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