Southwest Indian Art Research Paper

An important element of Southwest Indian art is the exchange in culture and materials. The Southwest Indians lived in a time of great trade ranging from the east to west coasts, fewer but larger villages dotted present day Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada. Southwest artists are known for their pottery, textiles, and sand paintings. The Late Classic Navajo Chiefs Blanket from 1885 shows the cross cultural impacts that serve as a large theme in Southwest Indian art. The Navajo learned many practices from the Pueblo such as weaving, using the loom, and sand paintings. The materials in the blanket show cross-cultural influences from the wool used in the blanket were spun from sheep from the Spanish and the dyes came from Indian traders.
There is a pattern of diamond shapes starting with four large diamond shapes with a smaller diamond in the center of the blanket inspired by Spanish-American weavings (North American Indian Art, pg.54). All of the diamonds have with kiva step detail on the inside and outline of each diamond as well as rectangular shapes in different lengths and widths. The smaller center diamond is unique because it does not have the rectangular designs inside like the larger four do. In-between the four large diamonds at the top and bottom of the blanket and designs that look like eyes, which is unique to the rest of the blanket. Another important element in Southwest Indian art is pottery. Pottery served functional and decorative purposes and well as valuable trade and traditional pieces. The Acoma pottery jars were made for everyday life carrying and storing water, ritual activities, and for their great beauty. The two Acoma water jars discussed in class illustrate these values by their floral and geometric designs, bold colors, and symbolism. Of the two Acoma water jars discussed one was made in 1800 and the other was made in