Kachina dolls

The Harvard Peabody Museum trip that we went to showed us a lot of objects that were used in the old days. An object that I found very interesting and an ideal example of art was the Ladle. I consider the Ladle a great example to the how Miller states that anthropologist define as “the application of imagination, skill and style to matter, movement, and sound that goes beyond the purely practical.” because it was collected in Sarnia, Ontario. The wooden ladle is carved in the shape of a hand holding a turtle shell. The ladle looked like a spoon and I assume that it was used as one for the meals and that it had the shape of a hand to make it easier to hold.

The Katchina dolls are a great example of art within this culture because they are used to teach the children of the tribes what each katchina represents. The katchina dolls are wooden carved dolls that are derived from the Native American’s, the dolls are carved by the men of the tribes and adorned in the costume of a particular spirit. The Katchina dolls represent invisible spirits that assist in the cares of life. Each katchina represents a spirit in life, the dolls are believed to bring special blessings. The dolls were used in rituals by being given as a gift to others, especially girls (boys were given bows and arrows), they are to show symbolic representation in human for of the spirit of plans, animals, birds, places, and ancestors. Katchina dolls are spirits who carry the prayers of the people.

The artifacts on display represent the idea that art “legitimized political leader and enhance efforts in war” because of the clothing and weapons that were in display. The last section of the museum that we visited had “chief” outfits, the long hats that had feathers all the way around it and long outfits. In the same section of the museum there was also huge bows and arrows that were used when fighting. Next to the bows and arrows there were spheres that had a very long and sharp end to kill and defend.

One type of artistic expression that I found very interesting were the baskets used. The baskets had different designs for different uses. Some were used for storage and some were used for collecting and gathering. The changes that happened to the art form of the baskets were the shapes and sizes as the years went by and the cultures changed. They started from having one design to having different wieves and forms.