Materials and Process

The following pots, textiles, and drum showcase the exhibition's exploration of the materiality and artistic creation processes unique to these objects. The processes that these artists engage with and learn are deeply spiritual and are passed down through generations across communities that reflect the styles of specific tribes, clans, or families. These objects, ranging from the mid-19th to the late 20th century, use materials from local natural environments, such as mountains, deserts, and clay beds to engage with nature’s organic materials. This engagement with nature garners respect and connects their human experiences with the more-than-human, which encompasses the natural world. While these artists largely utilize learned processes of their ancestors, many Southwestern Indigenous artists of today have continued to innovate within their practices to include different techniques reflective of our ever-progressing world.  Diverse processes and materials throughout this section highlight the innate artistry within several Southwestern communities and the ongoing preservation of their intergenerational knowledge.