canvas. Along with the vertical lines which provides the sense of movement for you. The many different shapes adds life to the painting.

Creator –Tony (Antonio) Abeyta

Work Type- Painting

Date- 1965

Material- acrylic on canvas

Measurements 29x39 in

Websites- Askart

History of Northern California Water

Creator –Carmen Lomas Garza

Work Type- Painting

Date- 1984

Material- acrylic on Masonite

Measurements 36 x 48 in

Websites- Artstor

Description: Water was a primary consideration for a settlement of the Native Americans in California. Rivers provided water for drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning, an healing. We can see all of these functions within the painting.

Interpretation: The artist seems to capture all the elements of what the settlers needs for their daily lives. We see the significant of the river and what they are using it for. You can also enjoy the children playing by the river.

Analysis: I chose this piece as it represents history of Native American Indians. We see great work with shapes within the boulders along the river. We see value within the colors she used. We feel space in the depth of the river. The work provides a pleasing image of unity.

Dance Mask Creator- Unknown

Work Type Mask

Date Early 20th century

Material- Wood, paint, feathers

Measurements- H. 24 in. (61 cm)

Website-Artstor

Description: Masks have been part of dance and traditional ceremonies in many Indian tribes since ancient times. Carving still remain a vibrant part of contemporary native culture. You can see the actual holes for the eyes, nose and mouth.

Interpretation: Even today, American Indian masks are used for dances, cultural drama, decoration, and as crafts for sale. You can almost feel the spiritual value when you look at the piece.

Analysis: The mask fit well with the theme and provides you with their tradition culture. It has balances with equal elements attached to the main mask. There are fine lines and shapes seen and appears to be proportional.

Big Lake Description: This painting is a rich

source of creative expression. It is an intertwining of Indian culture with contemporary art expression. It represents the typical headgear and jewelry of many Native American Indian women. This particular piece is a memory of life with Crow Indian Nation in Lodge Grass, Montana.

Interpretation: The expression of the artist taking history of his native tribe and culture and reproducing it into contemporary art shows such a great extension to his culture. It provides joy and meaning to many different races.

Analysis: I viewed this painting with so much delight. There is balance throughout, yet with an asymmetrical piece on top of the headpiece. We see such great lines and shapes within the painting and some variety with the different elements in the hat.

Creator –Kevin Red Star

Work Type- Painting

Date- 2007

Material- acrylic on canvas

Measurements 28H x 22W

Websites- Askart

Man's Shirt Work type- Man’s shirt Date- ca. 1860 Material Native-tanned skin, -

woven cloth, porcupine quill, glass beads, horsehair, wool yarn, ermine

Measurements H. 41-3/8 in. x W. 63-3/8 in.

Creator- Unknown Website-Artstor

Description: This is a piece of clothing worn by Native American Indians in the 19th and 20th century. Made from the hide of an animal. It is decorated with porcupine quill, glass beads, horsehair and the fur of ermines. The skin was dried stretched and cut into shape, then decorated.

Interpretation: The shirt seems to involve a lot of detailed work to obtains such symmetrical balance. The beads add a nice stylish look to the shirt.

Analysis: This piece is perfect with my theme. It provides us with their everyday way of life and what they worn and how they produced it. We see some shapes with the decals and balance with the outfit. Wouldn’t you like to feel the texture of the smooth skin and the ermine fur.

A Native Family by their Hut. Description: This painting features the

life of a Native American Family and their basic simple life. There is a hut to the left which is where they would sleep and stay protected from the elements.

Interpretation: This painting does

show a family together with the mother as the responsible person for the child. The father seems ready for his job with a sword at his side.

Analysis: This painting displays much duller colors but, you can still feel the family support and happiness. There is asymmetrical balance with the family and the hut more on the left side of the painting. Space is well defined with the trees in the background.

Creator –Agostino Brunias

Work Type- Painting

Date- CA 1770-1780

Material- Oil on canvas

Measurements 12 ½ x 93/3 in

Websites- Artstor

Pipe Bowl Description: Smoking with pipes can be a huge ritual and religious importance for many Indian tribes. Some pipes are used to swear in ceremonies for elected officials, naming ceremonies for children and ground breaking for new buildings. Indians believe that the rising smoke carries messages to the Great Creator.

Interpretation: The pipe has unique detail carved in it which seems to symbolize the meaning of importance and use. There seems to have been attention given to the details and the desire for use.

Analysis: There seems to be a smooth texture to the pipe along with a bright brown color. There is some form and shape in the carving of an animal head with this 3 dimensional piece. There is unity as all the principles and elements do work together and create a pleasing image.

Creator- Sioux, North American; Native American

Work Type- Sculpture Date- c. 1870 Material- Carved catlinite Measurements- 10.1 cm x 20.9 cm

x 3.2 cm Websites- Artstor

Girl and Jar, San Ildefonso [New Mexico],

Creator –Edward S Curtis

Work Type- Photogravure

Date- 1915

Material- Tissue paper mounted on paper sight

Measurements 16 5/8 x 12 1/4 in

Websites- Artstor

Description: Women and girls would carry water from the river bank back to their tribes to use for cooking, cleaning and drinking. Some would do this several times a day. Many lived by the rivers, but other would walk long distances.

Interpretation: The photographer captured the dedication this young girl had in her work. She seems to know what she has to do and she was ready to do it.

Analysis: We see balance and shape with the jug on her head. The value and hue of the colors seems to work well with this simple picture.

Title Shoes, Day (Slippers) Creator- Unknown, (Maker) Work Type Accessories-Women;

Footwear Date- ca. 1825 Size-unknown Website-Artstor

Descriptions: These beautiful slippers made from animal hide and colored in black satin with rust, green, peach, cream and black silk twist embroidery and decorated with red and white silk ribbon and green and white glass beads.

Interpretation: So much care, pride and detail went into such a fine piece of art. You can visualize the attention and desire to please within the work involved.

Analysis: I chose this piece as it shows such feeling of love and pleasure. The slippers provide you with shapes and lines with the decorative designs. The value of the lightness and darkness of colors works well together.

Chief Joseph Description: Chief Joseph who was of

the Nez Perce was considered to be one of the most important and noble tribal leaders of the 19th century. Joseph’s pride and nobility and the tragedies that he and his people suffered are all evident on his face.

Interpretation: This piece is very realistic as you can almost feel the strain he had protecting his tribe with the sad look on his face. It is a great example of what a noble leader might look like.

Analysis: I chose this piece as it is a true symbol of tribal life. The lines and shapes in the headpiece are great elements in this piece. There is a nice pattern and design with the feathers.

Creator –Edward S Curtis

Work Type- Print

Date- Unknown

Measurements 12x16 in

Websites- Goggleart.com

Buffalo Dance at a Mandan Village

Creator – Mark Thiessen

Work Type- Photograph

Date- unknown

Material- Photo paper

Measurements 16 x 12 in

Websites- goggleart

Description: Tribal members participated in a buffalo dance, a ceremony intended to bring hunting success, during their winter months in a Mandan village in South Dakota.

Interpretation: You can see the involvement in the tribe supporting the hunting dance. You can even see higher up on the right people trying to be part of the dance.

Analysis: I enjoyed Thiessen’s piece. The dark background is amplified by the fire in the corner. There is space within the depth of the darkness. There is movement in the dancers with the angles of their legs.