The 3 D Experience

Native American Inspired Baskets (NJCCCS: 1.1.12.D.1 1.2.12.A.1 1.3.12.D.1-5 1.4.12.A.1-4 1.4.12.B.1-2)

Basket weaving is one of the oldest known Native American crafts. There are ancient Indian baskets from the Southwest that have been identified by Archeologists dating back to nearly 8000 years old. Baskets were a big part of daily life in tribes across our country. All Native Americans made baskets. They made woven baskets out of the natural materials available to them. Part of a woman’s job was to never let her family run out of colorful baskets. Once baskets were made, they were used to store belongings on the open shelves, to haul and store food, and used for trade.

Most of the symbolism in Native American art was realistic and not geometric. Their painted art shows pictures of people and events. Any geometric designs woven into baskets were not religious in nature. Nor did they stand for things like good luck symbols. Tribal women gave names to the patterns they wove so that they could talk about them – the tree pattern, the leaf pattern, the mountain pattern, and so on. Women tried to outdo their neighbors with patterns and colors. Every woman within every tribe had her own unique designs. Others could not copy from her, although she could give a design as a gift to a good friend or to her children.

Basket making material was collected all summer long. Roots and twigs had to be soaked just right. Grass was used like embroidery thread. The baskets were usually made in the winter months after all materials had been harvested.

Class Assignment: Think of symbols in your life that have meaning to you. Create three (3) different symbols. Sketch them on the bottom of the front of your RUBRIC, for later use in this project. They do not need to be existing symbols. You can create your own.

Homework – Native American Inspired Baskets 1: Sketch the design for your woven basket on the back of your rubric. Create your design in color. Include one or more symbols previously drawn in class. Keep your design simple. The process of weaving will cover random areas of your design, out of your control. Consider putting your symbol on the inside bottom of your basket, where it will not be covered.

Important Information!

Based on the finished product (to the right), review your design before you pastel. Areas will be covered up by the weaving, so plan accordingly!

Process: 1. Trace and cut two 9” circles from a sheet of heavy white paper. Trace the inner circle also, but DO NOT

cut out. 2. Use oil pastels to draw/paint your original design on both circles. Try to make them identical. However,

you do not need to color the center circle on one of the larger circles, as it will eventually be cut away. 3. Color the backs of both circles using shades of one color or a simple color pattern, to cover the entire circle

backs. 4. When completed, coat both sides of both circles with Tempera Varnish using a clean, soft brush. 5. On the first circle, draw an ODD number (minimum of 13) of very slender “V” shapes all around the

bottom circle, extending outward to the circumference. An EVEN number will NOT work! 6. Cut out the “Vs” creating an ODD number of flaps around the bottom. DO NOT cut into the inner circle. 7. On the second circle, cut a ¼” – ½” spiral from the outer edge to the center circle. 8. Carefully cut the spiral in ONE continuous strip! 9. Cut the spiral strip from its center circle by diminishing the strip width to a point. 10. Start weaving the pointed end of the spiral strip from the bottom circle with the “V” shaped flaps. 11. Keep weaving fairly tight to raise the sides. 12. The strip must coil inward. 13. You have the option of having a traditional checkerboard pattern or keeping the outside solid and the inside

designed by determining which side of the spiral strip will face out. 14. Trim the rim when the strip reaches the circumference and extends over the flaps. 15. Use Tempera Varnish to adhere rim flaps to the strip and coat again, if desired, to give your basket extra

strength. Student Choice:

Choice of pastel pattern and colors Choice of shades on the back of the circles Choice of checkerboard pattern or solid outside

Vocabulary: Crafts – a profession or activity involving the skillful making of decorative or practical objects by hand, e.g. weaving, pottery, or woodcarving Southwest – the region of the United States that includes Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California, and sometimes regarded as extending northward to Utah and Colorado Archeologists – a scientist that studies ancient cultures through the examination of their material remains such as buildings, graves, tools, and other artifacts usually dug up from the ground Tribes –a society or division of a society whose members have ancestry, customs, beliefs, and leadership in common Realistic – life-like representation of people and the world, without any idealization Geometric –using straight lines and simple shapes such as circles or squares Patterns -a regular or repetitive form, order, or arrangement Unique - being the only one of a kind Embroidery - the craft of using needlework to make decorative designs Harvested - to gather a crop for use or sale Identical – exactly the same as or equal to something else, or alike in every respect Shades – a dark value of a hue made by adding black to it Circumference –the distance around the edge of a circle Diminishing - to appear smaller, or make something appear smaller