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Indian Influence & Contributions
to America and the world

The Indian Contribution to the Arts


American Indian art is as old as time.... and as fresh and new
as a brilliant sunrise.  Many people have items in their home
that are influenced by American Indian art and may not even
know it.  What about that great sofa with the earthtone colors
and the nifty geometric patterns?  Or that favorite winter coat
with diamond & square shapes and designs?  Know anyone who
has a jacket with that cool fringe on it?  These are all things that
have been influenced by the art of American Indian people.
Many home decor items, including carpet, tile, wallpaper and
curtains, get their artistry from Indigenous creative expression.

Now, onto the more obvious....  Ever seen a dreamcatcher?  It
is quite likely you may have one yourself.  Ever wore a pair of
moccasins?  Moccasins contributed directly to the invention of
the modern tennis shoe.  Have you ever seen a mandella?  This
has become a favorite wall hanging in many homes, and is a
descendant of the plains Indian shield.  Oh, and what about all
that silver and turquoise jewelry you see everywhere?  That is
one of many ancient Indigenous arts that are still thriving today.

Lastly, there are the Indian fine arts.  Beautiful world class oil,
acrylic and water color paintings are the specialty of many
American Indian artists.  Others shape awe inspiring images
with stone sculpture.  Then there are the ancient arts....  the
painstaking skill of porcupine quill work, the knowledge and
patience of hand weaving, and the brilliant creative patterns
found in the many styles of Indian beadwork.  Let's not forget
the performing arts....  Indian music; complete with the cedar
flute, the drum, rattles, rainsticks, whistles and the human
voice.  Indian dance; deeply complex with countless styles,
forms and with endless personal expressions with regalia.
And Indian drama; with ties from the ancient times all the
way to the present.  All of these arts and more have affected,
influenced and contributed to many of the artistic expressions
found in mainstream American society today.....................

(By John Two-Hawks)


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