Glossary
Aztec
A powerful Mesoamerican empire known for its impressive city planning, monumental sculpture, and complex religious practices, centered in Tenochtitlan.
Example:
The Aztec Templo Mayor in Tenochtitlan was a twin pyramid dedicated to their gods of war and rain, symbolizing their cosmic worldview.
Basketry
The art of weaving functional and artistic objects from plant fibers, practiced by diverse Native North American cultures, with variations in materials, techniques, and forms.
Example:
A finely woven Pomo feather Basketry piece, adorned with colorful feathers, is a highly prized ceremonial object.
Beadwork
Intricate decorative art created by sewing small beads onto clothing, bags, and ceremonial objects, common among many Native North American groups.
Example:
A pair of Plains Indian moccasins adorned with vibrant Beadwork patterns showcases both artistic skill and cultural identity.
Calendars
Highly accurate and complex systems developed by Mesoamerican cultures, often integrated into monumental architecture and sculpture. They tracked celestial events and ritual cycles.
Example:
The Maya developed sophisticated calendars like the Long Count, which was often inscribed on stelae to mark significant dates.
Central Andes
A cultural region in western South America, home to civilizations such as the Inca, Nazca, and Moche. Art here is often characterized by its adaptation to challenging landscapes and a strong emphasis on textiles.
Example:
The finely woven Central Andes textiles, like those found in Paracas burials, demonstrate sophisticated weaving techniques and symbolic patterns.
Colonialism
The policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. It had devastating impacts on Indigenous American cultures and art.
Example:
The suppression of Indigenous languages and spiritual practices under Colonialism directly impacted the creation and meaning of traditional artworks.
Commemoration
The act of remembering and honoring important events, ancestors, or historical narratives through art. Art serves as a visual record and tribute.
Example:
The Aztec Sun Stone, with its intricate carvings, serves as a form of commemoration for their cosmic beliefs and historical cycles.
Community
A central theme where art serves practical, ceremonial, and social purposes, reinforcing bonds and shared identity within a group. Art is often created for or by the collective.
Example:
The construction of a large communal longhouse by the Haudenosaunee people demonstrates the importance of community in their architectural and social structures.
Community Cohesion
The strength of social bonds and unity within a group, often reinforced through shared artistic practices, rituals, and communal activities in Native North American cultures.
Example:
The collaborative creation of a large ceremonial drum fosters Community Cohesion among tribal members.
Cultural Exchange
The reciprocal influence and sharing of ideas, materials, and techniques between different cultures, including interactions between Indigenous peoples and European colonizers.
Example:
The incorporation of glass beads, introduced by Europeans, into traditional Native American Beadwork exemplifies Cultural Exchange.
Cyclicality
A belief in repeating patterns and cycles, common in Central Andean thought. This concept influenced their understanding of time, nature, and the cosmos, often reflected in art.
Example:
The Andean concept of pachakuti, a cataclysmic transformation that restores order, reflects their belief in cyclicality.
Dream Guidance
The belief that dreams are sources of wisdom, inspiration, and spiritual messages, often influencing artistic creation and personal direction in Native North American traditions.
Example:
A vision quest undertaken by a young person might result in Dream Guidance that inspires a unique design for a personal shield.
Environment
A significant influence on Indigenous American art, shaping the materials used, artistic styles, and thematic content. Art often reflects a deep connection to the natural world.
Example:
The use of cedar wood for carving Totem Poles in the Pacific Northwest directly reflects the abundant forest environment of the region.
Figural Art
Art that depicts human or animal forms, often used in Mesoamerica to portray rulers, deities, or mythical events. It can range from monumental sculpture to intricate ceramics.
Example:
The colossal heads of the Olmec are iconic examples of Figural Art, representing powerful rulers with distinct facial features.
Green Materials
Materials such as jadeite and quetzal feathers that were highly valued in Mesoamerican cultures for their symbolic importance, often associated with fertility, royalty, and divinity.
Example:
A Maya ruler's burial mask crafted from polished Green Materials like jadeite signified their high status and connection to the sacred.
Harmony with Nature
A core belief in Native North American cultures emphasizing the interconnectedness of all living things and the importance of living in balance with the natural world.
Example:
Many Indigenous dances and ceremonies are performed to maintain Harmony with Nature, honoring the land and its creatures.
Inca
The largest empire in pre-Columbian America, located in the Central Andes. They were known for their sophisticated stonework, extensive road systems, and highly organized society.
Example:
The precision stonework of Machu Picchu exemplifies the architectural mastery of the Inca empire.
Indigenous American Art
Art created by the native peoples of the Americas, spanning diverse cultures and thousands of years. It is deeply intertwined with spiritual beliefs, social structures, and the natural environment.
Example:
The intricate designs on a pre-Columbian ceramic vessel from Peru are a prime example of Indigenous American Art, reflecting the worldview of its creators.
Maya
A Mesoamerican civilization renowned for its advancements in mathematics, astronomy, and art, including intricate writing systems, monumental architecture, and sophisticated ceramics.
Example:
The detailed hieroglyphic inscriptions on Maya stelae record historical events and the reigns of their kings.
Mesoamerica
A historical and cultural region in North and Central America, encompassing civilizations like the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec. Art from this region often features complex calendar systems and monumental pyramidal structures.
Example:
The towering Temple I at Tikal, a Maya site, exemplifies the architectural prowess of Mesoamerica.
Moche
A Central Andean culture known for their skilled metalworking and highly detailed ceramic portrait vessels, which often depicted individuals, deities, and daily life.
Example:
A Moche stirrup-spout vessel, often depicting a specific person's face, showcases their mastery of ceramic artistry.
Native North America
Encompasses the diverse indigenous cultures across North America. Art from this region frequently emphasizes harmony with nature, community cohesion, and the importance of rituals.
Example:
A Kwakwaka'wakw transformation mask used in ceremonies is a powerful example of Native North American artistic expression.
Nazca
A Central Andean culture famous for their enormous geoglyphs, known as the Nazca Lines, etched into the desert floor, depicting animals, plants, and geometric shapes.
Example:
The hummingbird geoglyph, one of the most famous Nazca Lines, is a testament to their artistic skill and possible astronomical knowledge.
Olmec
An early Mesoamerican civilization known for its colossal basalt heads, early writing systems, and influence on later cultures like the Maya.
Example:
The monumental Olmec colossal heads, carved from volcanic rock, are among the most recognizable artworks from ancient Mexico.
Oneness with Animals
A belief in Native North American cultures that animals are spiritual beings and often depicted in art and stories, serving as guides, protectors, or clan symbols.
Example:
A Tlingit clan crest featuring a bear symbolizes the Oneness with Animals and the spiritual connection between the clan and that animal.
Pyramidal Structures
Stepped pyramids, characteristic of Mesoamerican architecture, often oriented to celestial events and serving as temples or burial sites for rulers.
Example:
The Temple of the Feathered Serpent at Teotihuacan is a prominent example of a Pyramidal Structure, showcasing intricate relief carvings.
Reciprocity
An emphasis on balance and mutual exchange, particularly in Central Andean cultures. This concept influenced social structures, economic systems, and artistic practices.
Example:
The Inca practice of mita, a labor tax, was based on reciprocity, where communities contributed labor to the state in exchange for resources or protection.
Resilience
The ability of Indigenous American cultures and their art to adapt, survive, and thrive despite immense challenges, including colonialism, forced removal, and cultural suppression.
Example:
The continued creation of traditional pottery forms, even after centuries of oppression, demonstrates the remarkable Resilience of Pueblo artists.
Respect for Elders
A fundamental value in Native North American societies, where elders are revered as keepers of knowledge, tradition, and wisdom, often reflected in their prominent roles in ceremonies and storytelling.
Example:
In many Indigenous communities, the stories and teachings passed down by Respect for Elders are crucial for cultural preservation.
Rituals
Formal ceremonies or practices, such as Potlatches or Sun Dances, common in Native North American cultures, where art plays a crucial role in reinforcing social bonds and spiritual life.
Example:
The elaborate masks and costumes used in Kwakwaka'wakw Potlatch Rituals are central to the performance and display of wealth and status.
Rock Art
Paintings (pictographs) and engravings (petroglyphs) on cliffs and cave walls, found across Native North America, often depicting animals, human figures, and abstract symbols.
Example:
Ancient Rock Art panels in Utah depict hunting scenes and spiritual figures, providing insights into the lives of early inhabitants.
Shamanism
A spiritual practice involving a shaman who acts as an intermediary between the human and spirit worlds, often through altered states of consciousness. It is prevalent in many Indigenous American cultures.
Example:
Moche portrait vessels sometimes depict individuals with ritualistic regalia, suggesting their role in Shamanism and spiritual ceremonies.
Spirituality
A core theme in Indigenous American art, where artworks are often connected to religious beliefs, rituals, and the sacred. Art serves as a conduit for connecting with the divine or ancestral spirits.
Example:
Many Pueblo kachina dolls embody spirituality, representing ancestral spirits and teaching cultural values to children.
Textiles
Woven fabrics, particularly prominent in Central Andean cultures, made from materials like camelid fiber (alpaca, llama) and cotton. They served as important art forms, status symbols, and ritual objects.
Example:
The intricate patterns and vibrant colors of Inca Textiles conveyed social status, regional identity, and cosmological beliefs.
Totem Poles
Monumental sculptures carved from cedar trees by Native North American peoples of the Pacific Northwest. They tell stories, record clan histories, and display lineage.
Example:
A Totem Pole standing tall in a village square narrates the ancestral stories and achievements of a specific family or clan.