Carol visits one of the country's most respected museums of Native American art, the Southwest Museum of Native American Art in Los Angeles, and gets a lesson in making authentic pottery and a Native American rattle.
We are taken through the four regions featured at the museum - Plains, Northwest, Southwest and California tribes - and we learn about the history and craft-making of the different nations and tribes. Four states - Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona - are also represented. Docents Rose Figueroa and Bobbie Molina narrate our tour. They discuss how the California indians specialized in baskets, while the New Mexican indians were known for their pottery.
In the Southwest Museum's garden, Rose Figueroa demonstrates how to make an Indian wedding pinch pot from clay:
- Make a ball of clay.
- Punch a hole through the center to make a cylinder.
- Flatten the top of the cylinder.
- Smooth the sides down.
- Pinch together the center of the top opening.
- Smooth the exterior.
- Put a towel or wet cloth over the piece and let dry overnight.
- Etch or engrave with a nail or a sharp piece of wood.
- Sand until smooth.
- Polish with a stone.
Back in the studio, Rose's daughter, Lisa, models a traditional Indian dress that she made. She explains the history of Native American rattles and shows us a few from the museum.
Resources Southwest Museum of Native American Art
Southwest Museum
PO Box 41558
Los Angeles, CA 90041-0558
USA
Phone: 323-221-2164
Email:
info@southwestmuseum.org
URL:
www.southwestmuseum.org
Guests Rose Figueroa
Exhibition Specialist & Developer, Southwest Museum of Native American Art
PO Box 41558
Los Angeles, CA 90041-0558
Phone: 323-221-2164
Fax: 323-224-8223
Email:
swmuseum@annex.com or info@southwestmuseum.org
URL:
www.southwestmuseum.org
Bobbie Molina
Docile, Southwest Museum
PO Box 41558
Los Angeles, CA 90041-0558
Phone: 323-221-2164
Fax: 323-224-8223
Email:
swmuseum@annex.com or info@southwestmuseum.org
URL:
www.southwestmuseum.org
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