Symbols and Motifs

From geometric clouds and abstracted birds to whirling logs, symbols and their associated meanings have been passed down as part of generational knowledge. Southwestern Indigenous art underscores the complexity, variety, and importance of symbols as vehicles for the transmittance of meaning within Native communities. Many motifs point to community values and contain stories that have been preserved for generations. Symbolism also demonstrates cross-cultural exchange. For instance, water is a commonly shared symbol due to the dry, desert-like conditions in which Southwestern Indigenous tribes are located. How do symbols change through time and help create a lineage of meaning in these objects? We will explore the use of symbols in Southwestern Native communities through selected Pueblo, Hopi/Tewa, Diné (Navajo), and Mata Ortiz ceramics and weavings.