Artists in some cultures continue to create art in much the same manner as their ancestors did. Techniques are passed down through families, with the young ones learning from their elders, resulting in stylized designs that sometimes seem strange to today's students. Other artists in that same culture might disregard their cultural history altogether or adapt it to fit within their art by using traditional colors or symbols. Many of the techniques presented in this chapter continue unchanged from early days and introduce students to the history of that culture. Worldwide travel and population changes in the United States often allow students to claim ancestors from several cultures.
A multicultural project might be part of an ongoing unit of study within the regular classroom, or an art theme that explores contributions of, for example, Native Americans throughout the North American continent. As teachers, we must be aware that selecting projects based on a different culture can be meaningful to students only if the time is taken to introduce something about the people who live the culture and are familiar with its history. Approximately 80% of what we consider artwork today was produced for religious purposes. This may explain why it was kept intact (or deliberately destroyed by people with a different viewpoint). Much of what is produced and sold today is traditional artwork produced for tourists who hope to take home a memory of their visit.
Native American peoples across the United States, Canada, and Alaska were similar to indigenous people in other parts of the world. Their arts and crafts traditions grew out of necessities for daily living, such as woven baskets for gathering and storing grain, clay pots for cooking and storage, and clothing made from wild animal skins. These necessities became more beautiful as creative homemakers adorned leather goods with dyed and flattened porcupine quills, and, ultimately, trade beads. The artists who wove wool dresses and wearing blankets became more creative with their beautiful designs and colors. Artisans who made jewelry with stones such as turquoise and carnelian became ever more skilled, passing down their knowledge to younger members of their families. Crafts varied among regional groups depending on their living conditions, traditions, and access to raw materials.
These goods were traded among various Native American peoples, with, for example, Navajo Wearing Blankets becoming status symbols among chieftains of other groups. As train travel brought tourists across the country to remote locations, and as tourists admired and bought Indian artwork, this became a source of income.
Both of these areas are known for their many contributions to the art world. The Huichol peoples live in Mexico and have a long history of making beads, embroidered pieces, and, especially, yarn paintings. Guerrero, also in Mexico, is known for bark paintings, in which bark is actually stripped from trees and made into a pulp. Paintings are finished in bright colors. Decorative tinware is another Mexican art that involves embossing sheets of tin, then forming it into stars and animals, often used as Christmas tree ornaments. The Mayan Indians from Guatemala in Central America are known for their vibrant, colorful textiles. Weavings range from belts to bags, jackets, and even large rugs done on floor looms. Many of our neighbors from Mexico and Central America have immigrated to the United States and continue to keep intact some of their traditions, such as festivals and holiday celebrations. Art is an important part of these special festivities.