Introduction

Part of the Totems to Turquoise exhibition.

 

Some of the most spectacular jewelry then and now has been created by the peoples of two very different geographic regions, the American Southwest and the Northwest Coast. Native artists from the Southwest often embrace strong colors and angular geometry, while those from the Northwest typically create more fluid, sculptural forms. Yet beneath these differences, the jewelry has much in common.

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Article A Long Tradition Native jewelry reveals cultural continuity from one generation to the next. Native jewelry from both the Northwest Coast and the... Article Contrasting Styles Northwest Coast art is often sculptural and fluid, while Southwest art typically embraces color and angular geometry. In Southwest... Article The World in Miniature Native jewelry, like other Native art forms, embodies symbols and motifs with deep cultural significance. Yet unlike totem poles,... Article A Visual Language In the Northwest Coast, animal symbols--called crests--represent the history and ancestry of extended family groups. Such supernatural... Article New Directions As creative individuals, today's Native artists inevitably explore new directions. Some incorporate unique personal visions. Others...

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Resources For Educators: Totems to Turquoise Native American Cosmology Society Master Artists Contemporary Artists History Coming Together Meet the Curators Behind the Scenes