native american art

[leatherworker]

Hey everybody!

I have a huge spirtual connection to native american art work and i was wondering if anyoe would be wiling to share their designs or what inspired them for the figures/infulence of native american art into their leather peices. if you don't want to show on the boards, you can email me.

take care

Amy

[abn]

Amy,

I haven't seen much in the way of Native American designs carved in veg-tan leather. As you're probably aware, American Indians have a long history as very adept leatherworkers, however their decorative efforts for moccasins and clothing revolved more around beads, fringe and colored dyes. Regardless, modern Indian artists are experimenting more and more with incorporating traditional designs into non-traditional materials (a good example is Preston Singletary's work in glass).

The designs I felt translated best to leather carving are those found on pottery. Two books in particular appealed to me on this subject:

1. Southwestern Pottery, Anasazi to Zuni by Allan Hayes and John Blom
   
2. Tammy Garcia, Form Without Boundaries by Benjamin Rose
   

If you're looking for designs online, you might want to google "Santa Clara Pueblo Pottery." One of the best galleries for absorbing the tremendous artistic expression of Native American artists might be Blue Rain Gallery, a site well worth visiting.

One of the few pieces I've carved was done in the Santa Clara style, and I attach it below. Lots of fun to do, but definitely a challenge to come up with an original design using another culture's aesthetics and design techniques.

I hope this information helps! Best regards, -Alex

[Beaverslayer]

Amy,

The Haida Indians would most likely be your best bet for designs to be carved into leather. Here's just a few of the pics available from doing a Google Image search for "Haida Artwork"

Ken

[candyleather]

I bought these books in www.amazon.com

Traditional Indian Bead and Leather Crafts by Monte Smith, Michele Van Sickle

Indian Designs (Native American) by David Villasenor

North American Indian Motifs CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art Series)

Southwest Indian Designs CD-ROM and Book (Dover Pictorial Archives)

North American Indian Motifs: 391 Different Permission-Free Designs Printed One Side (Clip Art Series) by Maggie Kate

Edited November 18, 2007 by candyleather

[leatherworker]

thanks for all the help!! i will definatley post some pictures as soon as i get done with some practice and final pieces.

amy

[unicornwoman]

Remember to be careful describing the finished product.

I tried listing my Scale-Miniature Native American Regalia KIT (for model horses) to ebay recently, only to have them issue me a warning about the use of the words "Native American" or "Indian". Apparently, unless you are a certified member of a tribe, it is illegal to use those words describing anything you make UNLESS you also include the words "Reproduction".

As Native Americans didn't play with plastic horses, it seemed pretty obvious to me, but I have diligently gone through and added the word "reproduction" to all my various references to it anyway.

Here's the info from the government on it:

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990

http://www.doi.gov/iacb/act.html

[candyleather]

I tried listing my Scale-Miniature Native American Regalia KIT (for model horses) to ebay recently, only to have them issue me a warning about the use of the words "Native American" or "Indian". Apparently, unless you are a certified member of a tribe, it is illegal to use those words describing anything you make UNLESS you also include the words "Reproduction".

I don't understand. I work in Europe and I'm not a certified member of an indian tribe. Carving leather with a native american design from a book is an offense? If I sell in the USA or Europe my articles with indian desings stumped is illegal? If I use the word "Reproduction" is not an offense?

[Johanna]

You can use the designs, X, you just have to be careful that you aren't representing yourself to be a "Native American" artist unless you have the paperwork to back it up.

Johanna

[unicornwoman]

You can use the designs, X, you just have to be careful that you aren't representing yourself to be a "Native American" artist unless you have the paperwork to back it up.

Johanna

Technically, I do have Native American blood, but as I can't prove it at the moment with official tribe membership papers, I'm out-of-luck!

Back on topic, yes, you can still do Native American designs. But, you do have to be very clear in your communications that everyone understands the items you made were NOT made by a Native American in order to do USA sales. It also applies to items being resold: if they weren't made by a Native American, you have to make that clear.

Part of the issue, I think, was all the Native American style beadwork that was being made in China, imported, and then sold at USA tourist traps as ethnic.

[Red Feather]

Remember to be careful describing the finished product.

I tried listing my Scale-Miniature Native American Regalia KIT (for model horses) to ebay recently, only to have them issue me a warning about the use of the words "Native American" or "Indian". Apparently, unless you are a certified member of a tribe, it is illegal to use those words describing anything you make UNLESS you also include the words "Reproduction".

As Native Americans didn't play with plastic horses, it seemed pretty obvious to me, but I have diligently gone through and added the word "reproduction" to all my various references to it anyway.

Here's the info from the government on it:

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990

http://www.doi.gov/iacb/act.html

Edited January 20, 2010 by Red Feather