Overview
Before I go on much further, I need to discuss briefly the concept of folk art and folk traditions. One can certainly discuss the difference between folk crafts and fine art at great length. Some consider certain fine art to belong to a class of art that is some how separate or elite. Fine art is often thought of as being taught in formal institutions, passed on in the network of "high culture." It is practiced by professionals in the field. Elite, or fine, art is often considered to be fixed in form, concerned with individual authorship or creativity. If this is the definition of fine art, then universities and academies have carried on the tradition of fine art instruction for centuries. Some might go so far as to place a greater value upon the merits and monetary value of fine art than folk art.
In contrast to fine art, we might then talk about what some people think about folk arts and crafts. I think generally that folk traditions are thought of as having a distinctly local character through the influences of history, geography, and the talents of individuals from a much narrower group of people. The folk group or culture is unique to a specific geographic area. The art found in these regions has often changed very little over time, or at best very slowly. The art forms tend to represent or satisfy broad portions of the population's aesthetic needs and often portrays daily life (Nunsz,1994). The people who create these works are not necessarily concerned with trends in popular or fine arts. Often the subject matter deals with the mundane, and is usually informal in its representation. Folk art is not confined to rural areas. It can be found in urban settings, and it can be carried out with the use of modern materials. It can even take on a modern look. When we think of folk art we often tend to think of the craft or art as having been passed down through time, from one generation to another. It is thought of as knowledge or skill that is passed within one's own familial or tribal group.
Each year in August, at the peak of the tourist season, an amazing two-day crafts festival takes place in the old downtown plaza in Santa Fe. Early on a Saturday morning, just before dawn, hundreds of native artisans begin to fill up hundreds of covered vendors stalls. In the cool morning air they begin to put on display a variety of arts and crafts they hope to sell, and often sell out by noon the first morning. Seemingly endless variations of traditional hand-coiled pots appear, painted with traditional plant-based paints. Silver jewelry appears, turquoise abounds. Cottonwood drums covered in rawhide, blankets with a dazzling array of patterns and design work are hung up and shown off in the morning sun. Flutes made of cedar wood, gourd rattles, kachina figures with intricate human features and fancy feathers, baskets of all sizes appear. As one continues into the heart of the market place you begin to see other works: huge sculptures carved out of stone, wonderful figures seem to spring forth from great pieces of marble and granite.
Over six hundred native artisans begin to fill the plaza as the darkness recedes. With the coming of the morning sun a steady stream of tourists, curiosity seekers, buyers, and collectors flow through a sea of white topped stalls. The annual Indian Market has begun, just as it has for over eighty years.
Folk art or fine art? How do we classify the work on display in the market? It actually seems to be a lot more difficult to tell the difference anymore. The lines have become extremely blurred, although various shades of gray exist. Many of the pieces shown can trace their style and design elements back over two thousand years. The Indian Market gives us a very good representation of the evolution of several ancient craft traditions. Many of the works purchased at the Indian Market have ended up in museums across the nation and around the world. Many pieces sell for thousands of dollars, and indeed thousands of dollars will be exchanged before the weekend is over. Santa Fe, a city of about seventy thousand people, will increase in size by an estimated one hundred thousand people. Over sixty thousand dollars of prize money is given out to artisans in selected "best of show" categories. Many of the artists in the show have been educated at universities and art institutes around the country. Many have studied overseas and are very well traveled. Others have not traveled so broadly, but have a rich cultural heritage that has been passed down through the generations. They have learned their craft from parents and grandparents. What they have in common is the fact that they are carrying on traditions that have their roots in an ancient culture that some call Anasazi. The term Anasazi is a term that comes from the Navajo language. It translates roughly into "enemy ancestors." Some people prefer to call it Ancient Pueblo Culture. We will revisit the question about fine art or folk art as we begin to clarify and refine our study of Pueblo and Navajo crafts.
During the first four weeks of this unit it will be important to give the middle school students a general overview of the ancient Pueblo and Navajo culture. We will take a look at the origins of the modern tribes throughout the southwest. This can be done in a couple of ways. We will look at the past through the scientific process as well as a less traditional view, through the oral tradition. Storytelling can be a useful tool to use while explaining the past. Students are very familiar with the art of telling stories. Much of their social interaction with others involves the telling of stories. Emphasis will be placed on the fact that both Navajo and Pueblo cultures use storytelling extensively to explain the past and the present world in which we live. What kind of stories does each of us have within our own families? How did they start? Do the stories change over time? Are they true?
So who are these native peoples, the Navajo and the Pueblo? Where did they come from? Where do they live today? These are important questions to answer as we begin to study the crafts created by these folks.
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