Native American Oil Paintings NM: What Is The Significance?

By Michael Butler


Native Americans have been creating paints and sculptures for centuries. This is one of the first civilizations in America and thus their culture is rich in history and art. One of their most popular forms of expression is sculpture. Over the years there have been countless Native American oil paintings NM and sculptures uncovered by Archeologists.

It has been said that the most prevalent form of American sculptures goes by the name of Fetishes. These are usually small carvings of animals like bears, wild horses, eagles, and badgers. The ancient people who created these carvings believed that they were sacred and would take painstaking care to carve and decorate the little animals. They were highly revered because these tribes believed that they held the spirit of an animal they looked like.

The people who created these small carvings believed that form was as crucial as a function in their art. Great time and attention would be given to the decoration of their carvings. Some of the common decorations used on these carved figures were usually a variety of objects that could be found in their environments like small stones, shells, and feathers. Fetishes that were more valuable would be decorated with gemstones and precious metals.

These little animal carvings were most frequently carved from stone. The artists would yet again turn to materials that were readily available to them to carve the small statues. Many of these figures were carved from turquoise or soapstone. There were also a variety of Fetishes that were carved from marble. However, they are not as common as marble was expensive and difficult to source.

Out of all of the hundreds of different Native tribes, the Zuni tribe is believed to have produced the best Fetish carvings. Additionally, they placed more spiritual significance on these carvings than any other tribe. A core belief held by this tribe was that their sculptures were living animals that had been turned to stone. Each carving was precious because it helped to connect their world to the world of the gods.

Another fact that set these Zuni carvings apart from others was their belief that four different animals each represented a different direction. When an individual carried a carving of one of these animals they would be empowered by the characteristics of that animal. Some sculptures were a representation of health and others would keep you safe on a long journey. North, East, South, and West were each respectively represented by the mountain lion, wolf, badger, and the bear.

However, these fetishes were not the only sculptures created by this ancient civilization. The American race also chose to express their religion by creating busts from clay or carving them from wood. These busts would represent important figures in their history. Another popular form of creative expression took the form of large totem poles that were carved from the trunks of trees. These totems were a welcoming sign for the visitor as well as the ties and status of a home or village.

The sculptures created by Americans are a key part of their history. Their sculptures are not only breathtaking to look at but also serve to connect their people to the spirit world.




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